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During pregnancy, many women experience urine leakage or urinary incontinence to some degree. It happens when you lose bladder control and urine leaks before you can get to the bathroom. It’s not uncommon for women to experience this because the expanding uterus puts more pressure on the bladder. However, urine leakage is a common phenomenon for a lot of different types of people, not just women who are pregnant or have had children. While that may be the stereotype, men and women of all ages and in all stages of health can experience urine leakage with various levels of treatability.

The good news is in most cases urine leakage, or urinary incontinence, is highly treatable once the root cause has been determined. The two most common types of urinary incontinence are stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence is the most common type, affecting over 12.2 million adults in the U.S. alone. Urine leakage occurs when there is too much pressure on the bladder for the bladder muscles to withstand. Weak pelvic floor muscles or a strained or distended bladder can cause this. Many factors can cause stress incontinence like age, childbirth, enlarged bladder and being overweight. In mild cases, simply including pelvic floor muscle exercises like kegels into your routine can retrain your bladder and reduce “accidents.”

Urge incontinence occurs when there is a sudden, intense need to urinate and no way to reach a restroom in time. This can be caused by damaged nerves that don’t signal a need to “go” until it’s too late, or by bladder muscles that contract prematurely. This type of incontinence can be harder to diagnose, but monitoring your water intake and drinking only in small, frequent sips can alleviate symptoms.

No matter your age or life stage, urinary incontinence is nothing to be ashamed of and should be treated by your urologist immediately. With timely treatment, many cases can be significantly eased rather quickly. If you have been living with urinary incontinence, you should know that you have options. You urologist will be able to diagnose your specific case and work with you to create a treatment plan to give you your best quality of life.

Give us a call today at 1-877-321-8452 to talk to one of our team members more about urine leakage or other issues you may be experiencing. 

Overactive bladder, or OAB, is a common affliction of the bladder that can be easily influenced by what we eat and drink. Certain foods and drinks are aggravators of overactive bladders, but many are easily avoided if you understand the qualities of the foods that are irritating.

Acidic, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are among the top offenders, including coffee, strong teas and lemonades. Highly sweetened juices can also be irritating when consumed in large amounts. If certain drinks are unavoidable in your routine or if you choose to have one during a special occasion, dilute the drink before it reaches your bladder by consuming two glasses of water for every glass of the irritating beverage.

Foods can be more difficult to predict, especially if you didn’t see them being prepared. However, certain main ingredients can be more predictable than others. Acidic, spicy and overly sweet foods can be especially irritating to a sensitive bladder. Ingredients to watch out for are tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, peppers and onions. Even foods like pizza and baked goods can be troublesome because of additions like tomato sauces and sweeteners. Of course, you want to be sure and include fruit in your diet, but try less acidic fruits like apples or bananas if you notice that oranges and grapefruits worsen your symptoms.

If you’re having a hard time tracking down what specific foods are causing a problem with your OAB, you might consider keeping a food diary. Writing down the foods you eat and your symptoms each day for as little as a week can give you and your urologist insight into patterns that could help you make smarter choices.

If you still can’t find relief even after cutting out known aggravators, you might need to consult with your urologist to help you tailor your diet. In some cases, excessive reactions can be a sign of a more serious illness that needs to be treated.

If you’d like to talk more with one of our physicians about OAB, please contact us today at 1-800-255-1762.

So many aspects of our health are connected to one another. What you eat can directly affect your bladder, drinking water can change your skin and light exercise can mean the difference between heart disease at age 40 and a long life free of serious illness. Regardless of your life stage, these top health tips for men can radically improve your health with a few tweaks to your daily habits.

1 . Prioritize sleep.
A lot of men feel that they can train themselves to “run on less sleep,” or make up for lack of sleep with exercise, but that simply isn’t the case. Sleep is when the body restores and repairs itself best, and as we age it is especially important that we allow ourselves a proper recovery period every single day. If you’re regularly getting less than seven hours nightly, consider adjusting your routine to make room for a few extra minutes of shut-eye.

