Pollakiuria

Pollakiuria is often caused by an infection of the urinary tract or an enlargement of the prostate gland in men and can be very life- limiting for those affected. Especially when nighttime sleep is disturbed by the frequent urge to urinate, this can subsequently also affect other organ systems and thus impair their function.

Pollakiuria

What is pollakiuria?

Pollakiuria is a bladder dysfunction characterized by frequent passing of small amounts of urine. In general, the total amount of urine excreted is not increased and amounts to about 75% of the liquid ingested. Pollakiuria is therefore not an independent disease, but occurs as a symptom of various diseases of the urinary tract. See polyhobbies for Meanings of Milk Protein Allergy.

Pollakiuria often occurs together with nocturia, a symptom that describes repeated urination during the night. The patient wakes up several times due to the need to urinate at night and has to go to the toilet. Having trouble sleeping through the night can lead to a lack of sleep and thus trigger many other problems.

Causes

If the pollakiuria is caused by increased fluid intake, polydipsia, and an associated increased urine production, a so-called polyuria, then it must be clarified what is causing the increased fluid intake. Reasons can be, for example, diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus, a disease in which the body lacks the hormone ADH produced in the hypothalamus.

However, if the total amount of urine is normal, pollakiuria is often caused by an infection of the urinary tract. Bladder inflammation (cystitis) can also be the cause, as can kidney pelvic inflammation (pyelonephritis). Often these infections are caused by bacteria from the anal region entering the urinary tract. Since women’s urinary tracts are shorter than men’s urinary tracts, the female urinary tract is also far more frequently affected by infections than the male.

In men, pollakiuria is often caused by an enlargement of the prostate, which narrows the urinary bladder due to the enlarged mass and thus reduces its capacity, as well as leading to increased drainage resistance. Inflammation of the prostate can also cause the prostate gland to swell, making it difficult to urinate.

Pollakiuria is also common during pregnancy because the growth of the uterus puts pressure on the bladder. Furthermore, cancer of the prostate or the urinary bladder can also be the cause of pollakiuria. The possibility of a psycho-vegetative disorder, which can be stress-related, for example, should not go unmentioned.

Symptoms, Ailments & Signs

In pollakiuria, there is a frequent urge to urinate. In addition, urination occurs in only small amounts. In addition, the disease is occasionally characterized by pain when urinating (alguria) or an urge to urinate at night (nocturia). A typical symptom is the amount of urine: the stream of urine is usually weaker or even comes out drop by drop, so that there is a higher frequency but a small amount of urine.

In the meantime, urination problems or delayed urination may occur. This often results in a constant urge to urinate, which can be associated with cramping pain in the pubic bone area. Occasionally, sufferers notice that there is blood in the urine (hematuria). In some cases, there are also disturbances in general well-being during pollakiuria.

In addition to fever and exhaustion, these also include abdominal pain, pain in the flanks or bladder pain, which are similar to the symptoms of a bladder infection. The typical symptoms of pollakiuria can trigger further complaints.

These include pain and burning in the urethra, a disturbed night’s sleep and unrefreshing sleep, combined with daytime sleepiness. The symptoms also have an effect on the psyche and behavior of many of those affected. It leads to nervousness and the inability to leave the house because a toilet must always be within reach.

Diagnosis & History

To clarify the causes of pollakiuria, a thorough anamnesis of the patient is necessary. All previous illnesses, as well as the existing ones, must be considered in context in order to track down the cause of pollakiuria. Of particular interest is whether there is pain when urinating, whether the urinary stream has lost intensity or whether there is blood in the urine. General symptoms such as physical weakness, fever or tiredness can indicate a urinary tract infection.

After a thorough anamnesis, a urine sample is usually requested and a blood count is drawn up. An ultrasound examination of the bladder is then often indicated. Furthermore, a cystoscopy can also be carried out if the doctor treating you considers it necessary.

Complications

Pollakiuria is often just a symptom of an underlying disease and usually does not lead to a complication on its own. Complications in this regard, as a rule, develop within the framework of the corresponding underlying disease. Thus, pollakiuria can be an indicator of urinary tract infections. It can also be caused by prostate or bladder cancer.

In the case of an existing pollakiuria, a doctor should always be consulted in order to diagnose the underlying disease. Otherwise there is a risk of worsening of the symptoms and the underlying disease. But even with stress-related pollakiuria, the stress often causes other health problems and further complications parallel to the actual bladder emptying disorder.

