This new year, make a resolution to improve your health and talk to your doctor about urologic conditions. Although urologic problems may seem embarrassing to talk about, these conditions are more common than you think and a delay in seeking medical attention could cause you unnecessary stress, prolong the problem and even increase your risk for a more serious condition. Experts at the American Urological Association (AUA) and the AUA Foundation recommend talking to your doctor about bladder, prostate or sexual health concerns.
Bladder Health
Incontinence: Many people are afraid to talk about their incontinence. But, more than 15 million Americans, primarily women, suffer in silence with this condition. Incontinence can be caused by a wide range of conditions, such as urinary tract or vaginal infections, constipation, pelvic muscle weakness or prolapse or even childbirth. Incontinence can even be a side effect of some medications. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about this condition because treatment is available.
Bedwetting (Enuresis): Bedwetting is common in preschool children. By age five, it is estimated that around 20 percent of children wet the bed and by age 10 the percentage drops to 5 percent. By puberty, this rate is less than 1 percent. Enuresis, or bedwetting, is almost never due to laziness or deliberate willfulness by the child. Parents should be supportive and understanding, and seek medical advice if their older child continues wetting the bed. Children who wet the bed should receive a full physical exam in order to rule out any serious urologic abnormalities or infections.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI): Patients experiencing symptoms of a UTI, such as painful, frequent urination, cloudy urine, or hematuria (blood in the urine), should seek prompt treatment because the condition can quickly worsen and spread. Although people who suffer frequent UTIs are well aware of the importance to treat this condition, those experiencing a UTI for the first time may not understand the potentially life-threatening consequences of delaying medical attention. UTIs can lead to dangerous kidney infections, bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream) or septicemia (inflammation that decreases blood flow and pressure, and could lead to organ failure) if left untreated. Hematuria may also be caused by a more serious problem, requiring immediate medical attention. Never delay talking to your doctor about blood in your urine.
Prostate Health
Prostate Cancer: One in every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in males in the United States, killing more than 28,000 men in 2008. This disease shows few, if any, symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. The AUA recently changed its guidelines to recommend that men ages 40 and older talk to their doctors about prostate cancer testing. Visit www.KnowYourStats.org for more information about prostate cancer.