What is Urinary Retention?
Urinary retention is a condition where the bladder is not emptied completely. This condition can be chronic or acute.
What causes Urinary Retention?
Urinary retention is a common condition among men over 50 years of age. In this case, the condition is due to enlarged prostate. In women, it is due to misplacement of the uterus. Other causes of urinary retention are:
- Bladder stones
- Weak bladder muscle
- Swelling due to infection
- A nerve problem that obstructs signals to the bladder
- Constipation
- Urethral strictures
What are the symptoms of Urinary Retention?
Symptoms of urinary retention are:
- Weak urine stream
- Painful urination
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Need to urinate frequently
- Incomplete bladder emptying
How is Urinary Retention diagnosed?
The diagnosis of urinary retention focuses on identifying its causes. Some of the tests run to ascertain the same are:
- Urine test to check for infections
- Bladder scan to see if there are any abnormalities
- CT Scan to see if there are any tumors
- Blood test to assess prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
- Urodynamic tests to assess urine retention volume
What are the treatments for Urinary Retention?
The treatment for urinary retention includes treatment to correct the cause and treatment to manage the symptoms.
The treatment options include catheterization, medication to correct prostate enlargement, and surgery. Simple lifestyle changes suggested by the doctor can help manage the condition on a long run.
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