Urological diseases can affect both men and women irrespective of their age and can even be diagnosed in children, making it quite a common affliction. Several diseases can be categorised under urological diseases, affecting the body's ability to flush out toxins efficiently. These diseases affect the filtering and expulsion of urine in the body. When this critical function is impaired, several problems can arise. A basic knowledge of the human body's urinary system helps one understand these ailments better, prevent them, and treat them in time.

The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The kidneys, shaped like beans, are about the size of your closed fist. They are on either side of your spine, below the rib cage. The kidneys clean out the blood and create urine. The two ureters on either side of the bladder carry the urine to the bladder. The bladder lies between the pelvic muscles and expands when urine is transferred via the ureters. When you expel this fluid from your bladder, it is known as urination. You cannot control the kidneys' function but usually have significant control over when your bladder empties.

The body uses this urinary system in general and the urinary tract, in particular, to get rid of bodily wastes and extra fluids. When all the parts of the urinary system are working in perfect order, normal urination occurs, and the body can expel wastes efficiently. However, if you have an ailment that affects this system and its efficiency, several critical functions are affected too, such as:

Expulsion of waste/ excess fluid in the body
Maintenance of correct electrolyte level
Secretion of hormones for blood pressure regulation, etc.

Types Of Urinary Diseases:

Before you can find an effective urinary problem solution, you must diagnose the ailment accurately.

Here are the most common kinds of urological problems.

Prostate enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, also known as prostate enlargement, is very common in older men. When this condition exists, the swollen prostate exerts pressure on the urethra and results in a frequent urge to urinate and the constant feeling that the bladder is not empty.
Kidney Stones: Kidney stones form when small particles attach themselves to crystals in the urine and become bigger and bigger until they can cause significant impairment of urinary function. These stones can also pass from the kidneys to the ureter. Kidney/ ureter stones are among the most common reasons for urine blockage. Acute pain when passing urine is one of the most evident urine blockage symptoms arising from stones in the kidney.
Urinary incontinence: Loss of bladder control resulting in urine leakage is called urinary incontinence. This widespread problem can severely affect your lifestyle and daily schedule. It can arise from myriad causes, including weak bladder muscles, an overactive bladder, weak sphincter muscles, infections, and diseases like Parkinson's. Lifestyle changes can correct some causes of urinary incontinence, while some may require surgery.
Urinary Tract infections (UTIs): It result from a bacterial or viral infection in the urinary tract. Although primarily found in women, UTIs cannot be eliminated in men. One of the most easily spotted symptoms of UTI is a burning sensation when urinating. You may also feel that you are not able to empty your bladder fully at all, even right after you have just passed urine, and you may have a frequent urge to urinate throughout the day.

The last two ailments are the most common when discussing diseases afflicting the urinary system.

Symptoms Of Urinary Diseases

Urinary tract infections may remain hidden, meaning you may not experience any symptoms outwardly every time. However, if they do manifest, this is what will tell you that your problem could be a urine block arising from a UTI, or they could be urinary incontinence symptoms:

The need to urinate frequently
The feeling that your bladder is always full, even after you have just urinated
Pain or burning sensation when urinating
Inability to pass the usual, normal amounts of urine
Discoloured urine/ blood in the urine
Strong odour in the urine
Expulsion of urine involuntarily when you laugh or sneeze
Uncontrolled, involuntary passage of urine, whether minor leaks or a complete flow
Urine dribbling throughout the day and night

Similar symptoms may arise from a variety of other ailments, which means this condition may be overlooked or mistaken for another. Approaching an experienced physician to make an accurate diagnosis is critical here. The symptoms of urinary tract issues can be segregated based on which portion of the system is compromised. If the lower tract, urethra and bladder are affected, the ailment is more easily and quickly managed.

An upper urinary tract ailment is a relatively higher-risk disease that should be treated effectively and immediately with the right course of treatment. Keep in mind that the kidneys are affected in this case, and if a bacterial infection is causing the problems, the bacteria may move into the bloodstream.

Typically, when you have an ailment that is affecting the upper urinary tract, you may have the following symptoms:

Pain in the upper back
Pain across the sides
Fever and chills
Vomiting sensation

A lower tract infection may result in rectal pain in men and pelvic pain in women, alongside the other commonly experienced signs.

Diagnosis Of Urinary Diseases

If your doctor suspects a UTI or incontinence, the diagnosis begins with collecting your urine sample after a preliminary check-up.

The urine sample will be checked for blood traces, abnormalities, and infection for urinary incontinence. The doctor will also ask you to maintain a detailed record of your fluid intake, the amount of urine you produce when you urinate, the occurrence of incontinence, and your urge to urinate.

The next step is to measure the post-voidal urine in your bladder. After you urinate, the remaining urine in your bladder is measured to see if there is any urine blockage creating the problem and, if so, what the cause is. A muscular weakness or nervous problem could also result in a large amount of urine remaining in the bladder even after you urinate.

