Can Ibs Cause Urinary Problems
Many people who suffer from IBS also experience urinary problems. These include overactive bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Men with IBS may also be prone to chronic prostatitis a swollen prostate gland that can lead to urinary problems.
A Japanese study from 2013 highlighted the overlap between the IBS and OAB specifically. It found that IBS affected around one third of participants with OAB. In comparison, it only affected 20% of those without OAB. Similarly, it found that OAB affected 14% of participants with IBS and just under 8% of people without. So, what is the link between IBS and bladder problems? Lets take a look.
Fibroids And Pressure On The Bowels Rectum And Abdomen
Uterine fibroids may also cause pressure on the bowels. This pressure can lead to feelings of bloating or constipation.
Fibroids may press against the rectum and cause a sense of rectal fullness, difficulty having a bowel movement, and/or pain with bowel movements. Sometimes, fibroids may lead to the development of hemorrhoids.
Women with large fibroids may experience a sense of heaviness or pressure in their lower abdomen or pelvis. Often this is described as a vague sense of discomfort rather than a sharp pain. Sometimes, an enlarged uterus can make it hard to lie face down, bend over, or exercise without discomfort.
Ending An Active Stress Response
When frequent urination is caused by inflammation, which in turn is caused or aggravated by not urinating regularly, urinating according to a schedule can prove helpful. Periodically clearing the bladder can help reduce and prevent UTIs and the inflammation associated with them.
When frequent urination is caused by anxiety and the accompanying stress response changes, calming yourself down will bring an end to the stress response and its changes. As your body recovers from the active stress response, this anxiety symptom should subside.
Keep in mind it can take up to 20 minutes or more for the body to recover from a major stress response. But this is normal and shouldnt be a cause for concern.
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Other Possible Urination Problems
Those are the three most common urination problems, but they may not be the only issue. Some people may worry about the color or consistency of their urine. Others may worry about when they need to urinate .
All of these may be caused by anxiety. In many cases, none of these are a concern at all, but anxiety causes you to worry about them more than you otherwise need to. It’s not uncommon for people with anxiety to see urine of a questionable color and Google the symptoms in a way that those without anxiety would never even think of.
Causes Of Anxiety Urination
If you are suffering from urination problems and you believe it could be related to stress and anxiety, the first stage on the treatment process is to rule out the possibility of any underlying health problems such as a urinary tract infection or diabetes. In many cases, the constant urge to urinate is caused by an infection rather than anxiety, although stress and anxiety about the issue will undoubtedly exacerbate the condition. So make sure you rule out any other potential causes before tackling your anxiety urination problems.
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Treatment Of Urinary Retention
Treating urinary retention will depend on whether the condition is acute or chronic. For the acute form, a catheter is put into the urethra to drain the bladder. Treatment of the chronic form of urinary retention will depend on the specific cause. This can include changes in medication, physical therapy, or certain procedures.
What Can I Do At Home To Prevent Future Occurrences Of Flutd
Depending on the underlying cause for FLUTD, the clinical signs may never, or only occasionally, reoccur. However, recurrence is more common with FIC. To help reduce the chances of recurrence:
- Feed small meals on a frequent basis.
- Consult with your veterinarian about the best diet for your cat. Many commercial diets are acceptable, but some urinary conditions respond better to specialized diets. Canned food may be preferred.
- Provide clean, fresh water at all times.
- Provide an adequate number of litter boxes with the type of litter that the cat prefer
- Keep litter boxes in quiet, safe areas of the house.
- Keep litter boxes clean they should be scooped twice a day and the litter changed weekly .
- Minimize major changes in routine.
- Reduce stress.
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Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Problems In Cats
Since cats are unable to communicate with their owners in plain English , it can sometimes be hard to know what is wrong with your cat when they start to act differently than usual.
Urinary problems in cats can be painful and very unpleasant for a cat, which is why it is crucial for owners to know about the symptoms of urinary tract problems in cats.
The most common signs that your cat might be experiencing the dreadful effects of FLUTD may include:
- Urine may seem cloudy or even bloody at times.
- When the cat urinates, they might give out a cry due to the pain.
- A cats urine will usually have a strong ammonia smell to it.
- Urine may dribble from the cat due to a loss of control over their bladder.
- The cat may frequently lick the opening of their urinary tract.
- You may notice your cat visits the litter box more frequently the cat may also sometimes squat over the litterbox for prolonged periods of time.
- The cat may seem lethargic.
- Some cats may also vomit when they have FLUTD.
Causes For Urinary Tract Problems In Cats
As you probably know, there are different breeds of cats, each with their own traits. Just as diverse cats are in their characteristics, so are they in terms of diseases that they could develop. Urinary tract problems in cats are just one such example and urinary-related illnesses are rather common.
