Men who regularly get up more than once a night to urinate could be suffering from a range of health conditions, according to a new study.
Men who regularly get up more than once a night to urinate could be suffering from a range of health conditions, many of which can be treated if general practitioners (GPs) look for them.
The condition, known as nocturia, is one sign of overactive bladder syndrome. One in five of Australian men aged 40 or over and a third of men aged 70 and over have overactive bladder syndrome.
“The need to urinate at night is a problem with urine storage, and this disrupts sleep. It is an indication of and can also exacerbate other health conditions,” said Professor Gary Wittert, a leader of the research team.
“Nocturia, combined with the sensation of not being able to hold on (urgency), or frequent urination, suggest the presence of overactive bladder syndrome. We’re now beginning to understand the broader relevance of this in relation to other health problems.”
In their study, to be published in the Journal of Urology, the researchers found that the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms, although commonly thought to relate to the prostate, may have more to do with factors outside of the bladder and prostate.
“These urinary problems are associated with other conditions, such as sleep apnoea, depression or anxiety, and obesity,” said lead author Dr Sean Martin.
“The good news is that many of these problems are treatable or modifiable, and we’ve seen in our study that men can overcome their urinary problems if the underlying issues are correctly managed.”
According to Dr Martin, when a man goes to his GP about urinary problems, the first assumption is that the problem is caused by the prostate.
However, their findings show that men who are suffering from bladder problems are also likely to be suffering from a range of other health problems that should be looked for and managed.
The researchers hope that through earlier detection of these problems, men have a greater chance of reversing their bladder problems and preventing more serious disease.
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Source: University of Adelaide
The condition, known as nocturia, is one sign of overactive bladder syndrome. One in five of Australian men aged 40 or over and a third of men aged 70 and over have overactive bladder syndrome.
“The need to urinate at night is a problem with urine storage, and this disrupts sleep. It is an indication of and can also exacerbate other health conditions,” said Professor Gary Wittert, a leader of the research team.
“Nocturia, combined with the sensation of not being able to hold on (urgency), or frequent urination, suggest the presence of overactive bladder syndrome. We’re now beginning to understand the broader relevance of this in relation to other health problems.”
In their study, to be published in the Journal of Urology, the researchers found that the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms, although commonly thought to relate to the prostate, may have more to do with factors outside of the bladder and prostate.
“These urinary problems are associated with other conditions, such as sleep apnoea, depression or anxiety, and obesity,” said lead author Dr Sean Martin.
“The good news is that many of these problems are treatable or modifiable, and we’ve seen in our study that men can overcome their urinary problems if the underlying issues are correctly managed.”
According to Dr Martin, when a man goes to his GP about urinary problems, the first assumption is that the problem is caused by the prostate.
However, their findings show that men who are suffering from bladder problems are also likely to be suffering from a range of other health problems that should be looked for and managed.
The researchers hope that through earlier detection of these problems, men have a greater chance of reversing their bladder problems and preventing more serious disease.
——
Source: University of Adelaide
