There is a Difference

Although people may not talk about it much, there’s certainly a connection between cold weather and needing to urinate more often. While nobody knows for sure why this connection exists, professionals assume it’s due to something called cold diuresis.

When your temperature starts to drop, your body reacts by constricting your blood vessels in order to reduce blood flow to the skin. This causes the warmth to collect around your internal organs instead, which leads to an increase in blood pressure since the same amount of blood is now being pumped all over your body through a smaller amount of space. In response to this pressure increase, your kidneys work to filter out excess fluid in the blood to reduce the blood’s volume, causing you to urinate.

While there’s currently no scientific evidence we can use to pinpoint certain risk factors for cold diuresis, such as age or exposure length, you can relax knowing that your symptoms probably aren’t due to a serious underlying health condition.

We do have a few tips for you if you find yourself experience cold diuresis:

1. Stay Warm. Technically, this phenomenon is a warning sign that your body senses the threat of hypothermia. Make sure that you’re wearing plenty of layers and a thick jacket if you plan on being outside in cold temperatures.

2. Drink Plenty of Water. Since you’re losing more fluid than usual due to frequent urination, it’s important to stay hydrated. Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water each day to keep your body functioning at 100 percent.

3. Track Your Changes. Using the restroom a few more times per day than you usually do is normal in the winter months, but be mindful of any serious changes. If you find yourself using the restroom excessively to the point of discomfort, or you experience symptoms such as urinary incontinence, bladder spasms or bedwetting, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to rule out underlying conditions such as overactive bladder.

At Arkansas Urology, we’re here for you. If you have questions about cold diuresis, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence or overall bladder health, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals to discuss treatment options, or book an appointment online in minutes.

The holiday season can definitely be risky when it comes to your urological health. Seeing all of your favorite treats can be tempting, but going too far can lead to unwanted symptoms flaring up. Certain foods and beverages can trigger urinary incontinence, frequent urination, kidney stones and more! It’s important that this is already on your radar and you are being conscious of the effects the holidays can have on your health. 

Here are a few tips to keep you healthy for the holidays:

1. Go easy on the alcohol. Many people enjoy alcoholic beverages, especially at holiday parties, but it’s best to dilute them if you do decide to imbibe. For every alcoholic drink you consume, drink twice the amount of water. Alcohol increases urgency and frequency of urination and can lead to incontinence. Even with overactive bladder don’t be afraid to drink more water if you are drinking alcohol.

2. Limit sugar. While cake, pie and homemade candy are certainly tempting, limit the amount of sugar you consume to prevent kidney stones from forming and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms from flaring up.

3. Avoid caffeine. Caffeinated foods and beverages, such as coffee, soda, and chocolate, can increase bladder activity and lead to a variety of urological issues. Drinking a lot of soda can also lead to the development of kidney stones.

4. Eat a lot of fiber. Enjoy fresh vegetables, grains, and legumes to prevent constipation, which can worsen urinary incontinence.

5. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is key when it comes to staying healthy, regardless of whether or not you suffer from OAB. And during the holidays, when life is more hectic and busy, it’s easy thing to forget. Water also helps prevent the formation of painful kidney stones, which can have a very negative impact on your day to day routine. You definitely don’t want kidney stones to form just in time for the holidays!

At Arkansas Urology, we’re here for you. If you have questions about overactive bladder, kidney stones or overall bladder health, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals to discuss treatment options, or book an appointment online in minutes.

As you probably know, a hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and oophorectomy is the removal of the ovaries. The ovaries are the main producers of estrogen in your body. During menopause, women experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms as estrogen levels gradually decline. However, after an oophorectomy, estrogen levels drop dramatically. This often leads to more severe symptoms of menopause, including decreased sex drive, chills, vaginal dryness and problems sleeping.

Millions of women suffer from hormonal imbalances due to natural or surgical menopause, but many women don’t know treatment options are available. MonaLisa Touch helps restore your pelvic health with the use of gentle laser therapy that delivers controlled energy to vaginal wall tissue. The laser therapy is delivered by a probe inserted into the vaginal canal. A two-part pulse targets both surface tissue and deep tissue to promote vaginal mucosal revitalization.

MonaLisa Touch painlessly generates new collagen, elastin and vascularization, and many patients report that they only feel a gentle vibration during treatment. Anesthesia isn’t necessary, and patients receive three spaced out treatments, each of which takes only a matter of minutes to perform.