Urinary tract problems in cats can develop at any time in a cats life. Research suggests that these issues are most common among cats older than one year, but also younger than four years. The condition can affect cats of both genders. There does not seem to be a trend toward a specific gender.
Within the United States and the United Kingdom, up to 1% of cats display signs of urinary problems annually .
In this article:
- Causes of Urinary Tract Problems in Cats
- Symptoms of Urinary Tract Problems in Cats
- Prevention + Treatment for UTIs in Cats
- Final Thoughts: Urinary Tract Issues in Cats
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Urinary Retention: 5 Reasons You May Have Trouble Peeing
Did you know that we spend roughly 2,208 hours on the toilet in our lifetime? Thats a lot of time on the potty! And, if youre having trouble going No. 1, it could be costing you even more time than you like. Time spent anywhere else but a bathroom stall.
If you cant get the flow going when you feel you need to, and your bladder is full, you may have urinary retention. Urinary retention is the inability to pass urine in your bladder, and it can be acutea sudden inability to urinateor chronica gradual or slow inability to empty the bladder.
The difference can be from the cause and sometimes the symptoms, said James Wolach, MD, a urologist at Banner Health Clinic in Colorado. Acute is usually painful and they have the sensation to void but cant, whereas many people with chronic retention dont have any feeling they are not able to empty their bladders. While chronic may not seem as serious, it can lead to serious problems, so its important that both receive attention from your doctor.
There are many different causes for urinary retention, and much of your treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Here are five reasons you may be stuck and ways to improve your flow.
Treatment For Stress Urinary Incontinence
It is important to have your symptoms assessed by a health professional who will assess your bladder behaviour and pelvic floor and confirm that you have stress urinary incontinence.
The main treatment for stress incontinence is pelvic floor exercises. Surgery to tighten or support the bladder outlet can also help. Medication may be used in addition to exercises if you do not want, or are not suitable for surgery.
There is medication available for treating women with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, along with pelvic floor muscle exercises. Older people with other problems in addition to their bladder may benefit from seeing a specialist in medicine for older people.
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What You Need To Know
- Issues with urinating or passing stools are referred to as bladder and bowel dysfunction.
- Bladder and bowel problems often originate with nerve or muscle dysfunction, as these systems control the flow of urine and the release of stool.
- Other health issues may cause bladder and/or bowel dysfunction, including medicinal side effects, stress, neurologic diseases, diabetes, hemorrhoids and pelvic floor disorders.
- Therapy and management for these conditions can range from dietary changes and exercise to electrical stimulation and surgery depending on individual diagnosis.
Bladder or bowel incontinence means a problem holding in urine or stool. You may have unwanted passage of urine or stool that you cant control. These conditions can be stressful to deal with. But dont feel embarrassed about talking to your healthcare provider. They are used to dealing with these issues, and can help you manage the problem.
Physical Side Effects Of Anxiety Can Include Urinary Retention
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. When it becomes overwhelming and gets worse over time, however, it can manifest into an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders can experience a range of symptoms and side effects, even physical ones. More frequent symptoms include a pounding or rapid heartbeat, unexplained aches and pains, dizziness, and shortness of breath, but anxiety can also cause less common side effects like urinary retention.
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Treatment For Ibs And Urinary Problems
There are several treatment options that can help with both urinary problems and IBS. However, the most appropriate methods will depend on the exact cause:
Overactive Bladder Syndrome
People with OAB and IBS may benefit from treatment with anticholinergic drugs. They work by targeting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to regulate smooth muscle contractions in the bladder and bowel.
Another option is tricyclic antidepressants. These medicines alter activity in the central nervous system to control bowel and bladder activity.
In severe cases, Botox injections may be useful as they can help to relax the bladder muscles.
Interstitial Cystitis
Tricyclic antidepressants may also be useful for treating interstitial cystitis. In addition, doctors may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve inflammation and pain.
Another medication for interstitial cystitis is a drug called Elmiron. However, this medicine can thin the blood and patients should not use it alongside NSAIDs.
Finally, treatments such as physical therapy, biofeedback and nerve stimulation may offer some relief.
Chronic Prostatitis
In some cases, prostatitis can be the result of an infection. Therefore, antibiotics may be an effective treatment.
Anticholinergic medications and drugs called alpha blockers might also help. The latter work by blocking adrenaline receptors to relax smooth muscle.
Slow Down In The Bathroom
When you’re juggling a lot of things at once, your personal hygiene can become the first thing you forfeit to make time for everything. Dr. Hill suggests slowing down in the bathroom and paying attention to how you wipe.
