As men age, they may fall victim to bladder control problems.
Bladder control problems in men, whether they take the form of urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder, can be a major red flag. Often, they are a sign that men have a prostate or a neurological problem, according to Dr. J.D. Williams of the Urology Group at St. Elizabeth’s.
Incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine when you:
- cough, sneeze, left heavy objects or anything other action that puts pressure on the bladder
- experience a sudden and strong urge to urinate
- are able to only go in small amounts
Overactive bladder symptoms include:
- the need to go more than eight times a day or more than twice a night
- that strong, sudden urge to go right away often followed by leakage
“There are a wide array of underlying problems that cause bladder problems, and that’s where the expertise of a urologist or your doctors comes in,” said Williams. “If you notice a problem, you should get checked out.”
One cause is an enlarged prostate, which is common in older men. But other maladies, like bladder cancer and cancer of the prostate, can have similar symptoms. Neurological causes, like MS and diabetic neuropathy, can also be at the root.
That’s not to say every case is a dire emergency, Williams added, but it could be.
“It could be something as simple as drinking too much caffeine. That’s something I see a lot in my practice. Americans drink a huge amount of caffeine in sodas, coffee and tea, and they’re not aware of the effects it can have,” he said. “But until you see your doctor, you just don’t know. It could be one of the more serious causes.”
Treatment, of course, will depend on the cause of the problem and range from behavioral modification – cutting back on caffeine or changing how much and when you drink fluids – to medication or even surgery in more serious cases.
