What are Urologic Diseases?
These are diseases that are related to the filtering and carrying of urine out of the body. The diseases can affect both men, women, and children. Urologic Diseases can affect just certain parts of the body; in men, it affects their reproductive organs or the urinary tract. In women, it affects the urinary tract. You can run a urinalysis test using the urine test strips.
The following are some of the Urologic Diseases as identified by the American Urological Association Foundation
- Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a condition where the bladder loses control. This leads to the urine to leak when you cough or laugh. This disease can be very embarrassing. According to the American Urological Association Foundation [AUAF, more than 17 million people suffer from urinary incontinence.
The following are some of the things that causes incontinence.
- Pregnancy or childbirth
- Enlarged prostate
- Urinary tract infections
- Severe constipation
- Diabetes
- Overactive bladder
- Injury to the spinal cord
In some instances, taking plenty of fluids can help to address this condition. But if these approaches don’t prove to be effective, then your doctor can perform a surgery to address the underlying cause.
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [BPH]
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [BPH] is an enlarged prostate gland. Its symptoms include a weak urine stream, difficulty in urination, and one may feel that the bladder is not empty after urination. This condition is very common in older men. It’s worth noting that BPH is not connected directly to prostate cancer.
The symptoms of the BPH are caused by the excess pressure that the enlarged prostate places on the urethra. The urethra is the tube which carries urine from the bladder and out of the body. The doctor may prescribe some medications such as alpha-blockers or a surgery may be performed when the condition is severe.
- Urinary Tract Infections [UTIs]
Urinary Tract Infections are infections that are caused by bacteria or viruses that attack the urinary tract. Women tend to develop UTIs more than men. According to the American Urological Association Foundation, about 45% of women and 15% of men can have UTI with noticeable symptoms at some point in their lives. One of the symptoms of UTI is a burning sensation while urinating. The other symptoms include the urge to urinate frequently and the feeling that the bladder is completely not empty after urinating. Usually, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics which can clear the ITI between five to seven days.
- Kidney stones
The kidney stones occur when there are crystals in the urine. These stones can block the flow of the urine and cause severe pain. There are some people who can expel the stones that are small from their body without any medical assistance. However, the larger stones can lead to blockage which can be a big problem and hence there is a need for medical attention.
Surgery can be performed in some cases to remove the large stones. One of the most commonly used approaches is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL]. The method uses sound waves to break the stones into smaller particles so that they can exit the body easily.
