UTI & associated conditions – KNOW & TREAT UTI

Iron is an essential element that is an important factor in the life of every living thing. It is an integral part of many important proteins: hemoglobin (red blood cell protein), myoglobin (a protein that is part of all muscles), and many enzymes. It is a key element in supplying tissues with oxygen. It is also important for mental abilities, memory, regulation of body temperature, and other processes in the body. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Anemia is the most common health problem when we talk about disorders of the physiological functions of the blood. It is estimated that it affects almost a third of the world's population, and children, women, and people with chronic diseases are at greater risk. Some anemias are mild, transient, and not a cause for concern, while others represent more serious, chronic disorders. Anemia can also be an indicator of some other diseases that cause it. The causes can be different, and we will show here how anemia due to iron deficiency affects frequent urination. Can anemia cause bladder problems? The symptoms of anemia are different and vary in intensity. Initially, anemia may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms intensify as the anemia progresses and significantly impair the quality of life. The most common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, dizziness, etc. Since anemia leads to stress, fatigue, and tension, the body is very tired. Some research has shown that there is a strong link between stress, anxiety, and the bladder. What would be a normal range of bladder emptying during the day? For most people, the normal number of urinations per day is between 6-7 in 24 hours. Between 4 and 10 times, a day can also be normal if the person is healthy and happy with how many times they go to the toilet. Anything above that is considered frequent urination. However, in a state of iron deficiency anemia, the body is very tired and the need to urinate increases significantly. This happens because there is a reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen, so we have less oxygen reaching all tissues in the body including the bladder's smooth muscle. Because of this, there is a disturbance in the work of the urinary bladder and frequent urination. Frequent urination means that we need to urinate more often than usual. This condition causes discomfort in our bladder. So, in general, yes anemia causes bladder problems and creates discomfort. Can iron deficiency anemia cause urinary frequency or frequent urination? Frequency of urination is the need to urinate several times during the day, during the night (nocturia), or both, but in normal or smaller amounts than normal. Frequent urination can be a symptom of various diseases, from kidney disease to simply consuming large amounts of fluids. When frequent urination is accompanied by fever, burning sensation during urination, urgent need to urinate, and pain or discomfort in the stomach, it is most likely a urinary tract infection. Causes of frequent urination are diabetes, pregnancy, prostate problem, cystitis (UTI), use of diuretics, stroke or other neurological diseases, and hypercalcemia, ... Carbonated drinks, even if they do not contain caffeine, have carbon dioxide that irritates the bladder causing the need to urinate more. Many foods you would never believe can reduce the concentration of iron in the body: soda, cow's milk, chocolate, tea, and coffee. What could be the cause of frequent urination? Research has shown that iron deficiency anemia can affect our immune system - the body's natural defense system. This increases the chance of developing an infection, which includes a UTI, which can also in turn lead to the symptom of frequent urination or urgency. low tissue oxygenation, which can occur due to anemia, can be another cause of frequent urination as low levels of Oxygen reaching the bladder's smooth muscles could cause disturbances in these muscles and make them function sub-optimally. We have proven that anemia can be responsible for bladder disorders. How can iron deficiency anemia cause urinary frequency or frequent urination? Although we brushed upon it in the previous section, we will talk about how can iron deficiency anemia cause urinary frequency in more detail here. Studies that do exist show that some individuals with iron deficiency and those with iron deficiency anemia may be more susceptible to urinary tract infections and urinary frequency than patients with normal iron status. This evidence is yet to be clarified and further studied. Frequent urination is a common symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Anemia caused by iron deficiency can lead to various changes in our bodies. Anemia due to iron deficiency leads to a decrease in immunity. Namely, due to the lack of iron in the body, a person feels tired, weak, and dizzy. This occurs because your body cannot produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). This state in our body causes anxiety and agitation. It is also one of the causes of frequent urination. We have shown that iron deficiency anemia can indirectly affect and cause frequent urination and can also be a precursor for urinary tract infections. How can anemia or low iron blood