1.PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT(BPH):
Affects men over 50; common symptoms: Increased urinary frequency, poor flow, inability to empty bladder; if left untreated, will lead to complete urinary blockage, stone formation and even renal failure. Consult a Urologist who will perform a few tests to decide line of treatement – TURP/ TUNA/ LASER
- OFFERS MANY ADVANTAGES- ONE DAY STAY, NO BLEEDING, NO LOSS OF URINE CONTROL AND NO LOSS OF ERECTILE POTENCY, PLUS YOU CAN GET BACK TO NORMALCY WITHIN 3-4 DAYS.FULL IMPROVEMENT TAKES A FEW WEEKS; ALSO, PEOPLE WITH HEART PROBLEMS CAN BE TREATED.
2. STONES:
Affects 12 out of 100. Common symptoms: Pain/Blood while passing urine, frequency; fever or severe pain due to blockage of bladder or kidneys may require emergency Urological attention; x-ray , scan and urine/blood tests may be necessary; treatment by fluid intake, Endoscopic removal(basketing), crushing of the stones by endoscopy or Lithotripsy (shock wave treatment). Prevention mainly by increased fluid intake; if no specific cause is found dietary restrictions are not very effective
3.URINE INFECTION
Commoner in women, due to the anatomy of the urinary tract; fever, burning in urine, blood with urine; fever indicates an emergency. Do not self medicate without proper consultation; urine test a must; further tests scan/X-ray/culture if the UTI recurs; common in Diabetics,Prostate enlargement, Perimenopausal women, persons with poor fluid intake. Important to rule out stones.
4.CANCER OF THE URINARY SYSTEM
Usually after 40s except: Testes, which may affect as early as the 20's- symptoms:swelling, lumpiness, heaviness of the testes, should ring warning bells;urgent urological consult, scan and blood tests will be required, followed by exploratory surgery;
Kidneys, Bladder cancers (some) related to smoking, long standing stones in the bladder or kidney; main symptoms are blood in the urine, loss of appetite,loss of weight, breathless ness, anemia etc are some of the presenting symptoms. Persistence of blood in the urine after treatment with antibiotics should ring warning bells- consult a specialist immediately. Scan, blood and Urine tests may be followed by CYSTOSCOPY - a diagnostic examination of the bladder done using a telescope - under local or general anesthesia. Treatment of bladder cancers may vary from a simple cauterisation to lengthy endoscopic removal of bladder tumours, sometimes requiring much major procedures; kidney tumours may be 'cysts' which are harmless fluid containing baloons or solid tumours which may be malignant; these definitely require urgent investigations and possible removal of the affected kidney. Normal life is possible after removal of one Kidney!
Prostate Cancer is on the increase in the west; as more screening methods are becoming available, more people are coming forward with results of blood tests for suspected malignancy affecting the prostate. Essentially a slow growing tumour, if detected early, proper surveillance and timely surgery will be beneficial.
All forms of prostate enlargements are not malignant!
5.MALE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IMPOTENCE( E.D) -CAN BE TREATED, THEREFORE MUST BE BROUGHT OUT FROM UNDER THE BED SHEETS, OUT IN TO THE OPEN!! Impotence is a very depressing terminology. Affects the young and the old alike - the causes are different in the two groups. Usually Psycho-genic or functional in the younger group - due to undue trauma stress and strain of today's life and unrealistic expectations by one's self and wife! Diabetics in all age groups may be affected, whereas the older ones, beyond 60 usually vascular, related to heart problems, BP treatment, spinal problems etc. Investigation in a scientific manner by qualified and experienced Doctor involves A special scan and injection tests along with hormone assays. Surgery is usually the last resort but can change the quality of life in selected cases
6.URINARY INCONTINENCE: Common in the elderly females, may be related to diabetic bladders, hormone deficiency after menopause, causing a full bladder with overflow. In the not so old, may be due to damage to the pelvic floor muscles at pregnancy; in the male diabetics, after prostate surgery or after a stroke or spinal injury. Proper investigations will enable complete treatment, which will make life more bearable. Urge incontinence is common in diabetics, patients with diseases of the spinal cord and other irritable and inflammatory conditions of the pelvis. This distressing condition can be very effectively treated with two groups of drugs: a: antispasmodics which work on a hypersensitive bladder and b: anti-cholinergics which work on a hyperactive bladder
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