DOES YOUR BLADDER GET YOU UP AT NIGHT DO YOU HAVE CONSTANT URGENCY

DOES YOUR BLADDER GET YOU UP AT NIGHT DO YOU HAVE CONSTANT URGENCY
. >
> > Definition
> >
> > Urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder (urethra
> >
> > Causes, incidence, and risk factors
> >
> > Urethral stricture may be caused by inflammation or scar tissue from surgery, disease, or injury. It may also be caused by pressure from an enlarging tumor near the urethra, although this is rare.
> >
> > Causes, incidence, and risk factors
> >
> > Urethral stricture may be caused by inflammation or scar tissue from surgery, disease, or injury. It may also be caused by pressure from an enlarging tumor near the urethra, although this is rare.
> >
> > Other risks include:
> >
> > A history of sexually transmitted disease (STD)
> > Any instrument inserted into the urethra (such as a catheter or cystoscope)
> > Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
> > Injury or trauma to the pelvic area
> > Repeated episodes of urethritis
> > Strictures that are present at birth (congenital) are rare. Strictures in women are also rare.
> >
> >
> > Symptoms
> >
> > Bloody or dark urine
> >
> > Decreased urine output
> > Difficulty urinating
> > Discharge from the urethra
> > Frequent or urgent urination
> > Inability to urinate (urinary retention)
> > Incontinence
> > Painful urination (dysuria)
> > Pain in the lower abdomen
> > Pelvic pain
> > Slow urine stream (may develop suddenly or gradually)
> > Spraying of urine stream
> >
> > Definition
> >
> > Frequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual.
> >
> > Urgent urination is a sudden, compelling urge to urinate, along with discomfort in your bladder.
> >
> > A frequent need to urinate at night is called nocturia. Most people can sleep for 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate. Middle aged and older men often wake to urinate once in the early morning hours.
> >
> >
> > Common Causes
> >
> > Together, frequent and urgent urination are classic signs of a urinary tract infection. Since inflammation reduces the bladder's capacity to hold urine, even small amounts of urine cause discomfort.
> >
> > Diabetes, pregnancy, and prostate problems are other common causes of these symptoms.
> >
> > Other causes include:
> >
> > Interstitial cystitis
> > Medicines such as diuretics
> > Overactive bladder syndrome
> > Prostatitis
> > Stroke and other neurological diseases
> > Urinary incontinence
> > Less common causes:
> >
> > Bladder cancer
> > Bladder dysfunction
> > Radiation therapy
> > Common causes of nighttime urination:
> >
> > Drinking too much before bedtime, especially caffeine or alcohol
> > Enlarged prostate
> >
> > Home Care
> >
> >
> > Follow the therapy recommended by your doctor to treat the underlying cause of your urinary frequency or urgency. It may help to keep a diary of times and amounts of urine voided to bring with you to the doctor.
> >
> > In some cases, you may experience some urinary incontinence for a period of time.
> >
> > Call your doctor right away if:
> >
> > You have fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or shaking chills
> > You have increased thirst or appetite, fatigue, or sudden weight loss
> > Also call your doctor if:
> >
> > You have urinary frequency or urgency, but you are not pregnant and you are not drinking excessive amounts of fluid
> > You have incontinence or have altered your lifestyle because of your symptoms
> > You have bloody or cloudy urine
> > There is a discharge from the penis or vagina
> > What to expect at your health care provider's office
> >
> > Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Medical history questions may include:
> >
> > When did the increased urinary frequency start?
> > How many times each day are you urinating?
> > Is there more frequent urination during the day or at night?
> > Do you have an increased amount of urine?
> > Has there been a change in the color of your urine? Does it appear lighter, darker, or more cloudy than usual? Have you noticed any blood?
> > Do you have pain when urinating, or a burning sensation?
> > Do you have other symptoms? Increased thirst? Pain in your abdomen? Pain in your back? Fever?
> > Do you have difficulty starting the flow of urine?
> > Are you drinking more fluids than usual?
> > Have you had a recent bladder infection?
> > Are you pregnant?
> > What medications are you taking?
> > Have you had any previous urinary problems?
> > Have you recently changed your diet?
> > Do you drink beverages containing alcohol or caffeine?
> > Tests that may be done include:
> >
> > Urinalysis
> > Urine culture and sensitivity tests
> > Cystometry (a measurement of the pressure within the bladder)
> > Cystoscopy
> > Neurological tests (for some urgency problems)
> > Ultrasonography (such as an abdominal ultrasound or a pelvic ultrasound)
> > Treatment is determined by the cause of the urgency and frequency. Antibiotics and medicine may be prescribed to lessen the discomfort, if needed.
> >
> >
> > Prevention
> >
> > For nighttime urination, avoid excessive fluid before going to bed, particularly coffee, other caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.
> >
> >
> > You might have to rush to the toilet as soon as you feel the need to urinate. This sudden urge is called 'urgency'.
> > People who have normal bladder function can hold on until they reach a toilet, but people with urgency may leak if they do not get to a toilet in time.. This is called 'urge incontinence' .
> >
> > Most cases of urgency and urge incontinence are caused by an overactive bladder. However, for some people, the cause is never found.
> >
> > You may feel the need to rush to the toilet if you have a urinary tract infection. People with diseases that affect the nerves that are linked to the bladder such as MS and Parkinson's disease can be prone to urgency and urge incontinence.
> >
> > 'Latch key' urgency can affect people who already have poor bladder control.. This term refers to the need to go to the toilet as soon as you get home and put the key in the door. Knowing that you will soon be able to go to the toilet may cause your bladder to contract so that you have to rush to get to the toilet.
