Living with a Urinary Catheter - Hydration Guide - Flipbook - Page 5
Why hydration is necessary
For people using urinary
catheters, consuming enough
fluid is especially important
due to the risk of:
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections
There is a heightened risk of developing a urinary
tract infection if your urine becomes dehydrated
as bacteria is able to become active in the bladder.
Increasing your fluid intake helps flush the bacteria
from the body and flush the catheter through. If you
are using a urinary catheter, there is a greater risk of
infection, or catheter complications such as blockages
or catheter bypassing problems. Dehydration, which
causes concentrated urine, increases the risk of
catheter blockage, so increasing your fluid intake will
help reduce urine concentration.
Constipation
Dehydration can cause your bowel motions to become
more solid and difficult to pass. A reduction in the
number of bowel movements you normally have or
difficulty/discomfort having a bowel motion can be a
sign of constipation. Increasing your fluid intake will
help the stool become softer and easier to pass. It is
important to avoid constipation whilst using a urinary
catheter. A full bowel can press on the bladder which
puts pressure on the catheter, preventing it from
draining urine properly.
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