levels affect bladder health in general? People with iron deficiency anemia usually use supplements to regulate their iron levels and bring them up to normal levels so they can function normally. These people usually have dark urine because iron supplements stain the urine dark. This further leads to the fact that these people drink more fluids and urinate constantly thus their urinary frequency increases. In addition, these people are often constipated due to iron deficiency and supplements. In addition to drinking more fluids, they should also increase their intake of fiber through food. So, in general, all this affects increased or frequent urination. Urinary Tract infections and frequent urination are closely related to immunity. With weakened immunity, UTI infections occur more often. Our immunity weakens and when we do not have enough iron, there is not enough oxygen in our body to be transported to all tissues to be nourished including the urinary system. Anemia and bladder health may be linked in this way as well. Namely, anemia due to iron deficiency can raise suspicion about cancer, bladder cancer for example. Iron deficiency anemia is often identified when bladder cancer is diagnosed or after tumor treatment. A large body of evidence indicates that anemia, as one of the potential causes of tumor hypoxia, can affect the quality of life of cancer patients and treatment outcomes, including survival. Oxygen is one of the most important factors influencing the appearance and development of tumors. With anemia, we have a lack of iron and oxygen that will be transported to all tissues and nourish them, which means that it can make cancer more difficult to treat. But do not panic, having urinary frequency or urinary urgency or any other urinary symptoms does does not mean that you have cancer at all. Check with your doctor and pharmacist for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Anemia and overactive bladder. what’s the difference between it and urinary frequency? Anemia and an overactive bladder are closely related. People with anemia have an overactive bladder and worsening symptoms. Also with anemia, there is great fatigue, weakness, and nervousness, all of which can lead to an overactive bladder and frequent trips to the toilet. There is an increased contraction of the bladder muscles and people with iron deficiency anemia need to urinate more often. An overactive bladder, sometimes called an irritable bladder, usually refers to a frequent need to urinate during the day, and often nocturia. Keep in mind that when it comes to emptying the bladder, it is normal for it to be done four to eight times a day. Overactive bladder occurs more often in older people and women. The symptoms of an overactive bladder can be of different intensity, from a slightly more frequent urge to urinate to a constant need to urinate. The causes can be different and sometimes unclear. There is no difference between an overactive bladder and frequent urination. It would be the same thing. With an overactive bladder, we have frequent urination and sometimes even an urgency to urinate. Urinary frequency means that a person has the need to urinate at night (nocturia) or several times during the day, or simply includes both. Frequent urination could be a symptom of various diseases, such as, for example, kidney disease or possibly just increased consumption of large amounts of liquid during the day. If frequent urination is accompanied by a burning sensation during urination, fever, chills, an urgent need to urinate, and pain or discomfort in the stomach, it may be a urinary tract infection or UTI. Then it is very important to see a doctor who will give you adequate therapy and ask for certain tests to know exactly where all these UTI symptoms are coming from. Anemia and overactive bladder Anemia and an overactive bladder are closely related. A study that examined two control groups of patients, one with anemia and the other with healthy patients showed that in patients with anemia overactive bladder symptoms worsen and the rate of nocturnal enuresis also increases. People with iron deficiency anemia have a significantly higher incidence and risk of anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorders, and various other psychotic disorders as we said earlier. Anxiety and an overactive bladder are closely related. Stress and anxiety affect the bladder in many ways. Namely, both cause the muscles in your body to tense up (mostly due to increased adrenaline), and the bladder is essentially a bag of muscles that also tightens up from stress. Our pelvic floor is made up of muscles that can contract, compressing our bladder. Chances are, when our body tenses up, so do our pelvic floor and bladder. This causes the need to urinate, and if we are often disturbed, we may have to go too often. Can an iron deficiency cause urinary tract infections? Iron deficiency anemia was an independent predictor of respiratory tract infections in one study, and postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more common in patients with iron deficiency anemia in another study. See above sections and studies. Lack of iron, i.e. anemia, increases the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine, i.e. it is responsible for inflammation in our