Once these tests have been done, the doctor can tell you more about what is wrong with your urinary system and what is causing the issues. If the physician suspects a urinary tract infection or UTI, the diagnosis starts with a urine analysis again after a check-up. The sample will be tested for the presence of bacteria as well as for red blood cells or white blood cells. The next step may be a urine culture that will tell the doctor what kind of bacteria you are infected with. This allows him/ her to identify the right course of medicines to treat you.

If the doctor suspects that your UTI is not caused by a bacterial infection but by some kind of abnormality with the tract itself, a detailed examination of the tract may be advised. There are different ways to do this, and the doctor may recommend one or all of these: CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI. A cystoscopy is also one of the methods the doctor may use to examine the urethra and bladder.

Since urinary incontinence and Urinary Tract Infections are the most common ailments detected, let's examine both of these.

Urinary Incontinence (Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention)

So, precisely what is urinary incontinence? Your body cannot control the passage of urine, resulting in leakage from your bladder. Since this condition can drastically hamper your lifestyle, you have to seek urinary incontinence treatment in time to tackle the problem effectively. It is a common belief that incontinence is an age-related issue. While older people do tend to develop incontinence, it is not confined to them alone.

Common symptoms:

Leakage of urine when you laugh or cough, lift something, or exert pressure on the bladder in any other way.
I need to urinate often.
Intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary passage of urine
Constant urine leakage from the bladder

Causes:

Many factors may cause incontinence, including lifestyle habits and other medical reasons. Different urinary incontinence types may be traced back to different factors.

Ingestion of diuretics like excess caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, etc.
UTIs can also result in incontinence.
Constipation to such a degree that the unpassed stools cause the nerves of your bladder to be overactive
Pregnancy and childbirth often lead to incontinence that persists throughout this phase of life.
Bladder muscle ageing erodes the bladder's urine-holding capacity.
Menopause causes hormonal changes that lead to incontinence in some women.
In men, prostate enlargement causes incontinence quite commonly.
It can arise from both prostate cancer and the treatment course for this kind of cancer.
Urinary tract blockage owing to tumours can lead to incontinence.
Certain neurological ailments, such as Parkinson's, can impair the nerve signals required to maintain bladder control.

Treatment:

Before your doctor arrives at an effective urinary problem solution, he must diagnose the underlying cause. If a specific condition results in the ailment, the condition is treated to relieve the incontinence problem. He will also identify why urine blockage is happening and what type of incontinence you suffer from. It, too, impacts the treatment method he should adopt.

Medication is not the only way to treat this problem, although anticholinergics, alpha-blockers, topical estrogen, and mirabegron may be prescribed. The doctor may also focus on helping you achieve better bladder control via exercises such as Kegels.

Bladder training can also be done by controlling the urge to go to the toilet and delaying urination until you can maintain a normal 2.5-hour gap between each urination.

Inversely, the doctor may also ask you to schedule toilet visits every 2 hours to prevent the urge to urinate urgently from ever making an appearance. When you are urinating, waiting for a few minutes and trying again to evacuate your bladder completely, also known as double voiding, is another common technique used for dealing with incontinence. Electrical stimulation is another method to strengthen the muscles that can lead to better bladder control.

Alongside all of these, you will also be told what to eat/ drink and when to lessen the impact of the ailment on your daily life.

If the condition is too severe to be treated with noninvasive methods, surgery may be the option you should choose. Your doctor may recommend different kinds of surgery based on the cause of your problem.

Sling procedure: A sling is created around the urethra and the bladder neck. This sling helps keep the bladder closed, thus preventing involuntary urine leakage. If you tend to expel urine when you sneeze or laugh, this procedure may be recommended.
Prolapse surgery: Women who suffer from pelvic prolapse and have mixed incontinence offer require this kind of surgery where the sling procedure and prolapse surgery are both combined.
Urinary sphincter: An artificial sphincter is inserted in men around the bladder to keep the sphincter closed. When urinating, the ring is deflated by pressing a tiny valve under the skin.
Bladder neck suspension: Here, the portion where the bladder connects with the urethra is supported via surgery.

Incontinence is also managed, particularly in older people who cannot opt for surgery. Absorbent pads catch urine dribbles from the bladder. You may also be taught to use a catheter to empty your bladder efficiently at regular intervals during the day.

Prevention:

Rather than seeking a urinary problem solution or going for urine leakage treatment, taking the right steps at the right time is best to prevent the problem from afflicting you. Here are some things to remember that help you lower the risk of developing incontinence.

Stay healthy and watch your weight. If you've gained too much weight, exercise regularly and control your diet to bring it down.
Eat healthy, especially fibrous foods, and eat the right amounts so that you do not develop constipation.
Learn and regularly do pelvic floor exercises.
Avoid foods that can irritate the bladder—E.g., alcohol, caffeine, etc.
Avoid lifestyle habits that increase the risk of incontinence. E.g., smoking.

