Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : June 14, 2016 5:02 PM IST
Running often to the restroom or feeling an uncontrollable urge to urinate can be a discomfort you have to put up with. While less urine output could be a matter of concern, frequent urination is no less. If you notice any change in the pattern of your urine output, you should take it seriously. Frequent urination (like visiting the restroom every two hours) is a vague symptom and could be indicative of so many conditions. It is better you don t ignore the symptom and suffer in silence, says Dr Anup Ramani, Uro-oncological Robotic Surgeon, Mumbai. Here are few reasons of frequent urination in men listed down by him:
1. Urinary tract infections or UTIs: In men UTI infections are very rare as compared to women who suffer from the same often. However, this is not to say that UTI infections are not detected in men. In younger men who are in their 20s and 30s, a UTI infection could be a reason behind frequent urination. For instance, if a man suffers from any STD the bacteria present could lead to frequent urination along with other problems like burning, itching and inability to empty the bladder. However, in men aged 50 and above, a UTI could be due to problems of either the prostate or the bladder.
2. Enlarged prostate: This is the most common cause of frequent urination in older men. An enlarged prostate that presses on the bladder might cause problems in emptying the bladder on time and lead to several trips to the john. However, if the condition is ignored, it could also give rise to UTI. This is because when urine sits it the bladder for too long its chemical composition changes. This allows the bacteria to thrive and lead to a UTI. Most men with an enlarged prostate who suffer from frequent urination reach the doctor s clinic with a full blown UTI problem whose real cause is the enlarged prostate.
3. Kidney stones: Both in the young and the elderly kidney stones could lead to this problem. Stones are known to cause infection because bacteria live on the stones. The acquired infection then leads to frequent urination.
4. Bladder cancer: Problems in the bladder can also be a cause of frequent urination. A tumour, cancer or even other problems in the bladder could lead to pain in the bladder or pelvic region with frequent urination.
5. Prostate cancer: While this cancer is asymptomatic, but at times frequent urination could also be due to the underlying prostate cancer. In this case too, a person might reach for doctor s help to treat the urination problem whose diagnosis and analysis could lead to the much graver problem.
6. Anxiety: You might not have suspected this, but, stress and anxiety are also a reason to make you run to the restroom often. Stress and anxiety cause hormonal changes in the body that bring physiological, psychological and emotional changes and one way the body reacts to these changes is to eliminate wastes as quickly as possible and hence the frequency.
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