body, including inflammation in UTIs. Can an iron deficiency cause frequent UTIs? Given that iron deficiency, i.e. anemia due to iron deficiency leads to weakened immunity, it entails numerous other infections and problems. Namely, the previous study showed that iron deficiency anemia was the cause of respiratory tract infections in one study, and postoperative urinary tract infections were more common in patients with iron deficiency anemia in another. Evidence from a small number of studies suggests that individuals with iron deficiency and those with iron deficiency anemia may be more susceptible to infections than patients with normal iron status. Of course, more research is needed on this topic to show the exact mechanism of this knowledge and to show how exactly all this works. In general, with the weakening of immunity and iron deficiency, there is an increased need to urinate. Lack of iron leads to a decrease in immunity making our body more susceptible to infections, this could also mean that lack of iron can lead to frequent urinary tract infections, that is, frequent UTIs. Can Iron deficiency anemia cause urinary incontinence? Yes, iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia can cause urinary incontinence. Severe iron deficiency leads to more severe neurological symptoms, including severe weakness, spasticity, paraplegia, and fecal and urinary incontinence. The symptoms of anemia arise as a result of the reduced capacity of the blood to carry oxygen, which means less oxygen is reaching body tissues, including the bladder and smooth muscles, and this is a direct cause of disturbances in the function of that organ. All of this can lead to symptoms like uncontrolled urination and incontinence. In a severe form of anemia caused by iron deficiency, there is a very weakened immunity, which worsens urinary tract infections, even more, there is fatigue and weakness. This state of the body causes uncontrolled urination, i.e. incontinence. Can anemia cause urinary retention? Yes, anemia can cause urinary retention. Observational studies have shown an association between anemia and adverse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. Urinary retention is associated with the severity of anemia and some adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. In these patients, numerous medications used in the treatment of diseases and ailments can act to cause urinary retention. Can a urinary tract infection cause anemia? Urinary tract infections can certainly lead to anemia. The reason for this is that bacteria, which is the cause of UTIs, feed on iron. We will now explain how Escherichia coli, is the main cause of urinary infections. Research has shown that bacteria such as E. coli acquire the essential nutrient iron during infection. Scientists at Monash University in Australia have discovered that pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli obtain iron by pirating it from host proteins. Bacteria, like their hosts, need iron to survive, and they have to get that iron from the environment. Humans get iron primarily from the food they eat, while bacteria have different mechanisms to get iron and take it from the host where they live, i.e. from urine. See this reference. and this is how urinary tract infections can lead to iron deficiency and anemia. Can bladder problems in general cause anemia? Bladder problems can make anemia worse or, in more severe cases, cause anemia. Namely, if problems with the bladder are caused by UTI bacteria such as Escherichia coli, it can have a direct connection with anemia as we said earlier. For pathogenic bacteria to survive and stay alive, they need to have iron. They get and take iron from their environment, meaning the host. So if some people have persistent and very severe urinary tract infections and bladder problems, this can result in reduced iron levels and the development of anemia because these bacteria need iron to survive. So, these bladder problems lead to the development of anemia in these people or to the worsening of already existing anemia. Do iron pills cause frequent urination? The most common side effects of iron pills are constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dark stools, stained teeth, metallic taste in the mouth, heartburn, and urine color is dark. The rectum is located near the bladder and puts pressure on the bladder and many surrounding nerves. Hard, compacted stool (in case of constipation) in the rectum causes pressure on the bladder and its nerves, that increase and causes urinary frequency. Because of the dark-colored urine, people usually drink a lot more liquid and this also leads to frequent urination. On the other hand, to solve constipation, it is necessary that in addition to large amounts of liquid, enough fiber should be taken to soften the stool and prevent constipation and the problems that arise with it. If taken in large quantities, iron supplements can lead to an overactive bladder, so you should be careful and take the amounts prescribed by your doctor. We have now reached the end of our article, so If you need any more help with your UTI, feel free to contact us or check the multiple articles we have about this subject on our website KNOW & TREAT UTI. Stay healthy and have a wonderful rest of your day.