Your urinary system is made up of your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. It is responsible for removing waste and excess fluids from your body and maintaining balance in fluids, electrolytes, and acids.
Urological issues can affect anyone, but are more common in men than women. There are many signs and symptoms of urological problems, below are the top 8 urological symptoms that you should never ignore.
Blood in Urine
Seeing Blood in your urine can be alarming, and it could be a sign of several urological issues, including bladder or kidney cancer, bladder infections, or kidney stones.
It is essential to consult your doctor immediately if you have blood in your urine, even if it’s just a small amount. Blood in urine is an indication of an underlying condition, and ignoring it could lead to severe complications in the future.
Painful Urination
If you experience pain or burning feeling while urinating, it could be a signal of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or an STD. Painful urination is frequent in women than in men.
UTIs are more common in women due to their anatomy, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder and cause an infection. When left untreated, UTIs can lead to kidney infections and damage. It is essential to seek medical attention if you experience painful urination.
Difficulty Urinating
Difficulty urinating is a symptom that arises when there is an obstruction in your urinary system. Obstructions can be caused by kidney stones, an enlarged prostate gland, or a urinary tract infection.
In men, an enlarged prostate gland is the leading cause of difficulty urinating. It is essential to consult a urologist if you are experiencing difficulty while urinating because it could lead to kidney damage and failure.
Frequent Urination
If you seem to be going to the bathroom more frequently lately, it could be an indication of an underlying health condition. Frequent urination is a symptom of several urological issues such as UTIs, bladder infections, and incontinence.
In men, frequent urination could be a symptom of an enlarged prostate gland. It is crucial to seek medical attention if you are experiencing frequent urination to prevent kidney damage.
Weak Urine Stream
Having a weak urine stream is a sign of an obstruction in the urinary tract. The obstructions can be caused by an enlarged prostate gland in men or urethral stricture disease in both men and women.
It is recommended to seek medical attention if you are experiencing a weak urine stream because the obstruction could lead to kidney damage.
Lower Back Pain
If you experience lower back pain on one side, it could be a kidney infection or stone. Kidney stones are causing severe back pain in your back near the waistline and could radiate to the groin area.
Kidney infections cause discomfort in the lower back that could become chronic if left untreated. Consulting your doctor is crucial in finding the underlying cause of the pain and prompt treatment.
Incontinence
Incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control, which can cause a person to leak urine involuntarily. Incontinence occurs due to damage to the bladder muscles, a weak urinary sphincter, or neurological problems.
Incontinence is more prevalent in women than men and could be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. It is essential to seek medical attention if you are experiencing incontinence because it could have a severe impact on your quality of life and lead to emotional distress.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual dysfunction that affects men of different ages. ED is the inability to get an erection or maintain it during sexual intercourse. The causes of ED could be both psychological and physical.
ED could be a symptom of underlying health concerns like diabetes, high blood pressure, urinary tract infection, or even low testosterone levels.
Conclusion
Effective treatment of urological issues requires early detection and prompt medical attention. If you experience any of these warning signs, don’t hesitate to consult your urologist.
Urinary tract problems that go untreated could result in permanent damage to the urinary system or other organs. Paying attention to your body and seeking treatment for urological issues is the best way to maintain a healthy urinary system.