MonaLisa Touch can provide symptom relief for most women suffering from a decline in estrogen, including women who have had a hysterectomy or oophorectomy. If you have experienced vaginal dryness, itching, painful intercourse, you could be a candidate. You should speak to your urologist about the best treatment options available for you based on your specific needs.

At Arkansas Urology, we’re here for you. If you’re interested in MonaLisa Touch, or want to learn more about the procedure, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals to discuss treatment options, or book an appointment online in minutes.

If you suffer from overactive bladder, it's important to pay attention to how your body and bladder react after drinking certain things. There are definitely drinks that can worsen the symptoms of overactive bladder or OAB. They can irritate the lining of your bladder and lead to discomfort. Acidic, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are among the top culprits, which unfortunately means that wine, coffee, soda, orange juice and sweet tea should be enjoyed sparingly. Sweetened juices, such as apple juice, can also worsen symptoms when consumed in large amounts.

One thing you can do is dilute your drink before it reaches your bladder and causes symptoms to flare up. Try to consume two glasses of water for every one beverage you drink that that aggravates your OAB. If you’re a coffee drinker, try pouring a cup that is half regular and half decaf. This can help prevent irritation.

It’s also important to make sure that you’re staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water each day. Take sips throughout the day instead of gulping down large amounts at once to prevent symptoms from worsening. Your urine should be light yellow or clear at all times. If it’s dark yellow, you aren’t consuming enough water. A common misconception is that cutting back on how much water you drink will help when it comes to overactive bladder, but that simply isn’t true. Staying hydrated should be a priority, and it’s necessary to maintain a healthy body — whether you suffer from OAB or not.

At the end of the day, there’s a variety of drinks you should avoid or limit consumption of if you’re trying to improve symptoms of OAB. While there isn’t a cure for the condition, many people find some relief through lifestyle changes, dietary changes or medication. If you suffer from overactive bladder, there are certainly things you can do to help alleviate your symptoms, such as Kegel exercises or trying to time your trips to the restroom. You should have a conversation with your urologist about your unique symptoms and triggers, and discover the best treatment plan for you.

Do you suffer from overactive bladder? We’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals to discuss treatment options, or book an appointment online in minutes.

When it comes to prostate cancer, several treatment options are available. The best option for you depends on several factors, including how advanced your cancer is, your age, your life expectancy and if you have any other medical conditions. Your urologist will be able to take all factors into consideration and talk through the best options for you.

Watchful waiting is typically the preferred treatment method for men who have slow-growing cancers or limited life expectancy due to age or certain medical conditions. Regular checkups are recommended to monitor growth, and active treatment is often the next step if symptoms get worse.

Other options include:

• Hormone therapy to control the supply of hormones, such as testosterone, that cancer cells need to grow.
• High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment as a minimally invasive option that also drastically reduces side effects such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence. This is an option for those watchful waiters.
• Chemotherapy to slow or reverse the spread of prostate cancer in advanced stages.
• Radiation therapy to damage tumor cells. This treatment is typically recommended when the cancer is confined to the immediate prostate area.
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to deliver precise radiation to malignant tumors.
• Surgery, which includes open radical prostatectomy and prostatectomy. These procedures are intended to remove all cancerous tissue to cure the cancer, and are typically performed during early stages of the disease.
• Cryosurgery to destroy cancerous tissue.
• Da Vinci robotic surgery to dissect and remove the cancerous prostate gland.

Again, everyone is unique and you should speak to your urologist about the best options for you when it comes to treating prostate cancer. Luckily, it’s often effectively treated and cured, especially when it’s detected in its early stages.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled urologists, or schedule an appointment online in minutes. We look forward to hearing from you!

When a loved one is diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s often life changing. Cancer affects more than just the patient, and family members often worry about what they can do to be supportive and comforting in this difficult time. 

While everyone’s lifestyle and situation is unique, there are a few things that virtually all new caregivers can do to help:

• Travel to appointments with your loved one. Listen and take notes when necessary so no information goes unnoticed or forgotten.
• Do your research. Learn everything you can about the disease, understand the treatment options and provide support.
• Be understanding. If your loved one is overwhelmed, suggest counseling. Don’t be afraid to sign up for your own counseling sessions if you need to. Allow your loved one to take time alone discussing questions with his doctor, if necessary. Know that you still play a very important role in his cancer journey.
• Communicate with your partner about both of your emotions instead of shutting down. Understand that they are normal and acceptable.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals to discuss treatment options, or book an appointment online in minutes.

