Difficulty urinating: Let's talk about this (LUTS)

Do you also have to go to the toilet frequently? Or do you still feel like your bladder is full even after you've finished urinating? Maybe your urine stream is very slow and stops. Many people have these problems, but they don't talk about it much because they're embarrassed or think 'this is normal'. But these are not things to ignore. Today we're talking about symptoms that occur in the lower part of the urinary system, or as we medically call them, LUTS (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms).

What are these symptoms?

LUTS is not a single disease, but a collection of symptoms. These can be divided into two main categories. That is, problems with urine storage and problems with voiding. Think of it like a water tank, problems with filling the water, problems with draining the water. That's how it is.

Who gets this condition? What are the causes?

These symptoms can occur in both women and men, and in people of any age. However,This condition is more common as people age, especially among men.

Simply put, these symptoms can occur due to an obstruction, infection, or irritation in our urinary system.

Here are some of the main reasons:

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): The prostate gland, located below the bladder, enlarges as men age. This can compress the urethra and obstruct the flow of urine. This is the main cause of LUTS in men.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): When a bacterial infection occurs in the urinary tract, symptoms such as frequent urination and burning occur.
• Kidney problems: Kidney stones or infections can also cause these symptoms.
• Neurological conditions: Diseases of the brain or spinal cord, such as multiple sclerosis or stroke, can affect the nerves that control bladder function.
• Other medical conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and sleep apnea can also cause LUTS.
• Some habits: Smoking cigarettes containing nicotine, drinking coffee, tea containing caffeine, and drinking alcohol can irritate the bladder and increase these symptoms.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor about these symptoms, there's nothing to be afraid of. He or she will listen carefully to your symptoms, conduct some necessary tests, and find the cause.

The doctor may ask you questions like: "What are your symptoms? How long have they been going on? How much does it affect your daily life? How much water do you drink per day? What medications do you take? Has anyone in your family had these problems?" It is very important to answer these questions honestly.

After that, several tests like this may be done to find the exact cause.

What are you doing as treatment?

Treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms and how much they affect your life.

Lifestyle Changes

Often, the doctor will first advise you to make a few simple changes to your lifestyle.

• Adjusting the amount of fluid you drink per day and the timing of drinking it (e.g., reducing drinking a lot of water before bed at night).
• Limit or stop the use of coffee, tea, alcohol, and cigarettes.
• Controlling body weight.
• Doing exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, that is, Kegel exercises .
• Establishing the habit of going to the toilet at the right time (Bladder training).

Medications

If lifestyle changes alone don't control symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications that are appropriate for the cause. For example:

• Medicines that relax the muscles of the bladder (Alpha-blockers)
• Drugs that shrink the prostate gland (5-alpha reductase inhibitors)
• Antibiotics for infections
• Bladder antispasmodics

Surgery

In cases where other treatments are not successful, especially if there is a urinary tract obstruction or if there is severe discomfort due to an enlarged prostate, surgery may be recommended.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

The most important thing is not to ignore these symptoms. They may be the first signs of another underlying health problem. Therefore, it is very important to start treatment as soon as possible.

See a doctor immediately without delay, especially if you have the following symptoms:

• If there is blood in the urine.
• If there is pain or severe burning when urinating.
• If this problem is constantly disturbing your sleep.
• If this makes you feel anxious or depressed.
• If this has affected your social relationships, family life, or sex life.
• If this is affecting you to the point where you can't do the things you love or leave the house.