2. Ditch calorie counting.
Contrary to popular belief, calories are actually a poor picture of overall health, especially for active men who burn a lot of energy. Instead of counting every bite, focus on choosing a wide variety of foods from different food groups. Even “bad” nutrients like fats and sugars can actually be good for you when they come from healthier options like avocados and apples.

3. Find a doctor you are comfortable with.
Men are notorious for ignoring symptoms and avoiding the doctor. If you take the time to research your physician and commit to seeing them regularly, it can make a potentially awkward conversation seem much less daunting. A doctor you know will also be more familiar with your medical history and can better help you make informed health decisions.

4. Don’t forget your mental health.
There is a reason women tend to live longer than men, and it has a lot to do with how they communicate. Instead of clamming up and trying to push through a serious mental health issue like depression or anxiety on your own, do your physical health a favor and talk it out with someone. There is never anything wrong with getting help when you need it.

5. Incorporate kegels into your exercise routine.
You may care about your biceps, but what about the muscles you can’t see? The humble kegel is a simple exercise that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles to support the bladder and bowel while also improving your sexual health. Prevent incontinence and preserve potency in one fell swoop by repeating a set of 10 pelvic muscle contractions three times a day.

6. Maintain your middle.
If you’ve noticed a bit of a gut creeping up on you, working it off should be about more than your looks. Visceral fat, or fat that collects around your middle, is the most deadly fat form around, and is linked to countless health problems including type 2 diabetes. The best way to keep it under control is to eat a well balanced diet and get plenty of age-appropriate cardio exercise.

7. Watch your water.
Being busy is no excuse to skipping out on your eight glasses a day. In fact, men may need even more water than that to stay properly hydrated. Take your weight in pounds, divide it in half, and that is the number of ounces of water you probably need. Keep a reusable water bottle on your person and remember to fill it up to improve your skin, experience more energy, ease indigestion, and prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

When it comes to your health, little lifestyle habits are the key to maintaining a high quality of life. At Arkansas Urology, we know that urological health starts with a solid foundation of overall wellness. If you’ve been ignoring symptoms, or simply want to talk with a urologist about what you can do to maintain or improve your urinary or reproductive health, call us today at 1-877-321-8452. Our providers are leading experts in helping you live your fullest life.

Kidney stones are an unfortunate reality for more than 2 million Americans, but many of us still don't know how to go about normal routines while passing one. When it comes to exercising with stones, there are right and wrong ways to go about your workout. These are the four basic principles to keep in mind to maintain optimal health:

• Listen to your body. In general, there's no reason for a kidney stone to stop you from living your normal life. If your pain is being properly managed, feel free to continue to work out as you normally would. It's important, however, that you pay attention to your body and stop activity as soon as you feel a strange sensation or pain in the abdomen or lower back. If you aren't feeling well, but would still like to stay active, try a light walk or yoga session to give your body a break. 
• Drink lots of water, then drink some more. When you have a kidney stone, staying hydrated is critically important. Exercise caution by drinking plenty of water before, during and after your workout. You can also mix up your beverage options with cranberry juices and lemonade to help break down certain types of kidney stones. 
• Ask your urologist first if you are on any medications. Certain pain medications can cause unexpected reactions in patients who have never taken them before, or who are taking exceptionally high doses. If your urologist has prescribed any medications to you, you should ask them about potential side effects before exercising in order to minimize your risk. 
• Exercise might actually promote stone passing. Unfortunately, kidney stones can have a mind of their own when it comes to passing through the urinary system. In the worst cases, stones can get lodged and refuse to pass easily on their own and therefore must be retrieved. The good news is, cautious exercise can actually be helpful in moving stones along naturally. If you feel up to it, a light jog or other cardio workout could be enough to shorten your kidney stone's unwelcome stay.

