Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Do you have an STD, or a UTI?

When you consider how close your reproductive organs are to your bladder and urinary tract, it can be difficult trying to figure out if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

What is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

STDs are most often caused by a bacterial infection caused via sexual intercourse. It can also be contracted through placing your hands, mouth and genitals on the sore of someone who is infected. These diseases have a high chance of spreading from one person to the other.

How do you get it?

If you have sex (oral, anal or vaginal intercourse) and/or genital touching, you can get an STD. Whether you’re straight or gay, married or single, you’re equally vulnerable to STDs.
At times, the infections and diseases usually carry no symptoms and that’s why regular check-ups are recommended. While STDs can be contracted through anal, oral, vaginal sex, they can also be picked up from sex toys.

Common symptoms of a STD include:

  • Bumps, sores, or warts near the mouth, penis, vagina, anus.
  • Swelling or redness near the penis or vagina.
  • Skin rash.
  • Painful urination.
  • Weight loss, loose stools, night sweats.
  • Aches, pains, fever, and chills.
  • Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
  • Discharge from the penis or vagina.
  • When to get tested

If you’re sexually active it’s best to get tested every six months or in between new partners. STDs are usually easy to treat, however, if left untreated, they increase the risk of HIV and infertility.

What is a UTI?

Urinary tract infections are usually caused by the same bacteria that normally live in the colon and rectum. Once bacteria enter the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside), they multiply and travel up this tube towards the bladder. There they can continue to multiply, and left untreated, can also travel to the kidneys.

A urinary tract infection’s symptoms include a painful and burning sensation when you pee, frequent trips to the bathroom, and a feeling of urgency.

How do you get it?

Women are at greater risk for UTI infections because the urethra is located close to the anus, allowing an easy spread of bacteria between them, This can happen after poor bathroom hygiene, but also during sexual activity when bacteria from your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can also be caused by sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Common symptoms of UTI include:

  • Strong and frequent urge to pee.
  • Cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Muscle aches and abdominal pains.

When to get tested

The safest thing to do is to get tested. Even if your doctor already diagnosed your UTI, there’s still room for human error and you may have actually have an STD.

Depending on the severity of infection, your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic. A simple UTI can be treated with a three-day course of antibiotics.

The length of antibiotic treatment will depend on the severity of the infection as well as the type of antibiotic prescribed.

Note, never take someone else’s medicine to treat your illness. If you’re given an antibiotic to treat an STD, it’s important that you take all of the prescribed treatment, even if the symptoms go away.

Your doctor may provide additional antibiotics you can give to your partner. In that way you can both be treated at the same time.

References:

Bedwetting teenager? Here’s what you can do

Wetting the bed is expected amongst young children. When you’re a child, you’re still learning to listen to your body when it comes to visiting the toilet. But you grow out of this, right?

As kids grow older and their bodies develop, messages between the bladder and brain become clearer, allowing the child to wake up when their bladder is full. The majority of children master bladder control by the age of 5, but for others, this can take a lot longer.

If your teen has this problem, they’re not alone. Bedwetting can be common amongst teenagers and it happens for several reasons.

Reasons for bedwetting:

A small bladder

If you have a small bladder, it may not be able to hold much urine. This can cause bedwetting.

Your genes


If you or your partner were prone to bedwetting as a child, there’s a good chance your child will become a bedwetter. If both of you were bedwetters, it’s even more likely.

Stress


Some experts believe that stressful events could lead to bedwetting. These events may include changing schools, moving to a new city, parents going through a divorce etc.

Your diet


Some foods that are high in salt. Drinking too much fluid before bed can also cause bedwetting.

Unusual sleep patterns

Many teens ignore bedtimes or don’t get enough sleep every night. This makes them likely to want to take naps and sleep late on weekends, causing an erratic sleeping pattern. This kind of sleep pattern can interfere with the brain’s normal sleep-wake cycles which tell you when you need the toilet.

Medical issues


If your child has a medical condition like a urinary tract infection (UTI), a symptom could be bedwetting. Other conditions include diabetes and constipation.

Help your child beat bedwetting

  • Encourage your teen to use the toilet before bed so he can empty his bladder. An empty bladder means he’s less likely to wet the bed.
  • Limit drinks before bedtime.
  • Talk to your doctor about your child’s bedwetting. He may suggest medication or other solutions. Some treatments work by decreasing the amount of urine released from the kidneys or increasing how much urine the bladder can hold. Always ask your doctor about any risks of taking medication before giving it to your teen.
  • Try a bedwetting alarm. Bedwetting alarms have a moisture sensor that makes a buzzing or beeping sound to wake your teen if it senses your child is about to wet the bed.

