Understand in one article why the elderly are prone to frequent urination?

Frequent urination is one of the common symptoms of the elderly. Its causes are complex and varied, and are often closely related to age, physiological changes, and potential disease factors. Urinary tract infections are the most common in young and middle-aged patients. Elderly patients often have repeated episodes of frequent urination because their body resistance is weak and there are many factors that induce frequent urination. Common factors include inflammation in the urethra or around the urethral opening (including gynecological inflammation, prostatitis), diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract obstruction caused by various reasons. In addition, bladder paralysis caused by prostate hypertrophy, diabetes, or nervous system diseases, although there is no bacterial infection, will also cause symptoms of frequent urination.

Causes of frequent urination in the elderly

1. Urinary tract infection in the elderly

The increase in urinary tract infections in the elderly is related to physiological changes in the elderly. For example, after menopause, estrogen secretion decreases, the vaginal epithelium atrophies, and pathogenic bacteria easily multiply and proliferate in the vagina; uterine prolapse leads to decreased bladder emptying ability and perineal contamination. Men are prone to urinary tract obstruction due to prostatic hyperplasia. In addition, long-term bed rest, pressure sore infection, indwelling catheters, and invasive urinary system operations are all risk factors for anterior urinary tract infections in the elderly.

2. Prostatic hyperplasia

Prostatic hyperplasia in men is one of the main causes of frequent urination. The enlarged prostate blocks the bladder outlet, causing residual urine to accumulate, which in turn causes frequent urination. In addition, long-term residual urine accumulation can easily lead to urinary tract infection, which in turn causes frequent urination.

3. Overactive bladder

Overactive bladder is manifested by symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequent urination, and increased nocturia, which affects the patient's quality of life. Overactive bladder is related to bladder aging in the elderly.

4. Urethral syndrome

Urethral syndrome is common in women, with various causes, such as abnormal urethral anatomical structure and lesions and anxiety neurosis. In some patients, the cause is unknown. Among women over 50 years old, about 1/3 suffer from vaginal atrophy and dryness, frequent urination, and urinary incontinence. These patients generally have psychological problems.

5. Factors causing frequent urination at night

A large part of frequent urination in the elderly is frequent urination at night, which is mainly related to many factors such as age, physiology, pathology, environment, psychology and drugs.

Management of frequent urination in the elderly

1. Medical treatment

Choose appropriate drug treatment according to the specific cause of the disease, such as antibiotics, prostate treatment drugs, etc.

2. Adjust your lifestyle

Control your water intake at night and avoid taking diuretic drinks and foods.

3. Rehabilitation training

For overactive bladder, bladder rehabilitation training is performed to increase bladder capacity.

4. Psychological support

For frequent urination related to psychological factors, we provide patients with psychological support and consulting services to relieve their mental stress.

5. Check regularly

Elderly people should undergo regular urinary system examinations to detect and treat potential problems causing frequent urination early.

Frequent urination is very common in the elderly, which will have a great impact on their quality of life, mental state, etc. Comprehensive treatment can effectively relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.