Age comes with wisdom, experience, and at times, a handful of surprises when it comes to bodily processes. One of the biggest changes that many men will encounter is in the toilet habits. You may begin waking frequently throughout the night or having trouble making it to the toilet in time during the day. Your stream may not be as powerful as it was before.All of these signs can easily be attributed to getting older because that’s just what happens at some point. For any kind of prostate urine problems, you must contact the doctor.
Is it possible that an irritable bladder is just a result of aging, or is it trying to say something about your prostate? There is a need to recognize the difference between an aging bladder and a problematic prostate.
The Naturally Aging Bladder: What Changes?
As skin starts to lose its elasticity and muscles start losing their maximum power, the bladder also goes through some physical changes as years go by.The walls of the bladder in elderly people become less elastic than those of young. As a result of that, the bladder becomes unable to store as much urine as before and requires a person to visit the toilet more frequently. Moreover, muscles of the bladder may lose their power or become overactive which causes a need to urinate urgently, even if the bladder is not completely filled with urine.Another common problem among older people is an increased production of urine at night compared to the period of youth. That leads to visiting the toilet one or two times per night, but this condition is called nocturia. Nevertheless, slight changes in frequency and nighttime visits are quite normal during the aging process.
Enter the Prostate: The Hidden Culprit
Even though the bladder undergoes some changes, it does not function in isolation. The prostate gland is right beneath it and this gland has the shape of a walnut and surrounds the urethra that is responsible for carrying the urine from the body.Being positioned as such, the state of the prostate gland has a direct effect on how the urine is drained. In case of problems with urination in men after the age of fifty, the main problem is caused by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) which is another name for enlarged prostate without cancer. As the prostate enlarges, it presses on the urethra just like when a garden hose gets pinched. This makes the bladder work twice as hard in order to make the urine go through, thus making it stronger, thicker and more sensitive.
How to Spot the Difference: Bladder Age vs. Prostate Pressure
Since both a bladder growing older and a larger prostate can cause problems with urination, many of their symptoms are the same. Nevertheless, there are signs that show that the problem has its origin in the prostate.Concerning an Old Bladder (Storage Symptoms)If your problems have more to do with the storage function of your bladder, then you should be expecting:The urge to urinate often during the day.A need to urinate which is hard to control.Waking up once or twice at night to urinate with regular amounts of urine.
Signs of a Prostate Issue (Flow and Emptying Issues)
In case there is an enlarged prostate affecting your urethra, then the symptoms will be different in relation to the passage of urine in relation to how the bladder retains the urine. Watch out for:The Urine Flow Will Be Incomplete: This happens when one takes time before the urine starts coming or the urine flow is intermittent instead of being a continuous flow. Straining: When one feels the urge of having to strain or apply pressure while passing urine.
When to Talk to a Doctor
If your bathroom problems are disturbing your sleep, interfering with your social activities, or causing you fear when you travel away from home, then it is time for a consultation with your physician or urologist.Although BPH is extremely common and easily managed, failing to treat the severe symptoms could result in certain problems. The complete blockage of the urethra may result in acute retention of urine (an emergency condition in which you cannot urinate), formation of bladder stones, or even kidney damage. In addition, a professional consultation will allow you to be sure that there are no other conditions causing your symptoms such as UTIs or prostate cancer.A physician will be able to check on your prostate health with some simple procedures, such as physical examination, urine analysis, or PSA blood test.
Taking Control: Actionable Steps for Relief
It does not matter whether the symptoms arise from natural aging or enlargement of the prostate, there are several changes in your lifestyle that will help ease the condition:
Avoid Excessive Liquids: Try to consume less fluid for a few hours before going to bed to prevent night-time bathroom visits. It is important not to consume any substances that irritate the bladder such as caffeine, alcohol, and spicy food.
Double Voiding: While urinating, pause for a few seconds after the urination is done and try to urinate again while leaning forward to get rid of compressed bladder content.
Stay Active: Physical exercise and healthy body weight were proven to alleviate BPH symptoms.
Conclusion
Bathroom changes are a typical element of aging; however, this does not mean that you should let it influence your quality of life. As the size of the bladder decreases with age, problems with your urine flow – such as straining, inability to urinate without strain, and weak urine stream – suggest that there may be a problem with your prostate. Through understanding these symptoms, you will be able to seek the right treatment. For kidney stone treatment, visit the best doctor today!
