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Everyone could benefit from making some simple changes to their diet to improve their health. Your urological health is especially sensitive to the foods you eat. This means diet changes improve an already healthy system, as well as ease common urological disorder symptoms, very quickly! When looking at simple changes you can make, there are a few “rules of thumb,” to keep in mind. 

1. Avoid Acidity

Most people with disorders of the bladder will already know acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus can be irritating to the bladder lining. What you probably didn’t know is that everyone is affected by this acidity to some degree. Avoid loading up on lots of acidic foods in one sitting, especially when you aren’t drinking enough water, to avoid concentrating this acidity in the urinary system for prolonged amounts of time.

2. Be Wary of Spice

Spicy foods can react very similarly to acidic foods in the body. You will have to determine for yourself just how spicy you can go before you notice irritation, but a good guideline is to keep especially spicy meals limited to once per day or even once per week. You might consider limiting spice all together if you experience episodes of irritation consistently.

3. Prioritize Hydration

The best way to protect your entire urological system is to keep your body as hydrated as possible. Determine how much water you really need by taking your body weight in pounds, dividing that number by two, and then divide that number by 8. This will be the number of cups of water your body requires to stay optimally hydrated. If you are active, you should add an extra glass of water for every 30 minutes of exercise.

4.Monitor Caffeine

Caffeine intake should also be included in the discussion of hydration because caffeine is a natural diuretic. This means that caffeine causes your body to naturally flush itself of water, and can be irritating to the bladder if consumed in large quantities without replenishing your water supply. Remember to supplement your water intake by one additional glass for every cup of coffee consumed.

These are the basics of dietary concerns for those with urological conditions, and they are also excellent starting points for improving your diet with urological health in mind. Take a few moments to consider this list and “spring clean,” your dietary choices next time you order out, grocery shop, or meal plan and see what a difference it makes on your overall health! To ask questions about your personal dietary concerns, or to schedule an appointment with a provider, contact us online or give us a call at 877-321-8452 for more information.

Taking your health seriously is one of the most important things you can do to protect and prolong a happy life. When it comes to your urological health, it’s important to understand that any symptom could be a serious symptom, and most of them should be addressed right away.

A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of disorders of the urinary system. This means any time you experience pain or “burning,” in an area like the lower abdomen, the lower back or when urinating, you might need to see a urologist. Likewise, noticing a painful area or even a lump could be a sign of certain types of urological cancer. If you’re a man over 40, you should already be seeing your urologist annually for prostate cancer screenings.

Another good rule of thumb is to always be aware of what “normal” urine looks like for you. While shade may vary from person to person, urine that is consistently dark may be a sign of dehydration. Bloody, very dark, black, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine are all signs you should see your urologist immediately, as they could be a sign of serious infection.

If in doubt, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health. Most urological conditions, when caught early, are highly treatable with minimal downtime. Your urologist is also trained to help you modify your lifestyle for optimal health no matter what condition you may have, maximizing your quality of life and minimizing recurring symptoms.

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms discussed in this article, or if you’d like to learn more about how a urologist can help you improve your lifestyle and manage your condition, we’d love to discuss options with you. Give us a call at 877-321-8452 to speak with a provider today.

When you hear the words “prostate cancer,” feelings of fear can creep in. While prostate cancer can portray itself as a scare, it doesn’t have to. We know the news can seem very scary but here at Arkansas Urology, we believe that you don’t have to fear them. Prostate cancer is common and about one in nine men will be diagnosed with it. Yet, it is also one of the most treatable types of cancer today. A prostate cancer diagnosis doesn't have to be cause for panic early. Here are a few reasons not to fear prostate cancer.

1. The main reason you do not have to fear prostate cancer is that it is treatable. The five-year survival rate for men with local or regional prostate cancer is almost 100%. Arkansas Urology has state-of-the-art treatment centers and technology. We are better prepared than ever before to help you beat prostate cancer. Our doctors are board-certified and ready to walk with you through every step of the way.