> >
> > Some people experience a similar urgency feeling when they hear running water. This can be quite common but when you have to rush to the toilet and sometimes do not make it in time, you need to investigate this problem.
> >
> > If you are concerned about your urgency or if you are experiencing urge incontinence and regularly have accidents, you should visit your doctor or continence nurse. A continence nurse is a health care professional who specialises in bladder and bowel problems. Call our specialist continence helpline 0845 345 0165 (24 answerphone) for medical advice or call our general enquiries line 01536 533255 for details of your nearest Continence Advisory Service.
> >
> > Once you have made an appointment, your doctor or nurse will assess you. They may ask you some of the following questions:
> >
> >
> > How often do you go to the toilet?
> > How often do you leak or have an accident?
> > When do you leak or have accidents?
> > What medication do you take?
> > What do you normally eat or drink?
> > Is it painful / uncomfortable when you go to the toilet?
> > How many times do you get up at night?
> > Do you ever wet the bed?
> > It would be a good idea to keep a record of your bladder activity for a few days before your appointment with your doctor or nurse. Keep a record for at least 3 days.
> >
> > What is meant by overactive bladder?
> >
> >
> > The bladder, which can hold up to 300 or 400 mL of urine (more than a cup), gives you a signal when it is getting full, but can wait to be emptied until the time is convenient for you. That's when the bladder works well. If you have an overactive bladder, however, it doesn't work well. If you have an overactive bladder, you need to use the toilet frequently - you can't wait until it is convenient. And if there is no toilet readily available, you may lose control of your bladder.
> >
> > There are three key symptoms of an overactive bladder. You may have only the first two, or all three. The first symptom is frequency, needing to empty your bladder more frequently than usual. Going to the toilet more than eight times in 24 hours is usually regarded as unusual. The second key symptom of overactive bladder is urgency, the sudden feeling that you have to go right now. The final symptom, and the most distressing, is called urgency incontinence. This means that your need to go is so urgent that you lose control before you can get to a toilet. Of all those who have an overactive bladder, 40% have urgency incontinence.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Who gets overactive bladder?
> >
> > The brief answer - lots of people! One estimate is that at least 2.9 million Canadians have an overactive bladder or suffer from incontinence. An overactive bladder is more common in women, and in older adults, but can be found in younger folks and in men. Unfortunately, many people who have symptoms of an overactive bladder suffer silently and needlessly because they do not seek medical help.
> >
> > Are there other types of incontinence?
> >
> > Overactive bladder and incontinence are not the same thing. Many people with overactive bladder (approximately 60%) do not have accidents. And many people have incontinence but do not have an overactive bladder.
> >
> > Apart from overactive bladder, another common cause of bladder leaking is called stress incontinence. This problem, found almost entirely in women, involves loss of urine with sneezing, coughing, laughing, or lifting.
> >
> > Many men will have incontinence after prostate surgery. Diseases affecting the brain or spinal cord (strokes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's diseases) can all cause loss of bladder control. Urinary tract infections, common in young women, can cause temporary problems with bladder control. You can see there are many different causes and types of incontinence.
> >
> >
> >
> > What can be done about an overactive bladder?
> >
> > Lots can be done to help you if you have an overactive bladder.
> >
> > The first step is to seek appropriate help. Many people with an overactive bladder assume that nothing can be done, so they learn to cope with their problem. You may be in the habit of only shopping at certain stores, because you know where their toilets are. Or you may avoid social activities, avoid going to the theatre, avoid doing some of the pleasurable things of life for fear of embarrassment. You may choose to only wear dark clothing to disguise leakage, or carry a spare set of clothing. These strategies really don't address the problem, however. You deserve good treatment. Your doctor can help.
> >
> > When you see your doctor, an accurate diagnosis will be needed. Your doctor will ask questions about your urinating habits, when problems occur, other symptoms, and so on. A urine sample will often be taken to check for diabetes or infection. Your doctor may ask you to keep a "bladder diary" for a couple of days, listing how often and when you urinate, how much urine you pass, how much urgency you feel, and when accidents occur.
> >
> > If your problem is indeed an overactive bladder, the first treatment usually suggested is pelvic floor rehabilitation. This means training the muscles of the pelvic floor - the muscles that surround the opening of the bladder and control urine flow. Strengthening these muscles will reduce accidents, and help your bladder to hold more urine. There are exercises that you can do, called Kegel exercises, which strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Your doctor can instruct you in these. Biofeedback is sometimes used as a training technique. In some women, vaginal weights are used for training, because the same muscles that surround the bladder opening also surround the opening of the vagina. Again, your doctor can help you with the choice of pelvic floor training exercises.
> >
> >
> >
> > Along with the exercises, there are other specific steps that you can take. Reducing the amount of fluid that you take, especially caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee or tea, will help reduce the amount of urine that you produce, and reduce frequency and urgency. Keeping a bladder diary can let you identify a pattern to your problem, which may allow you to make some changes that make a difference.
> >
> > Although Kegel exercises and other behavioural steps often help, most people with an overactive bladder will need medication as well. The medications that are used, called anticholinergic medications, work on the nerves that control the muscles of the bladder. By reducing spasms in the muscles, and relaxing the muscles, symptoms of urgency and frequency are significantly reduced. These medications are generally very safe. The most common side effect - dry mouth - is a nuisance that many people with overactive bladder are happy to put up with, because these medications can be very effective.
> >
> > You do not need to suffer silently with an overactive bladder. Appropriate treatment can often help you go out and enjoy yourself again.postedbyMERMW T

.
.