Do you get cystitis from cold feet?

It can get pretty cold from November to January. This begs the question: can you get a bladder infection from cold feet? Find out!

Have you ever come home after a long walk in the cold months, with freezing cold feet, and wondered: Can my cold feet cause a bladder infection? 🥶❄️ It's one of those pieces of wisdom we've all heard (from our mom), but is there really anything to it?

Is a warm shower the only cure for cystitis or is it all nonsense at the end of the day? Unfortunately, we women in particular are affected by it very quickly... and risk one should nothing. After all, we were told from an early age: "Sit down not on the cold floor and put on thick socks."

In this blog, we don't just talk about cold feet, but also about the mysterious wayshow our body reacts to cold. I'll tell you how something as simple as the temperature of your toes could have an impact on your entire body.

So snuggle up in your favorite blanket, and let's find out if you can really make a Cystitis from cold feet gets!

Table of contents

How cystitis develops
Do bladder infections occur more frequently in winter?
This is why you get a bladder infection from cold feet
How can you prevent cystitis in winter?
FAQs on cystitis: Your questions, my answers!

How cystitis develops

A Cystitis (cystitis or urocystitis) occurs when Bacteria (such as 🦠 E. coli) into your Urethra penetrate and settle in your Urinary bladder spread. These bacteria normally live in the intestine and are harmless there. But when they spread from the Bowel outlet enter the urethra, this can lead to a bladder infection.

This can lead to a bladder infection:

From the outside in: Bacteria can enter the urethra from the skin or from the vagina. This happens for example during sexual intercourse (especially in young women), when bathing or wearing tight clothing.👗
From the inside out: Bacteria can also migrate from the bladder into the urethra and further into the vagina or bowel. This happens, for example, if the urethra is weakened by pregnancy or an operation.

At Women this is somewhat more common because their Urethra is shorter and the bacteria do not have to travel as far. Even after the Menopause the risk can increase, as the mucous membrane in the urethra becomes thinner.📈

You can find even more interesting facts about cystitis here:

Also interesting contributions

Do bladder infections occur more frequently in winter?

Yes, in winter bladder infections actually occur more frequently. But why is that? 🤔

So, the cold plays a role here. When it is cold outside, our blood vessels contract. This causes the Blood circulation in the pelvic area reduced. This is important to keep our body warm. But here's the catch: less blood flow also means that the local defenses in the pelvic area are weakened.

Bacteria love namely Heatbecause they can multiply well in a warm environment. Keeping the body warm usually ensures good blood circulation, which helps to ward off germs. But when the body is exposed to the cold and you have a lower body temperature, the bacteria have an easier time of it. easier, into the Bubble to ascend.

In winter, the dry air, indoors and outdoors, are to blame for the fact that we suffer from bladder infections. The Dry air in winter can cause the urinary tract to dry out. This makes the mucous membrane more susceptible to bacteria.

And with little fluid intake, we can become dehydrated, which means that we produce and excrete less urine. Less urine means that bacteria in the urethra are not flushed out sufficiently. 😱

This means that cold weather increases the likelihood of pathogens, such as Escherichia coli bacteria, entering the urinary tract.

Here again at a glance:

Cold: Cold can reduce blood flow in the pelvic area. This makes it easier for bacteria from the intestines to enter the urethra.
Dry air: Dry air can irritate the urinary tract and increase susceptibility to bladder infections.

This is why you get a bladder infection from cold feet

Now you know that cold weather and a low temperature have an influence on whether or not you want to get a Cystitis "capture". And you can probably already guess: yes, even your cold feet contribute to this.🧦

The urethra is a short, thin tube that connects the bladder to the "outside world". It is only about 4 cm long and is located near the anus. When your feet are exposed to the cold for too long, the blood vessels contract. This leads to reduced blood flow in this area.

However, less blood flow also means a weaker local defense of your immune system. Your bladder is therefore more susceptible for attacks by bacteria. 🦠

Reduced cold the Blood circulation the outer regions of your body to keep the heat inside. However, this means that your Mucous membranes fewer antibodies as they are transported with the blood to possible sources of infection. And guess where pathogens like E. coli can get through? That's right, also through the mucous membranes of your urethra.

Especially the legs, up to the Pelvic area are affected by reduced circulation, and cold feet exacerbate the problem.

So your mom, grandma, partner, aunt or sister was right: if your feet are cold in winter, you should wear thick socks to be on the safe side!

Did you know that these are the reasons why you are always cold?

How can you prevent cystitis in winter?

I'm sure you want to do everything you can to help the Cystitis to counteract it. Anyone who has ever had a bladder infection knows how unpleasant it can be.

I have summarized a few tips from the Internet that you can use to prevent bladder infections from spreading in advance 😉.

Get through the cold season in good health with these 9 tips!

Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids help to flush the urinary tract and flush out bacteria. Drink at least 2 liters of water a day, even if you are not thirsty.
Wear warm clothing. Cold feet can reduce blood circulation in the pelvic area. In winter, wear socks, boots and a warm jacket to keep your feet and legs warm.
Use moist toilet tissues. Moist toilet tissues help to moisturize and protect the urinary tract 🧻.
Wipe from front to back after using the toilet. This will prevent bacteria from the intestines entering the urethra.
Use a condom during sexual activity. Condoms help to transfer bacteria from the vagina to the urethra.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine can irritate the urinary tract and increase susceptibility to cystitis.
Drink cranberry juice. There is evidence that cranberry juice can reduce the risk of bladder infections.
Strengthen abdominal muscles. The Abdominal muscles support the bladder. Exercises like Pelvic floor exercises can help.
Act at the first sign! When you If you notice any signs of a bladder infection, go to the doctor. The sooner, the better 🩺💊

There are of course many other ways in which you can a) prevent a bladder infection and b) what helps against cystitis. We at We Go Wild have already written a few articles about this. As women, we also know the problem very well.

Here is a small selection of our articles that deal with cystitis:

FAQs on cystitis: Your questions, my answers!

You still have Further questions on the subject? I've looked up a few on the Internet that are from Men and Women be provided.

If your question is not included, you can send me a Comment or leave a Mail and I will do my best to find an answer for you.🩷

Are women or men more affected by bladder infections?

In fact Women affected by bladder infections much more frequently than Men.👩🏼 This has to do with the anatomy. The female urethra is shorter than the male bladder, and it is closer to the anus. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the bladder and cause trouble there.

That is why women have a Higher risk for bladder infections. Men have a slightly harder time for the bacteria because their urethra is longer and the bacteria have a longer journey to get there. But that doesn't mean that men are completely safe! Everyone can get cystitis, but women are statistically more frequently affected.

Do children get bladder infections more often than adults?

Yes, children get bladder infections more often than adults. This is because the Urethra from children shorter is longer than that of adults. It is only about 2.5 cm long in children, but about 4 cm long in adults.

The short urethra of children makes it Bacteria from the intestine easier, get into the bladder. 🦠 In addition, children do not yet have as strong an immune system as adults. This also makes them more susceptible for infections.

In the first years of life Girls more often bladder infections than boys. From the age of about 7 years the risk of bladder infections is the same for girls and boys.

How do I notice a bladder infection?

Here are the important signsthat you should pay attention to:

Frequent urge to urinateYou have to go to the toilet much more often than normal, and it feels like you always have to go to the toilet, even when your bladder is not full. 🚽
Burning during urination: You will feel a burning or painful sensation when you pee. It can be quite unpleasant.
Pain in the lower abdomenYou may feel pain or pressure in your lower abdomen. Sometimes it feels like cramps.
Urine changesYour urine could be cloudier than normal or even contain blood. This is definitely an alarm sign. 🩸

How long does a bladder infection last?

A bladder infection is really annoying, but fortunately it doesn't usually last forever. It can a few days up to a week or a little longer depending on various factors.

It also depends on whether you have them treated or not. If you No treatment bladder infection can last a few days. up to one week (or longer).📆

But if you Antibiotics the symptoms should disappear within 1-3 days subside. In rare cases, cystitis can also become chronic.

Can frequent cystitis be hereditary?

A frequent bladder infection can sometimes hereditary factors that can play a role. But it's not like it's directly "inherited" from your parents or grandparents like your eye color. It's more complicated than that.

The predisposition to bladder infections can occur in some families, as certain genetic and anatomical factors can increase susceptibility. For example, anatomical features in the urinary tract could increase the likelihood of bacteria entering the bladder more easily.

These factors include:

A short urethra
A weak bladder wall
A weak immune system

Should you keep warm if you have a bladder infection?

Heat can help with a bladder infection. Heat helps to Blood circulation at Pelvic area at improve. Better blood circulation can help to ensure that the Bacteria faster from the bubble rinsed be

Heat can also help to Pain and symptoms of cystitis alleviate 🤕

You can apply heat in different ways:

Place a hot water bottle or a heating pad on the lower abdomen.
Take a warm sitz bath.
Place a warm cloth on the lower abdomen.

Make sure that the heat not too hot is. If the heat is too hot, it can irritate the bladder and make the discomfort worse.

My conclusion

A Cystitis is right 💩 - I won't even try to sugarcoat it.😃 I've had one myself twice... and that was twice too many.

Now we both know that cold feet can contribute to a Cystitis (luckily I've been wearing thick cozy socks since November). With our new knowledge, we can arm ourselves well for the cold months and thus help the Cystitis declare war.

All the best!🩷

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