Read all about Urinary problems among older men
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What are urinary problems among older men?
Problems with urination among men at a later age are quite common and are often caused by aging of the body which is accompanied by a decrease in muscular strength, decreased sensation and, in a lot of men, an enlarged prostate. Often this is an innocent enlargement of the prostate, but it’s important to see a doctor when the complaints persist.
What are symptoms of the urinary problems among older men?
- Weaker stream
- Fits and starts
- Some urine left behind after urination
- Dripping
- Frequent urination at night
- Painful urination
- Slow at coming on stream
Are urinary problems among older men serious and should I see a doctor?
In general urinary problems in older men aren’t serious. Eventhough an enlarged prostate can be a cause of urinary problems, it isn’t a predictive factor for prostate cancer. Urinary problems are just as frequent in men without prostate cancer as in men with prostate cancer.
Contact a doctor:
- WWhen you’ve had problems urinating for a longer period of time
- When you get a pain in your back or in your lower abdomen, aside from the urinary problems
Immediately contact a doctor:
- When you haven’t urinated for longer than 12 hours
- When you develop a fever, aside from the urinary problems
- When you’re confused or desoriented
What can I do about the urinary problems myself?
- Regularly go to the toilet
- Try to take time for urination
How do urinary problems affect my body?
Urinary problems in older men are gathered under the medical abreviation ‘LUTS’ (lower urinary tract symptoms). These complaints can have a range of causes. An enlarged prostate is probably the best known cause of urinary problems among older men. Other causes could be a weaker sphincter muscle of the bladder, a bladder infection or kidney- or bladderstones.
It’s important to know that urinary problems with an enlarged prostate isn’t a riskfactor for developing prostate cancer. Men without prostate cancer have urinary problems just as often as men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The doctor can examine your prostate for signs of prostate cancer and if there are any indicators can order follow-up testing.