“Clean yourself from front to back when going to the restroom,” says Dr. Hill. “By following this motion, you’ll reduce the amount of bacteria that may creep its way into the vagina from the rectum and ultimately into the urinary tract.
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Inflammation Of The Bladder
Commonly referred to as a urinary tract infection, this problem in cats is more properly called idiopathic cystitis in veterinary terminology. Cystitis just means inflammation of the bladder, while idiopathic means the problem arises spontaneously and without a known cause.
Inflammation is a useful aspect of the bodys immune response, serving to increase blood flow to an injured or infected area to facilitate healing. In the case of cats with urinary tract disease, however, sensory neurons trigger the inflammation of the bladder not because of infection or injury but in response to stress.
Can Hemorrhoids Cause Problems With Urination Such As Feeling Like Not Emptying And A Pressure In The Rectum
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Types Of Urination Problems
Urination problems come in many different forms, and unfortunately, this variation is one of the reasons they can be hard to link to anxiety.
There is no denying that urination problems are linked to some very scary diseases, which is why seeing a doctor is so important. Many people with anxiety and urination problems convince themselves they have:
- Prostate Cancer
- Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
And many other significant health issues. Unfortunately, these worries can fuel anxiety further, leading to further urination problems and issues understanding other anxiety symptoms. When other health issues are ruled out, anxiety is very often the cause of urination issues.
There are several different types of urination problems as they relate to anxiety. These are analyzed below:
How Is Incontinence Diagnosed
Often, the diagnosis process for incontinence will start with a conversation with your healthcare provider about your medical history and bladder control issues. Your provider might ask you questions like:
- How often do you urinate?
- Do you leak urine between trips to the toilet, how often does this happen and how much urine do you leak each time?
- How long have you been experiencing incontinence?
These questions can help your provider figure out a pattern with your leakage, which often points to a specific type of incontinence. When your provider is asking about your medical history, its important to list all of your medications because some medications can cause incontinence. Your provider will also ask about any past pregnancies and the details around each delivery.
There are also several specific tests that your provider might do to diagnose incontinence, including:
While at home, your provider might recommend you keep track of any leakage in a journal for a few days. By writing down how often you experience incontinence issues over the span of a few days, your provider might be able to identify a pattern. This can really help in the diagnosis process. Make sure to write down how often you need to urinate, how much you are able to go each time, if you leak between trips to the bathroom and any activities you might be doing when you leak urine. Youll then bring this journal with you to your appointment and talk about it with your provider.
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Skip The Sexy Undergarments
One easy way to prevent a possible UTI is just by wearing breathable undergarments. Dr. Hill’s recommendation is to ditch the lace for cotton.
“It may be a surprise to some women, but your clothes and underwear can affect your health and may increase the chance of infection,” says Dr. Hill. “When we exercise, moisture builds up in our groin, vaginal, and rectal areas, and this moisture makes it easier for bacteria to grow. Therefore, opt for cotton underwear that doesn’t suffocate you whether you’re at work or while working out, and change out of tight-fitting or damp workout clothes immediately after a sweat session.”
If you have a UTI, you’ll want to treat your symptoms as soon as possible. Michelle Pettit, a wellness specialist with Just Energy, recommends taking ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory as an easy solution to curb urinary tract discomfort, as well as taking probiotics.
“Taking probiotics three times a day for a month can work to restore healthy bacteria levels in your body so that your susceptibility to an inflamed bladder and UTI symptoms lessen, which will also make it easier for you to identify when you actually do have a UTI,” says Pettit.
How Does Stress Affect The Bladder
We live in stressful times normally, but now, it is especially stressful with the COVID-19 pandemic. How does stress affect the bladder? Symptoms such as urgency , frequency and discomfort just above the pubic bone or intravaginally can occur.
Stress enhances these symptoms for a variety of reasons, through our nervous system, muscles and lifestyle. The neurotransmitters or chemicals that work in our brains, are also found in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder. Stress can make these organs act up. Pelvic floor muscles are at the base of the pelvis, connecting the pubic bone to the tail bone and around the rectum and to the pelvic side wall. These are collectively termed the levator ani muscles.
One can store tension in these muscles much like a person who sits at a computer screen or hunched over a book can develop tightening of the neck and upper back muscles. When these muscles are contracted, they narrow the openings of the urethra, vagina and rectum where they cross these muscles. The closure contributes to the urinary symptoms.
Lifestyle can also impact our bladders. Stress eating, especially of highly processed foods, causes bladder irritation. Weight gain can cause post-void dribbling as the urine can get caught in the soft tissues of the genital tract. We know from the bariatric data, that weight loss helps to improve urinary symptoms. Poor quality sleep also affects many systems including the bladder.
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