Good to know


Bedwetting can cause embarrassment and self-esteem issues, particularly in teens. If bedwetting affects your child’s social life (e.g. prevents him from attending sleepovers), then you may need to take him to a therapist. Talk to your doctor who can refer you to one.

If your child is experiencing ongoing bedwetting after you’ve tried different treatment options, it might be a medical condition. See your doctor immediately in that case.

References:

Home remedies for UTIs

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can occur in any part of the urinary tract. The kidneys, bladder, urethra and ureters could also be affected. In most cases, infections are caused by bacteria from the bowel, usually Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus, but certain fungi and viruses can also be likely culprits.

Common UTI symptoms include:

  • frequent need to urinate
  • tiredness or shakiness
  • a burning sensation when urinating
  • fever or chills
  • pain or pressure in your back or abdomen.

If you suspect you have a UTI, see your doctor immediately. Treatment is important to prevent the spread of the infections which becomes more difficult to treat.

Besides your doctor’s help and the use of antibiotics, there are home remedies you can try to further ease UTI symptoms.

Fill up on water

Drinking plenty of water is one of the most effective remedies for a UTI as water flushes away bacteria. This not only helps to ease your symptoms but can also help prevent future infection. Make it a habit to drink throughout the day.  Multiple bathroom runs also help prevent infections. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.

Up your Vitamin C

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine’s health library, Vitamin C can make urine more acidic which prevents bacteria from growing in the urinary tract. And if bacteria aren’t able to grow, a UTI can be prevented and symptoms soothed. Eat foods packed with Vitamin C; like chilli peppers, broccoli, kale, strawberries and papaya. Or if those aren’t for you, take a Vitamin C supplement.

Check your lifestyle

If you have a UTI, your bladder gets easily irritated. It’s best to avoid irritants like caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and artificial sweeteners. Instead, focus on high-fibre foods like seeds, berries, broccoli, wholegrains, and healthy carbohydrates like oatmeal, lentils and seeds.

Heat things up

Inflammation, burning and pain in the pubic area are common with a UTI. Soothe yourself with a heating pad. Don’t apply it directly to your skin though, and keep the setting on low. Limit this remedy to 15 minutes at a time to avoid burning yourself.

Take probiotics

Probiotics are microorganisms found in fermented foods and supplements. They help keep your gut balanced with good bacteria which helps to both ease symptoms and prevent infections. Incorporate foods like kefir, kimchi, kombucha and yoghurt into your diet or try a supplement. Taking probiotics along with antibiotics in severe cases of UTIs could speed up your recovery.

Top tips

  • Wipe from front to back. This keeps the bacteria from reaching the urethra, particularly after a bowel movement.
  • Wash your genital areas with soap and water before having sex and be sure to pee afterwards. Washing keeps the bacteria away from the urethra and peeing removes bacteria that may have entered the urinary tract.
  • Skip feminine hygiene products like deodorant, sprays, scented powders and douche. These irritate the urethra.
  • Over-the-counter citro-soda can help relieve the burning sensation when you urinate as it reduces the acidity in urine.

References

How to know if you have injured a kidney

Most of us suffer from back pain at some point. In fact, it’s estimated that lower back pain affects between 30% and 80% of us, and the risk increases with age.

Your lower back bears the weight of your upper body, which means that it experiences a lot of stress and strain as you sit, stand and move. The muscles in this area can quickly become sore from sitting or standing incorrectly, or heavy lifting.

While back pain isn’t always serious, it could be a sign that something else is going on in your body. One of these causes is a kidney problem.

What and where are the kidneys? 

Most people are born with two healthy kidneys. These bean-shaped organs form part of your urinary system and make urine. They lie on each side of the spine, underneath your ribcage.

Your kidneys filter your blood to get rid of waste products, excess water and extra electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Once these products are filtered through the kidneys, they leave your body via a tube attached to the bladder (the urethra).

The kidneys also produce hormones that help maintain the calcium balance in your body and play a role in controlling your blood pressure.

Signs of kidney trouble

While pain from your kidneys can feel like lower back pain, kidney pain is more often felt deeper and higher up in your back, just under the ribs, to the right or left of the spine. However, the pain may also shift towards the stomach and/or groin area.

There are other signs that could help you and your doctor distinguish between pain from kidney problems and pain caused by muscular problems in your lower back. According to The Merck Manual of Medical Information, signs of kidney trouble include:

  • Changes in your urine habits, e.g. going to the loo more often than usual, going less often, feeling a greater urgency to wee, changes in the colour or odour of your urine.
  • Feeling ill
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mental confusion
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Itchy skin
  • Swelling of the ankles and/or feet
  • Excruciating pain that comes and goes
  • Pain when weeing

Injuries within the kidneys can also cause symptoms that can help you and your doctor tell it apart from muscle pain. For example, kidney injuries can happen if you’ve been exposed to a toxic drug or poison, have had surgery that’s damaged one or both kidneys, or have been hurt in your abdominal area (i.e. the area between your chest and pelvis).

