FROM PREVENTING A good night’s sleep to creating restroom anxiety around social outings, urinary issues can be disruptive and embarrassing. With proper management, however, patients can overcome conditions like overactive bladder syndrome, stress incontinence, and frequent nighttime urination— and the feelings of frustration and stigma those ailments often bring.
“Unfortunately, a lot of older patients write off urinary issues and changes as a normal part of aging. We’re trying to dispel that myth,” said Dr. Ahmed El-Zawahry, a urologist with University of Toledo Physicians Group. “Many of these conditions are very treatable. It doesn’t have to be something you live with.”
El-Zawahry and the other expert healthcare providers at UToledo Physicians Group’s Urology Clinic at Regency Medical Campus provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for a full range of urologic conditions.
Though urinary issues are common in both men and women, women are particularly susceptible to pelvic floor disorders, a group of conditions that result from weakened or injured pelvic muscles. Problems with the pelvic floor can cause a range of symptoms, including constipation and difficulty voiding urine, frequent urges to pee, urine leakage, and persistent pain.One of the most common urinary issues is overactive bladder, which causes people to feel the need to urinate often and is frequently associated with urinary incontinence.
“These problems can be very detrimental to an individuals’ overall wellbeing, particularly their mental health,” said El-Zawahry, who specializes in treating pelvic floor disorders. “They cannot go to their church, they are scared to go out to dinner, to go meet up with their friends. It can be isolating and lead to depression.”
A number of studies also have linked nocturia—the scientific name for waking up at night to urinate— with falls. “It’s not something people always think about, but it is a real risk,” El-Zawahry said. “People wake up, try to rush to the bathroom, they stumble and fall. In older adults, broken bones resulting from falls can be life-threatening.”
While it can be uncomfortable to talk about, El-Zawahry said it’s important that anyone experiencing urinary symptoms schedule an appointment with a urologist as soon as possible. Not only does an earlier diagnosis often reduce the chance someone will need more intensive therapies, but urinary changes also can be among the first symptoms of a range of other health issues, including serious conditions like heart failure and multiple sclerosis. “One of the things I try to stress to patients is not to underestimate urinary symptoms,” he said. “The urinary tract can be a reflection of your general health. We want to rule out those other causes or, if we need to, get you referred to another specialist who can address the direct cause of your symptoms.”
In many people whose urinary issues are not connected to another health problem, simple lifestyle adjustments paired with exercise or pelvic therapy can be enough to resolve symptoms. For those who don’t respond to behavioral modifications, there is a range of highly effective medications and minimally invasive surgical procedures that can help.
Ultimately, El-Zawahry said, most people are able to achieve an 80% to 90% reduction in urinary symptoms with proper treatment.
To schedule an appointment with the UToledo Physicians Group Urology Clinic at Regency Medical Campus, call 419-473-3446.
Tyrel Linkhorn is a communications specialist at The University of Toledo. ✲