Urinary Tract Infection (Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention)

Typically, UTIs occur in the lower part of the urinary tract, the urethra and the bladder. However, infection in any part of the urinary tract is known as UTI. While bladder infections impede daily life and are a nuisance, if the infection is in your kidneys, you must take things far more seriously since the risk is much higher. A simple way to take preventive measures or treatment at the right time is to be aware of symptoms and quickly check in with your doctor if you develop any of them.

Common Symptoms:

Frequent urge to urinate
Burning sensation when passing urine
Cloudy urine
Discoloured urine that is pink or red or tea coloured
Frequent urination without proper output
Urine that has a very noticeably strong odour
Pain in the centre of the pelvic area in women

When a concretion blocks the duct where digestive fluid moves from the bladder, it can cause inflammation and infection in the gallbladder. This is known as acute cholecystitis, a medical emergency. The risk of developing acute cholecystitis from symptomatic gallstones is 1 to 3 percent.

Symptoms associated with acute cholecystitis include:

Intense pain in the upper abdomen or mid-right back
Fever
Chills
Appetite loss
Nausea and vomiting

Causes

The most common cause of UTI is bacterial infection. Bacteria get into the urinary tract via the urethra, and they begin to flourish in the bladder. The infection can develop full-blown if your in-built defence mechanism cannot keep these microorganisms under check. In women, UTIs may be an infection of the bladder or the urethra. E. coli typically causes bladder infections, while urethral infections are caused when bacteria move from the anus to the urethra.

Treatment

To treat UTIs, your doctor will typically put you on a course of antibiotics to clear out the infections. The type of bacteria detected plays a significant role in helping your physician determine what antibiotic to prescribe. Apart from this, factors like your health condition and the frequency of the UTIs also impact the treatment given.

If you have been suffering from UTIs on and off for a long time now, your doctor may opt for a treatment method that offers a permanent solution. In such cases, a longer course of antibiotics may be prescribed. If he suspects that the UTIs arise from sexual activity, he may recommend taking an antibiotic after intercourse to prevent the onset of the infection. For older women who are in the menopausal stage, estrogen therapy is also a method the doctor may advise. Severe illnesses may require admission to the hospital and intravenous antibiotics.

Prevention

No matter what the ailment, prevention is always better than cure. To keep UTIs away, there are some simple preventive methods you can follow:

- Keep yourself hydrated by taking in plenty of fluids, especially water. When you drink enough water and urinate frequently, bacteria are flushed out of your urinary tract.
- After urinating or after bowel movements, never wash or wipe from back to front. Always wipe from front to back to prevent the transfer of bacteria from your anal area to your urethra.
- Keep strong cleaning products or feminine products away from your genital area. These can irritate sensitive skin and make it more vulnerable to infections.
- After intercourse, make sure you empty your bladder. If you do not have the urge to urinate, drink plenty of water and then urinate.

Often, it is found that spermicide-treated condoms and unlubricated condoms contribute to bacterial infections. Avoid these and choose safer birth control measures after taking the advice of your physician, if needed.

Road To Recovery And Aftercare

Following doctor's orders is the most obvious and most important thing to do to recover quickly and fully from a urological disease. Taking the medications prescribed, as recommended and following the dietary and nutritional advice given is critical. Apart from this, if you have had surgery, your doctor will give you specific post-surgical care instructions that should be followed in the letter. Go for regular follow-ups as advised so that your recovery process can be assessed and tracked by the doctor.

Urinary incontinence treatment may include exercises to train your bladder to evacuate fully and to open up only when you wish to urinate. Do these exercises regularly to build muscle strength in this area, which can keep incontinence problems at bay. If you suffer from frequent UTIs, improving hygiene, especially in cleaning the genital areas, can help immensely. Ask your doctor for tips and follow them diligently. Regarding dietary habits, the most important thing is to avoid items that irritate the bladder. These include caffeine, carbonated drinks, and alcohol. Avoid these or cut them down to reasonable levels to ensure they do not cause issues.

In general, it is very important to drink adequate fluids, especially water, throughout the day to flush out your urinary system thoroughly and prevent bacteria buildup. Eat healthy foods with good fibre content to keep bowel movements regular since impaired digestion can also exacerbate urinary tract issues.

Natural Treatments And Home Remedies

It is best to learn which of your lifestyle habits are worsening the issue and avoid them to prevent urological disease. There may be simple things you can do at home to keep these ailments at bay.

Regular liquid intake is said to help keep infections at bay. There are enough scientific studies to show that adequate fluid intake helps immensely in preventing urinary problems.
Follow the right practices concerning hygiene- such as wiping from front to back after bowel movements should be done.
Letting your skin breathe, that is, wearing comfortable, breathable fabric next to the skin and wearing them loose enough to allow air passage, helps control bacteria buildup.
Use a cleansing liquid specially designed for sensitive areas of your body. Regular soap may be too harsh, and your skin may become infected if you use the same soap in these parts.