Urologic Diseases
What Are Urologic Diseases?
We all have a urinary system in our body consisting of the kidneys, urethra, bladder, and ureters. The function of the urinary system (also called the renal system) is to extract waste from the body and to regulate the electrolytes, blood pressure, blood volume, blood PH, and blood volume. The kidney strains the blood so that the waste can go out through the ureters to the bladder in the form of urine.
Diseases that attack or affect the urinary system come under urologic diseases. Urologic diseases have a wide variety of conditions, all belonging to the filtering and carrying of urine out of the body. These diseases can harm anyone whether they are women, men, or children of any age. These diseases harm only the specific parts of the body. In women, they affect the urinary tract. In men, they harm the urinary tract or the reproductive organs.
Some of the Most Common Urologic Diseases
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is dropping off the bladder control. This results in the unwanted flow of the urine. This situation can be inconvenient, awkward, and embarrassing but it is far from uncommon. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 15 million people have incontinence.
There are multiple things that can cause incontinence. Some of the reasons are:
- Pregnancy or childbirth
- Diabetes
- Overactive bladder
- Enlarged prostate
- Injury to the spinal cord
- Weak bladder muscles
- Weak sphincter muscles (muscles supporting the urethra)
- Severe constipation
- Urinary tract infections
In a few cases, you can control this by controlling the fluid intake in your daily routines. If this is not working then you should connect to the doctor to rectify the issue.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prostate enlargement. This means an increase in the size of the prostate gland. BPH is very common in older men. The symptoms of BPH are developed by the pressure that a larger prostate can place on the urethra. The urethra is the narrow tube that brings urine from the bladder and throws out of the body.
Men with BPH may experience a continual urge to urinate. They may also have a weak stream of urine and they feel that the bladder is not empty after urination. Your doctor may choose to just check this condition or prescribe the medications like alpha-blockers for treatment.
Kidney and Ureteral Stones
Stones are developed in the kidneys when there are crystals in the urine and small particles around and gather on these crystals. Ureteral stones can also move from the kidney into the ureter (through the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).
These stones can block urine flow and can cause you heavy pain. Most of the people end up with the problems as these stones pass out from the body without medical help. But people with larger stones may result in the blockage, which is even more problematic.
These large stone blockages can also be treated with surgical procedures. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the popular techniques to remove large stones.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs are the result of the pathogenic bacteria or viruses that conquer the urinary tract and develop an infection. This problem is prevalent in women, although men are also prone to this problem. According to the health researcher, roughly 45 percent of females and 14 percent of males will have a UTI that causes noticeable symptoms at some point in their lives. A blazing sensation during urination is one of the symptoms of a UTI. Also, a frequent urge to urinate and the feeling that the bladder is not completely empty after urinating are also one of the symptoms of the UTI. Antibiotics can generally clear up most UTIs within 5 to 7 days.
Here Are Some Tips to Improve Your Overall Urological Health
- Stay hydrated
- Drink cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Limit the amount of salt and caffeine in your diet
- Pick a smoke-free lifestyle
- Nourish the muscles of the pelvic area with exercises
- Encourage children to urinate immediately before bed
- Limit fluid intake in the nighttime
- Buy athletic “cups” to help prevent injury
- Instruct young girls that they should make use of a front-to-back motion to wipe the genital area after going to the washroom
If you are having some major problems, it is recommended to visit a urology expert.