It’s important to address any kidney related problems early. Kidney injuries may lead to kidney failure, which is when the kidneys stop working well enough for you to survive without daily treatment or a kidney transplant.

Symptoms to look out for:

  • Changes in urine habits
  • Swelling of the ankles and/or feet
  • A puffy face
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Loss of appetite
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Light-headedness
  • Cramps along the sides of your body
  • Blood in the urine
  • Fever
  • Very high or low blood pressure
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weak muscles

When to see your doctor

If the pain in your back overlaps with any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor immediately. Kidney infections, stones and injuries can make you very sick, while kidney failure is a serious, life-threatening condition.

Also, be aware that kidney disease can be “silent” – you might only start experiencing symptoms damage has already been done.

Good to know

If you have diabetes, regularly checking in on the health of your kidneys is essential. About 30% of people with Type 1 diabetes and 10-40% of those with Type 2 suffer from kidney disease.

References

“Make my period pains stop!”

It’s that time of the month when your PMS (premenstrual syndrome) symptoms descends in full and living colour. You’re in pain, cranky and irritable. You want to eat everything in sight and curl up into a warm bed.

Aches, pains, cramps, mood swings; why does it all hurt so bad?

Each month, your ovaries release one egg. The ovulation process happens before and during your menstrual cycle. The lining of your uterus thickens with blood, and your egg moves into one of the Fallopian tubes. Here, it waits to be fertilised, or is shed by your body through the vagina resulting in: periods. Before and during ovulation, your hormone function shifts and affects your entire body.

When this cycle begins, they bring along some visitors:

  • Sore breasts: Hormone changes in your body are the cause of tenderness and heaviness in your breasts. The oestrogen enlarges your breasts and the progesterone causes your milk glands to swell. The symptoms are part of your PMS-ing stage. It usually begins a week before your period and may disappear when menstrual bleeding starts.
  • Bloating: Your hormones go out of whack during your cycle and cause fluid retention.

Tip: Cut down on your salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol for this time, as these are bloating triggers.

  • Cramps/back pain: Your muscles tighten and relax to get the blood out of your uterus. This causes the sharp feeling of pain in your stomach and back.
  • Pelvis pain: Irritable bowel syndrome is responsible for pelvis pain. This is that pain your stomach which causes diarrhoea, wind and constipation.

Why it hurts

Some lucky women have painless periods, while others struggle with painful cramps (dysmenorrhea)! Some even compare it to early labour contractions. The cramps can range from mild to throbbing. What happens, is the muscle of the walls of your uterus contract and a chemical called “prostaglandin” is released from the lining of the uterus. This substance increases the strength of the contractions. The pain can strike a day or two before your period and last for two to four days during your period. Some women have nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea and dizziness during their period.

Soothe the pain

  • Apply heat to your lower abdomen and back to relax your muscles. A hot shower or bath and a hot water bottle will help.
  • Over-the-counter medication can help. Stick to painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol.
  • Yoga and other stretching exercises can ease the cramps.
  • According the University of Maryland Medical Center, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids and calcium citrate, can help with menstrual pain.
  • Birth control pills can balance your hormones and lessen heavy flow.

Foodie friends

  • Green tea is said to help soothe cramps.
  • Relieve the bloating and cramps by drinking two to three litres of water.
  • Potassium and Vitamin B6 can help with cramping and water retention. Get your fill from a banana.
  • Oats are filled with anti-cramping vitamins like zinc and magnesium. This will help with the painful menstrual cycle.
  • Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling properties to reduce the cramps.
  • Ginger tea has soothing properties to calm stomachache, relax muscles and prevent nausea and vomitting.
  • During your period you lose iron. Replace your stores with chicken, fish and green leafy vegetables.
  • Cinnamon tea with its natural healing ingredients can quell bloating, wind, and indigestion.

 

References

 

5 reasons you’re not weeing

Weeing isn’t something you need to think about doing; it just happens. But lately, that has been a (wee) bit difficult. Trips to the loo have become painful. And, worst of all, you don’t know why.

The reason for your weeing woes could be one of these:

1. You’re dehydrated.

Dehydration is when there isn’t enough water in the body, as a result of not getting enough fluids, or excessive fluid loss. It usually happens when you’re sick with diarrhoea or vomitting, and can’t replace the fluids you’re losing fast enough. When this happens, your kidneys retain as much fluid as possible. Blood supply to your kidney is also decreased, affecting your ability to urinate. Other symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, irritability, and lethargy. When it goes untreated, dehydration can damage your liver, kidneys and brain.