While light cardio is generally a safe option, you may need to get your urologist’s approval if this is your first time living with a stone. Just like consulting your doctor before beginning a new exercise program is a good idea, it is also a good idea to consult your urologist when working out with a new kidney stone to make sure your particular case is safe. If you’d like to set up a consultation, or if you think you may have a kidney stone, call us today at 1-877-321-8452.

Vacationing with overactive bladder can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are our top 10 travel tips for OAB:

1. Start training now. The months leading up to travel day are the perfect time to start training your muscles for the trip ahead. Practice timing when you have to go and see if you can prolong the space between for even a few minutes at a time. Kegel exercises performed daily will also have plenty of time to strengthen your pelvic floor.

2. Choose your destination wisely. The best places to stay if you have severe OAB are resorts and hotels with large bathrooms in lots of convenient locations. You might even find that some cruise ships make excellent vacation locations because they have multiple bathroom options on every floor.

3. Choose your seat wisely. The best methods of travel for someone with OAB are trains and buses. Be sure to choose a seat near the restroom and on an isle.

4. Do your route research. If driving, check your route for stops at a frequency you prefer. The extra step will be well worth it to avoid driving past the only pitstop by accident!

5. Pack a “just in case” kit. Even if you never use them, a few backup items can give you peace of mind. Include a pair of underwear, toilet paper, sanitary wipes, hand sanitizer, seat covers and even a few incontinence pads if they work for you.

6. Check in as early as possible. Arrive early when boarding methods of travel to build in time for a bathroom break. If at all possible, utilize online check-ins to skip the line entirely!

7. Call ahead for accommodations. Wherever you choose to stay, don’t assume all amenities are included. Call ahead to see what hotels will provide laundry, extra sheets and a guaranteed bathroom on your floor or in your room.

8. Watch what you eat. Avoid diuretic foods like spices, citrus fruits, tomatoes, caffeinated beverages, alcohol and chocolate.

9. Monitor your water intake. On travel day, you might reduce your water intake for travel hours only. When you do drink water, make sure it is in small sips spaced out over time.

10. Consider travel medications. While they aren’t safe to use for prolonged periods of time, your urologist may be able to prescribe temporary medications to make traveling with OAB easier.

If you’re interested in what medicinal treatments are available to the OAB traveler, or if you would like some more one-on-one consulting with your urologist before you embark on your journey, call us at 1-877-321-8452.

You may have reached the age that your general practitioner has advised you make your first annual appointment, or you may have been noticing strange symptoms you can’t ignore, but either way, your first visit to a urologist can be a nerve-wracking one. The most important thing to remember is that your urologist is here to make sure you are as comfortable and healthy as you can be! Read on to learn about what you can expect during your first visit to Arkansas Urology, and some great questions for first-timers to ask their provider.

A first-time visit to the urologist will almost always include a decent amount of paperwork which, along with your initial consultation, will be crucial in providing a complete and accurate view of your medical history. It is critical that you be as thorough and honest as you can in your medical history so that your provider can have an accurate understanding of your current health.

After your initial consultation, first time visits almost always include the providing of a urine sample, a physical exam and a provider recommendation. Your urologist may request you take additional imaging tests before providing a final diagnosis.

Regardless of how you got there, you will probably have some questions once you reach your urologist’s office for the first time. Which questions to ask at your first visit will vary greatly by diagnosis.

For the healthy patient, a check up is a great time for some one-on-one consulting with your urologist about what you can be doing now to ensure your health later. Ask about common health risks for someone your age, healthy lifestyle habits to lower your risk rate and what their professional opinions are on the effectiveness of these habits.

If you have received your first diagnosis, now is the time to more fully understand your illness and your treatment options.Your urologist will always be happy to explain any word, diagnosis or treatment you don’t understand, all you have to do is ask! You might think about discussing questions like, “What are some recovery and survival rate statistics for patients like me?”, “What habits can I change to further assist my treatment” and “What are all my treatment options?”

At Arkansas Urology, your health and comfort are our top priorities. We will do everything we can to ensure your first visit is as comfortable as it is informative. If you’ve been letting first-time anxiety keep you from our offices, know that early detection is key to effective treatment. We’re here to help! If you have any questions about your upcoming appointment, or would like to schedule a visit, give us a call at at 1-877-321-8452.

HIFU, or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, is the newest breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment technology. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this new treatment method could be a minimally invasive alternative to traditional, intensive treatments of the past.

HIFU waves target and treat small amounts of tissue through heat concentration at a specific “focal point.” Unlike surgeries or radiation, this means there is no incision point, no blood loss and no widespread damage to any other part of the body during treatment.

Each patient can be treated as a unique case, with a targeted treatment designed around their cancer. This minimizes any nerve damage in the surrounding area, which protects against the impotence typically associated with more aggressive forms of treatment.

HIFU technology has been practiced since as early as 1995 and was FDA cleared in October of 2015. With over 50,000 men treated worldwide, it is largely becoming the biggest breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment to date. HIFU treatments have the same effectiveness and survival rates of traditional procedures, with an impressive 97 percent five-year survival rate and a 97 percent metastasis-free survival rate.

This outpatient procedure involves minimal downtime and recovery. After treatment, there is an increased risk of contracting a UTI due to the use of a catheter for a few recovery days, but after this, the only potential side effects are changes in frequency or urgency of urination, mild discomfort or discharge in the urinary stream in the first few weeks following HIFU.

Before HIFU, men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer had to choose between a high-risk surgical intervention, careful monitoring of the disease or even no treatment at all. Now, we can treat early, effectively and while preserving your highest quality of life.

For more information about what HIFU can do for you or to schedule a consultation, contact us at 1-877-321-8452.

Drinking more water makes most lists of healthy tips that you see. However, for people who suffer from overactive bladder the idea of drinking more water can be immediately ignored or maybe even a little scary meaning more trips to the bathroom or possibilities of accidents. However, drinking water can actually be helpful.

Kidney damage typically progresses very slowly. While this is a good thing for those fighting the disease, it can mean that symptoms of chronic kidney disease often go unnoticed for so long that a diagnosis isn’t made until the kidney damage is irreversible. If you have any inclinations that you may have chronic kidney disease, read on to learn about the symptoms.

The most common symptoms of kidney damage are itching, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, not feeling hungry, swelling of the feet and ankles, too much or not enough urine, trouble catching your breath and trouble sleeping. Other symptoms can include fatigue and weakness, decreased mental sharpness, muscle twitches, chest pain (if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart), and high blood pressure (hypertension) that's difficult to control.

Because these symptoms are so broad and varied, it can be difficult to tie them all back to kidney damage. The kidneys are also extremely hardy and adaptable, which allows them to compensate for lost function extremely well and hide the warning signs until it is too late.

The key to early diagnosis is to watch for these symptoms in combination with one another. You should also make sure your urologist has tested for, and is aware of, any other diseases you may have that increase your risk of chronic kidney disease. Simple blood pressure and urine tests could be all it takes to keep a watchful eye on your kidney’s health.

Diabetes, hypertension, urine blockages, overusing painkillers, having an allergic reaction to antibiotics, inflammation and drug abuse can all put you at a higher risk for chronic kidney disease. Any concerns you have about these previous illnesses should be brought up at once with your urologist so that together you can plan preventative measures and monitor your kidney health frequently.

If you are experiencing two or more of the classic symptoms of CKD at once with any severity, you should contact your urologist right away. Early diagnosis is key to effective treatment. Call us today at 1-877-321-8452 to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our staff members.

There's nothing worse than asking friends and family members to stop and pull over during long car trips several times so you can use the restroom. It's easy to assume that some bladders are just smaller than others. But is this reality?