Dealing with a urinary tract infection is painful; sleep will not relieve discomfort. Sleep disturbances tend to frustrate people because they are tiresome and pain-ridden, creating a cycle of irritation that never seems to go away.
The frequent urge to urinate and sometimes the discomfort of burning sensation and also pelvic pressure become burdensome as you try to seek solace in sleep. Sleep, however, is needed for recovery and deprives the body of the ability to heal faster if you do not have enough.
If you cannot sleep even at night when these uncomfortable UTI symptoms bother you, you know you're not the only one. Learn the signs and what you can do practically to sleep more and allow your body to fight off the infection more effectively. This article gives general symptoms of UTIs and their possible impact on your sleeping time and tips on sleeping peacefully while your body recovers.
How Do You Get a UTI?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) develop when bacteria enter the urinary system — typically through the urethra, settle in the bladder, and begin to multiply. Our urinary system consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. A UTI can occur anywhere within this system, but an infection usually only affects the bladder (cystitis) and/or the urethra (urethritis). Recognizing the infection should make you try to prevent it and lower the risk. Here are some of the most common ways UTIs can develop:
1. Bacterial Introduction via the Urethra
Most UTIs are caused by the infamous Escherichia coli (E. coli), transported from the intestines into the urethra. That can be the result of poor hygiene, sexual intercourse, or wiping from back to front after using the bathroom.
2. Sexual Activity
Bacteria from the genital or anal area can be transferred to the urethra during sex. Women are particularly vulnerable due to their shorter urethra, which allows bacteria to travel upwards into the bladder more easily.
3. Urinary Retention
Holding urine for long periods or not emptying the bladder can provide a breeding ground for bacteria. Regularly emptying your bladder reduces the chances of infection.
4. Increased Vulnerability Due to Anatomical Factors
You might be at higher risk of a UTI for some anatomical reasons. For instance, women have shorter urethras (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body) than men, which allows bacteria to find the bladder more easily. In others, structural abnormalities of the urinary tract can obstruct urine flow or prevent complete bladder emptying.
5. Poor Hygiene Practices
If you wipe from back to front after using the toilet and introduce bacteria from the anal area to the urethra, you may be more likely to get an infection than if you did not. Maintaining good personal hygiene is particularly important to help prevent UTIs.
6. Use of Certain Birth Control Methods
Using diaphragms, spermicides, or any type of continuous birth control that changes the bacteria in the vagina or makes the genital area sore and red makes it stick.
7. Catheter Use
People who use urinary catheters are prone to developing UTIs because the catheter allows bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
8. Dehydration
Fluid intake is inadequate, leading to concentrated urine that may irritate the urinary tract and create an environment that supports the multiplication of bacteria. Water is vital in flushing bacteria before they multiply to cause infection.
9. Weakened Immune System
Diseases like diabetes or immunosuppressive drugs weaken the body's ability to hold infection, thereby increasing susceptibility to UTIs.
What are the Symptoms of UTI?
The symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can vary depending on which part of the urinary tract is affected. Still, they typically involve discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area and changes in urination habits. Common symptoms include:
1. Frequent Urge to Urinate
One of the hallmark symptoms of a UTI is the frequent and urgent need to urinate, even if only small amounts of urine are produced. This can be very uncomfortable and persistent, especially during the night.
2. Pain or Burning Sensation While Urinating
A sharp or burning sensation when urinating, known as dysuria, is a classic symptom of a UTI. This discomfort often worsens with each urination.
3. Cloudy, Foul-Smelling Urine
Due to bacteria and pus in the urinary tract, urine may appear cloudy or have a strong, unpleasant odor. The urine may also have a reddish or pinkish tint if blood is present.
4. Pelvic or Lower Abdominal Pain
UTIs often cause discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvic region. This can range from a dull ache to sharp, cramp-like pains. Although they’re typically associated with bladder infections (cystitis), they can occur in any part of the urinary tract.
5. Feeling of Incomplete Emptying of the Bladder
After urinating, you may feel like your bladder hasn’t fully emptied, even though you’ve just gone to the bathroom. This sensation can make the urge to urinate feel even more urgent.
6. Blood in the Urine (Hematuria)
Blood in the urine is a sign of a more serious UTI. Due to the presence of blood, urine may appear pink, red, or brown, and pain or discomfort may accompany it.
How long does a UTI last?
The duration of a UTI may vary from days to weeks or even months, depending on the severity of the infection, the type of bacteria causing it, and how soon treatment is initiated. Generally, most UTIs start to improve within 24 to 48 hours if treated promptly with antibiotics, and symptoms usually resolve within 3 to 7 days.
All prescribed antibiotics should be completed to speed up UTI discomfort relief, even if symptoms have improved. This ensures the infection is completely cleared and prevents reoccurrence or the development of antibiotic resistance.
In more critical conditions, such as kidney infections, recovery will take a while and, in some instances, might require more extended periods of treatment, sometimes under hospital care or intravenous antibiotics. If the case is not treated or does not respond to the antibiotics given, the infection persists or becomes dangerous.
Others could be more at risk of continual infection due to a pathological condition and predisposing factors. In this case, treatment or preventive measures should be continued. Most UTIs are self-limiting; however, one should always keep track of the development of symptoms and seek treatment from a physician when they do not improve or worsen.
Why UTI Pain Occurs at Night?
UTI pain typically worsens at night due to the following reasons:
Increased Bladder Sensitivity: Lying down might cause increased bladder sensitivity and pressure, leading to pain.
Decreased Urination: Sleeping is usually more convenient, so one is not as frequently urged to urinate at night. Thus, the urine is concentrated enough to irritate the bladder and make the pain worse.
Lower Distraction Level: During the day, there is much to attend to, and you may not even notice much. At night, though, when less is occupying you, you probably notice more pain.
Hormonal Activity: Hormones are cyclical during the day, and some claim that pains feel much more intense at night. Studies have suggested that your body's sensitivity to pain increases at night.
How You Sleep: Perhaps sleeping side or back does not flush out the bacteria properly, and you feel more discomfort.
Tips to Relieve UTI Discomfort
Here are some practical ways to relieve UTI discomfort:
1. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush bacteria from the urinary system.
2. Use a heating pad: Apply heat to your lower abdomen to ease pelvic cramps and discomfort.
3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers: Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce pain and inflammation.
4. Try a sitz bath: Soak in warm water to soothe irritation in the genital area.
5. Avoid irritants: Avoid harsh soaps, scented hygiene products, and bubble baths.
6. Consider cranberry products: Cranberry supplements or unsweetened cranberry juice may help prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.
7. Get plenty of rest: Allow your body to heal by resting and reducing stress.
8. Avoid bladder irritants: Limit caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and citrus fruits, which can worsen symptoms.
9. Wear loose, breathable clothing: Opt for cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes to reduce irritation.
10. Don’t delay urination: Don't hold in urine; frequent urination helps flush out bacteria.
11. Consider probiotics: Restore good bacteria balance with probiotic supplements or foods like yogurt.
12. Consult your doctor: Ask about urinary over-the-counter products like analgesics to relieve discomfort from UTI symptoms while the infection heals.
13. Complete your antibiotic course: Always finish your prescribed antibiotics to clear the infection and prevent recurrence entirely.
Final Thoughts
UTI pain is worse at night due to the lack of distraction, and your symptoms will wake you up to go to the bathroom. Drinking plenty of water, heating pads, and OTC pain relievers are common ways of handling overnight UTI pain. Once you start antibiotics, your symptoms should resolve relatively quickly.
