A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system, including your bladder, kidneys, uterus, and urethra. This is a very common infection in both men and women, and it’s not hard to treat if it’s handled early-on. That being said, if it’s left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as kidney infections, sepsis, and more. This is why it’s so important to know what causes UTIs to occur. In general, they occur when harmful microscopic organisms enter the urinary tract. However, there are certain health conditions that increase the risk of a person getting a urinary tract infection.
Diabetes
Your immune defenses should work to fight off the infection, but if you have diabetes, it could impair part of your immune response. This is because you have fewer white blood cells and T cells to fight off bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Kidney Stones
When you get a kidney stone, it causes blockage that makes it harder to empty the bladder, therefore leading to UTIs. Alternatively, UTIs can also lead to kidney stones, as the excess urine in the bladder can crystalize into kidney stones. All things considered, UTIs and kidney stones are often related.
Enlarged Prostate
When the prostate becomes enlarged, it blocks the flow of urine, meaning that the bladder never fully empties. As a result, this increases the chances of bacterial growth, which can then lead to a UTI.
Being Uncircumcised
When a man is uncircumcised, it’s possible for bacteria to build up under the foreskin. This bacteria can enter the urinary tract and cause an infection.
Narrow Urethra
This involves scars that narrow the tube that carries urine out of the body. Similar to an enlarged prostate, the excess urine in the bladder can cause bacteria to grow.
If you think you have a UTI, make sure to visit a urologist in New York. The urologist in New York will diagnose you, determine how it happened, and create a treatment plan.