The frequent urge to urinate is particularly disturbing at night and significantly impairs a good night’s sleep. He suffers from lack of sleep, which in turn can possibly be the cause of various diseases. The frequent urge to urinate at night is also a significant stress factor.

If pollakiuria is also caused by stress, it develops into a chronic condition as part of a vicious circle. The constant lack of sleep impairs physical and mental performance, since stress and lack of sleep always have a negative impact on general health. In addition to mental illnesses, organic damage often occurs in the long term.

When should you go to the doctor?

Persistent urge to urinate that occurs within a short time after a successful visit to the toilet should be presented to a doctor. If the need to urinate several times during the night sleep, a doctor should be consulted. A doctor is needed for sleep disorders, inner weakness, irritability and disorders of concentration and attention. Increased body temperature, inner restlessness and an increased need for fluids must be checked and clarified. Abdominal pain or pain when moving, fever and recurring tiredness are signs of a health problem.

A doctor’s visit is necessary as soon as the symptoms persist unabated for several days and weeks or show an increasing tendency. If rest and recovery phases cannot be observed due to the urge to urinate, if a burning sensation is felt in the urethra or if the symptoms lead to irregularities in coping with everyday life, the person concerned needs help.

Changes in behavior, mental stress, daytime sleepiness and a decrease in well-being should be discussed with a doctor. If leisure activities or professional activities can no longer be carried out as usual and according to the requirements, a doctor should be consulted. Bedwetting or sudden nocturnal awakening trigger a stressful experience that can lead to serious complications. The support of a doctor should therefore be taken in good time.

Treatment & Therapy

The treatment of pollakiuria is differentiated and depends on the cause. If there is no diagnostic evidence of an organic cause, psychosomatic treatment is advisable. Patients are often asked to keep a diary of toilet visits. Under certain circumstances, bladder training can help those affected to get the pollakiuria under control. If it turns out that pollakiuria is stress-related, learning simple relaxation techniques can also lead to alleviation of the symptoms.

If a urinary tract infection is the cause of pollakiuria, an antibiotic is usually given. In this case, it is particularly important to ensure that you drink enough water until the symptoms improve. A hot water bottle can often be helpful and provide relief.

If the cause of pollakiuria is cancer of the bladder or prostate, it depends on many factors whether the tumor should be surgically removed or whether chemotherapy alone is sufficient. In conclusion, only the treating oncologist can judge this. In the case of benign prostate enlargements that are associated with hormonal changes, various medications are now available to shrink the organ again, which subsequently leads to a reduction in symptoms.

Prevention

In order to prevent pollakiuria, men over the age of 40 are advised to have their prostate checked regularly, since the enlargement of the organ is the most common cause of pollakiuria in men. Women should make an appointment with their urologist or gynecologist at the slightest sign of inflammation of the urinary tract in order to stop the possible infection from spreading as quickly as possible.

Aftercare

In most cases, those affected with pollakiuria have only a few and only limited follow-up measures available. In this disease, a quick diagnosis and subsequent treatment is very important in the first place, so that further complications can be prevented. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the further course is, as a rule.

Therefore, the patient should consult a doctor at the very first signs and symptoms of the disease. In the worst case, damage to the internal organs occurs, which can lead to death. Those affected should drink a lot of fluids if they have pollakiuria.

In general, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and physical activity also has a positive effect on the further course of the disease. When taking medication, the correct dosage and regular intake of the medication should always be observed.

If antibiotics are taken, they should not be taken together with alcohol. In some cases, pollakiuria is treated with chemotherapy. Those affected are often dependent on the care and support of their own family, which can alleviate depression in particular.

You can do that yourself

Anyone who frequently excretes little urine should consult a doctor first. In most cases, the symptoms are caused by a mild bladder infection or another harmless cause, but there can also be a serious illness such as prostate cancer.

If there is no organic cause, the bladder can be trained through pelvic floor training. Those affected can try to consciously suppress the urge to urinate and thus get the bladder used to a larger volume. It is not advisable to drink less because the body needs at least two to three liters of water per day to stay healthy. It makes more sense to always warm the intimate area well. This can be achieved, for example, by not sitting on cold surfaces and by wearing suitable underwear.

In the case of chronic complaints, the measures should first be discussed with the urologist or gynaecologist. If the frequent urge to urinate severely restricts the quality of life, the pollakiuria should be treated with medication. Natural remedies are also available to accompany this. Pumpkin seeds, for example, alleviate the symptoms in a targeted manner and thereby improve well-being. If you lead a healthy and active lifestyle at the same time, the symptoms should subside quickly.