Increase your fluid intake to avoid complications. Rehydration salts may also help. Make sure you drink about two litres of water a day to prevent dehydration.

2. You have a blockage in your urethra.

If there’s a blockage or obstruction in the urethra, urine can’t flow normally and freely out of the body. The most common cause for blockage of the urethra in men is an enlarged prostate from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland. BPH is a normal part of ageing. It’s caused by changes in hormone balance and cell-growth factors. The prostate gland partially surrounds the urethra. If it becomes enlarged, it presses against the urethra and pinches it. This may cause the bladder to weaken and lose its ability to empty completely.

Other conditions that can cause a blockage include kidney or bladder stones, tumours and cancers in the pelvic region, and constipation.

3. You have nerve problems.

Disruption of the nerves between the bladder and brain can affect your bladder function and urination. If the nerves aren’t working properly, your brain may not get the message that your bladder is full. The bladder muscles that squeeze urine out won’t receive the signal to push, and the muscles around the urethra won’t receive the signal to relax and allow your bladder to empty.

Possible causes of nerve problems include vaginal childbirth, pelvic injury, brain or spinal cord trauma, diabetes, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Birth defects that affect the nerve signals among the bladder, spinal cord, and brain can also weaken urine flow, such as spina bifida, a condition in which a baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly.

4. You’re taking medication that causes you to produce less urine.

Certain medications can interfere with nerve signals to your bladder and prostate. These include antispasmodics, antihistamines, antidepressants, decongestants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, high blood pressure medications, anti-seizure drugs, and some antibiotics.

If your medication gives you toilet troubles, see your doctor. He may adjust dosages or change your medication completely. Be sure not to change doses or stop taking your medication without speaking with your doctor first.

5. You have weak bladder muscles.

Ageing affects your body in many ways, and may cause your bladder muscles to weaken over time. Weakened bladder muscles may not contract strongly enough or long enough to empty the bladder completely, which can make urination difficult.

References:

5 reasons you’re weeing all the time

When nature calls, we really have no choice but to answer. However, running to the bathroom one too many times a day can say much more about the state of your health than what you might think.

The average bladder can hold about one and a half to two cups of urine during the day and the average adult should urinate about six times a day. If you find yourself running to the loo more than six times each day, you might be at risk of illness.

It is important for the bladder to be emptied regularly and completely because stasis of urine can lead to bacteria multiplying in the bladder.

Although it might be easy to merely go with the flow and run to the bathroom, it can only be beneficial to your health to start taking note of why you might be weeing all the time. Here are five things that might help you to get behind the crux of your bladder problem.

Incontinence

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. Urinary incontinence is more common among women because of the anatomy of their urinary tract. Men have well developed bladder necks, prostates and longer urethras which increase their resistance to urine flow and therefore incontinence is less common among men.

If a person’s incontinence is accompanied by blood in the urine, pain, difficulty to pass urine or an acute onset of urine, they should seek medical help as soon as possible.

Pregnancy

Constantly running to the bathroom is a pesky part of pregnancy. There are various reasons why you’ll need to urinate more when you have a baby on board. Firstly, your kidneys have to work harder to eliminate toxins from both you and the fetus. Secondly, as the baby, and you, get bigger, your uterus can place additional pressure on the bladder. This is predominantly why moms-to-be need to dash to the ladies room so often.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

If you feel a burning sensation while urinating, there might be a chance that you have urinary tract infection (UTI). Between 25 and 30% of women will experience a urinary tract infection before the age of 40. A UTI is an infection involving part or all of the urinary tract and is caused by bacteria such as Escherichia (E.coli). UTIs can be very painful, and cause you to have a pressing desire to urinate – with difficulty holding it in! It’s important to get medical help when you experience symptoms of UTI as it can lead to serious health complications (like permanent kidney damage).

Caffeine

Certain external factors like caffeine, alcohol or carbonated drinks can cause a sensitive bladder which can ultimately lead to incontinence, especially in men. While this isn’t terribly common in women under 40, coffee can irritate bladder walls and spur your urge to go to the loo. If already have problems with urinary incontinence it’s a good idea to stick to less two cups of coffee a day.

Diabetes

In the worst case scenario, a frequent need to urinate may be an early sign of diabetes. When you have diabetes, high blood sugar leads to increased production of urine. Your kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar and you’ll feel the need to urinate more often. If you have a family history of diabetes, it may be valuable to take note of your peeing patterns to ensure early diagnosis before it’s too late.

References: