Can A UTI Make It Harder For You To Breathe?
If you've ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI) then you may recognize its symptoms. You might feel a strong need to pee, but not be able to pass much urine once you get to the bathroom. You might also feel pain and burning or have smelly, cloudy urine tinged with blood, explains the Mayo Clinic.
These symptoms are indicative of a bladder infection, says WebMD. Most commonly they are due to bacteria that have made their way into this organ.
UTIs can be treated with antibiotics that are targeted at the specific type of bacteria that is causing the infection. The Cleveland Clinic lists nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, trimethroprim, doxycycline, and quinolones as medications that are often used to treat UTIs.
Sometimes, however, if a UTI is untreated, it can progress to a more serious condition called urosepsis. WebMD writes that urosepsis occurs when a UTI travels to the kidneys. This can be life-threatening.
Breathing problems may indicate urosepsis
WebMD advises that if you are getting treated for a UTI, but it doesn't seem to be working, it is important to speak with your doctor so that you don't develop urosepsis.
According to Healthline, people with urosepsis may have symptoms like fever, low temperature, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, decreased urination, confusion, abdominal pain, rapid heart rate, abnormal heart function, rapid breathing, or difficulty breathing.
If you have a UTI and experience breathing problems or any other symptoms of urosepsis, you should seek out medical attention right away. If urosepsis is not treated, a person can go into septic shock, warns the Mayo Clinic. When this occurs, blood pressure drops dramatically. This can cause organ failure or even death.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that certain people are more likely to develop urosepsis, including older adults; people with weakened immune systems; people who are severely ill or have been recently hospitalized; people with conditions like diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, or lung disease; sepsis survivors; and children under the age of one.