Kidney stones can go undetected for a while, but once one starts stirring around, there’s a big chance you’ll be in a lot of pain. Stones that remain in the kidneys may not cause any symptoms, but if a stone moves into the urinary tract, the symptoms can get intense fast. It sounds like this could certainly be a possible cause of the symptoms you’re describing.

Kidney stone pain can be felt in your side, back, lower abdomen and groin areas. It can start as a dull ache, then quickly transform into sharp, severe cramping or pain. The pain can come and go, meaning you may feel excruciating pain in one moment then fine the next.

Stones can vary in size, but some can be so large that your physician will have to break up before they pass or just remove them. However, some stones are so small you could pass them and never know it!

You may find it difficult to sit still due to being uncomfortable, and you may feel the need to urinate more often than usual. You might experience burning sensations while urinating, or notice blood in your urine. Other symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, profuse sweating, and diarrhea or constipation. Sometimes kidney stones can even cause vomiting.

Kidney stones can clearly cause a lot of pain and discomfort, and you should see your urologist as soon as possible to undergo diagnostic testing to determine the location of the stone and the best course of treatment for you. Most kidney stones will pass on their own, but some require medication or other forms of treatment. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treating kidney stones so it’s important to consult with your physician soon. In the meantime, drink plenty of water and take pain relievers when you need them!

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms listed above, or simply need a routine check-up, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with one of the skilled professionals at Arkansas Urology. Visit our website to book an appointment. All it takes is the click of a button!

Overactive bladder is a common condition that over 33 million Americans of all ages face. Getting up to urinate often at night, the sudden urge to urinate, leaking urine, wetting accidents and frequent urination are not normal. These are all symptoms of overactive bladder, and contrary to popular belief, the condition has nothing to do with aging.

Many people believe that leaking, wetting accidents and problems urinating are normal things that just start happening as we get older, but that’s just a myth. Overactive bladder is never normal. The good news is overactive bladder can be treated, and you can go back to feeling like yourself again.

Most cases can be treated with medication, behavior modification and simple changes in diet. However, in the rare case that these treatments aren’t successful, overactive bladder can be treated with sacral nerve stimulation with Interstim.

If you think you may be suffering from OAB, begin keeping a voiding diary at home. Write down information such as how much you drink, when you urinate, how much you urinate and whether or not you feel an urgent need to go each day. Set up an appointment with your urologist as soon as possible for an examination and testing. Your daily log will help your doctor get a better understanding of your specific symptoms.

You don’t have to live in Poise pads or Depend guards. Don’t view overactive bladder as something you just have to deal with, because you do have options.

While testicular cancer is definitely rarer than prostate cancer, it’s very important to educate yourself on the condition. For men in their 30s, you should be all the more educated. Testicular cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in the testicles or testes. It is highly treatable and curable, especially when detected early, which is why routine exams are important. Here are a few key facts you should know:

1. One common risk factor that experts agree on is a history of an undescended testicle or a testicle that hasn’t dropped from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum by birth.

2. Common symptoms include a change in the size or shape of one or both testes; pain or tenderness in the testicles; a dull pressure or pain in the lower back, belly or groin; and a heavy feeling or painless swelling in the scrotum. It’s crucial to visit your doctor immediately if you experience a symptom to prevent possible spreading.

3. The majority of cases originate in undeveloped germ cells that produce sperm. These germ cell tumors (GCTs) are most common in men between the ages of 20 and 40.

4. While testicular cancer is rare, it is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 34.

5. Most men who get testicular cancer don’t have any risk factors, but a family history of testicular cancer should be noted when you talk to your urologist.

6. Most testicular tumors are discovered during self-exams or physician exams. Other diagnostic tests include CT scan, ultrasound and blood tests.

7. Most cases of testicular cancer are treated surgically, and the good news is that testicular cancer is treated successfully in more than 95 percent of cases! The condition is highly curable, even when diagnosed in a late stage.

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms listed above, or simply need a routine check-up, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with one of the skilled doctors at our Men’s Health Center. To book an appointment visit our website. All it takes is the click of a button!