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==Overview==
==Overview==
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.
Frequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual.  


==What are the symptoms of Urinary urgency?==
==What are the symptoms of Urinary urgency?==
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.
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.


==What causes Urinary urgency?==
==What causes Urinary urgency?==
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==Who is at highest risk?==
==Who is at highest risk?==
Presence of any of the above disease mentioned above increasing your frequency  
Presence of any of the above disease mentioned above increasing your frequency  
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call your doctor right away if:
Call your health care provider for an appointment if:
*You have fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or shaking chills
*Your symptoms are causing you problems
*You have increased thirst or appetite, fatigue, or sudden weight loss
*You have pelvic discomfort or burning with urination
Also call your doctor if:
*Your symptoms occur daily
*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 Office Visit
*Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Medical history questions may include:


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
Tests that may be done include:
TDuring a physical examination, the health care provider will look at the abdomen and rectum. Women will also have a pelvic exam. Men will also have a genital exam. In most cases the physical exam reveals nothing abnormal.


*[[Urinalysis]]
If there are nervous system (neurologic) causes, other abnormalities may be found.
*Urine culture and sensitivity tests
 
*Cystometry (a measurement of the pressure within the bladder)
Tests include the following:
*Cystoscopy
 
*Neurological tests (for some urgency problems)
*EMG (myogram) - rarely needed
*Ultrasonography (such as an abdominal ultrasound or a pelvic ultrasound)
*Inspection of the inside of the bladder (cystoscopy)
*Pad test (after placement of a previously weighed sanitary pad, the patient exercises, then the pad is weighed to determine urine loss)
*Pelvic or abdominal ultrasound
*Post-void residual volume (PVR) to measure amount of urine left after urination
*Urinalysis or urine culture to rule out urinary tract infection
*Urinary stress test (the patient stands with a full bladder and coughs)
*Urodynamic studies (measurement of pressure and urine flow)
*X-rays with contrast dye
Further tests will be performed to rule out other types of incontinence. The "Q-tip test" measures the change in the angle of the urethra at rest and when straining. An angle change of greater than 30 degrees often is a sign that the muscles supporting the bladder are weak. This is common in stress incontinence.


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
Treatment is determined by the cause of the urgency and frequency. Antibiotics and medicine may be prescribed to lessen the discomfort, if needed.
Treatment is determined by the cause of the urgency and frequency. Antibiotics and medicine may be prescribed to lessen the discomfort, if needed.


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
How well you do depends on your symptoms, an accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment. Many patients must try different therapies (some at the same time) to reduce symptoms.
Instant improvement is unusual. Perseverance and patience are usually required to see improvement. A small number of patients need surgery to control their symptoms.
==Possible complications==
Physical complications are rare. However, psychological and social problems may arise, particularly if you are unable to get to the bathroom when you feel the urge.
==Prevention==
==Prevention==
For nighttime urination, avoid excessive fluid before going to bed, particularly coffee, other caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.
For nighttime urination, avoid excessive fluid before going to bed, particularly coffee, other caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.

Latest revision as of 19:06, 16 August 2011

Urinary urgency

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Urinary urgency?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Urinary urgency On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Urinary urgency

Videos on Urinary urgency

FDA on Urinary urgency

CDC on Urinary urgency

Urinary urgency in the news

Blogs on Urinary urgency

Directions to Hospitals Treating Urinary urgency

Risk calculators and risk factors for Urinary urgency

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [1]

Overview

Frequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual.

What are the symptoms of Urinary urgency?

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.

What causes Urinary urgency?

Together, frequent and urgent urination are classic signs of a urinary tract infection.

Diabetes, pregnancy, and prostate problems are other common causes of these symptoms.

Other causes include:

Less common causes:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Bladder dysfunction
  • Radiation therapy to the pelvis, used to treat certain cancers
  • Drinking too much before bedtime, especially caffeine or alcohol, can cause frequent urination at nighttime. Frequent urination may also simply just be a habit.

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. You may need to take steps to protect your clothing and bedding.

Who is at highest risk?

Presence of any of the above disease mentioned above increasing your frequency

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider for an appointment if:

  • Your symptoms are causing you problems
  • You have pelvic discomfort or burning with urination
  • Your symptoms occur daily

Diagnosis

TDuring a physical examination, the health care provider will look at the abdomen and rectum. Women will also have a pelvic exam. Men will also have a genital exam. In most cases the physical exam reveals nothing abnormal.

If there are nervous system (neurologic) causes, other abnormalities may be found.

Tests include the following:

  • EMG (myogram) - rarely needed
  • Inspection of the inside of the bladder (cystoscopy)
  • Pad test (after placement of a previously weighed sanitary pad, the patient exercises, then the pad is weighed to determine urine loss)
  • Pelvic or abdominal ultrasound
  • Post-void residual volume (PVR) to measure amount of urine left after urination
  • Urinalysis or urine culture to rule out urinary tract infection
  • Urinary stress test (the patient stands with a full bladder and coughs)
  • Urodynamic studies (measurement of pressure and urine flow)
  • X-rays with contrast dye

Further tests will be performed to rule out other types of incontinence. The "Q-tip test" measures the change in the angle of the urethra at rest and when straining. An angle change of greater than 30 degrees often is a sign that the muscles supporting the bladder are weak. This is common in stress incontinence.

Treatment options

Treatment is determined by the cause of the urgency and frequency. Antibiotics and medicine may be prescribed to lessen the discomfort, if needed.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

How well you do depends on your symptoms, an accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment. Many patients must try different therapies (some at the same time) to reduce symptoms.

Instant improvement is unusual. Perseverance and patience are usually required to see improvement. A small number of patients need surgery to control their symptoms.

Possible complications

Physical complications are rare. However, psychological and social problems may arise, particularly if you are unable to get to the bathroom when you feel the urge.

Prevention

For nighttime urination, avoid excessive fluid before going to bed, particularly coffee, other caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.

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