Viewers send us questions to ask Dr. Chris Snyder with Peninsula Regional Medical Center in our ‘Ask the Doc’ segment.
Dr. Chris Snyder, PRMC’s Chief Informatics Officer and Hospitalist, answers questions about squiggly lines in vision, cold sores being contagious, foods giving you gas, asparagus making your urine smell, and frequent urination.
Dr. Chris Snyder also touches on urinary tract infections and antibiotics for UTI’s have become immune over the years.
He says many of the drugs used 20 years ago to treat urinary tract infections have changed over the last two decades – especially in a hospital setting where high doses are utilized.
To combat this, doctors use urine samples as a “road map” to treat bacteria. By collecting and analyzing urine samples from each patient, they are able to determine whether the bacteria is or is not resistant to certain drugs and act accordingly.
Like a pool, the human body has a PH that needs to be balanced in order to maintain healthy chemical levels, which is why anything you put in your mouth can have an impact on your ability to avoid a UTI. The acidic or basic environment caused by different foods can create a hospitable environment for bacteria and increase susceptibility to UTI’s.
Dr. Snyder says there is a significant benefit in understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy PH balance when treating a UTI. Symptoms of a UTI include frequent urination and burning, but these signs don’t always mean infection.
There is a much lower incidence of UTI’s in men, but they do happen. Dr. Snyder says is important to culture the urine of each patient and evaluate them appropriately to rule out other possibilities, such as STD’s and postmenopausal issues.
Dr. Snyder says it is vital to talk to your doctor if you are struggling with any of these symptoms.