2. The second reason you can have peace is that your care can be individualized to you. We have a great team of doctors who know what treatment will be best for your specific case and are ready to assist you with anything and everything you may need.

3. Early diagnosis helps to catch prostate cancer early and improve outcomes. We offer screenings to check for prostate cancer. We believe so much in treating and beating prostate cancer that we even host free screening events in the fall for men to get tested each year.

Having concerns about prostate cancer are valid, but the good news is you don’t have to be scared. Often the fear of prostate cancer does more harm to an individual than the cancer itself.

To learn more about the widely accepted treatments available at Arkansas Urology, visit our Prostate Cancer Center. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer or needs to schedule a screening, give us a call today. We can help you through this journey from diagnosis to treatment, call 1-877-321-8452.

Pelvic health is a factor of our lives that many people don’t begin to consider until they start experiencing age and illness. Being proactive is the key to promoting pelvic health and maintaining it through life! Here is our advice for steps you can take right now:

1.Strengthen the Pelvic Floor.

The Kegel exercise is the best way to exercise the muscles that contain the contents of your pelvis, aka your pelvic floor. These muscles keep different organs in place, maintain the function and control of the bladder and bowels, and help maintain the muscle tone needed for a satisfying sex life. Practicing Kegels one to three times daily will optimize your results.

2.Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

All factors of health are generally connected in one way or another. As you age, eating healthy and staying active will help prevent a multitude of diseases, and incontinence is one of them.Excess weight puts a strain on the pelvic muscles that often leads to weakening and tearing. Avoiding it will lessen the strain on your pelvis as a whole.

3.Understand the Way the Body Ages

As we age, the body lessens its collagen production, leading to decreased connective tissue and more stress on the area. This can be lessened with the inclusion of some supplements to your diet, like glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate.

The important thing to remember about pelvic health is that prevention is key. Consistency with pelvic floor exercises, particularly during pregnancy, and a generally healthy lifestyle are the best ways to promote and maintain pelvic health. If you’d like more personalized information about how to improve your pelvic health, or have decided it’s time to reach out for treatment of pelvic pain, visit us online or call 800-255-1762 to schedule an appointment. With modern treatment, there’s no need to suffer in silence.

Heart health and urological health are closely linked in many ways, and in some ways, researchers don’t even fully understand yet. Many heart conditions are tied to some urological diseases, and a good rule of thumb is to assume that any healthy habit that is good for your heart, will also be good for your urological system.

While it is true that bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, it is actually much less likely in women. In fact, while men have about a 1 in 27 chance of being diagnosed with bladder cancer than women who are closer to 1 in 89. However, it is still relatively common, increasingly so for those over the age of 55. It is impossible to say whether any holistic measures can definitively prevent cancers, however there are a few lifestyle changes you can make to drastically improve your odds.

1.Don’t “Hold It.”

While the occasional crisis of finding a restroom won’t give you cancer, it is extremely important to treat your bladder with respect and empty it often. Holding urine when you feel the urge to urinate forces your body to hold onto toxins and other substances the body needs to eliminate. The concentrated urine is irritating to the bladder lining, and can distend the muscles around the bladder making proper control and complete elimination difficult over time. These weaknesses of the bladder are what can lead to various kinds of pelvic dysfunctions such as incontinence, bladder and kidney infections, pelvic muscles tears and eventually even cancer.

2.Drink Plenty of Water

Water is the ultimate substance for health. Drinking eight or more glasses a day helps to flush your body of impurities, even potentially cancer-causing impurities, and also gives your bladder plenty of opportunities to function properly throughout the day. If you know you aren’t getting enough, start slowly by adding an extra glass to your routine and build up your intake.

3.Limit Exposure to Risky Substances

Smokers are at least three times more likely to get bladder cancer than non-smokers. Alcohol is a diuretic and bladder irritant that can chronically irritate or injure the bladder if abused. Arsenic in water sources and exposure to industrial chemicals in the workplace are also significant risk factors in contracting bladder cancer. Limiting or eliminating your exposure to these substances can drastically improve your chances of avoiding this disease.

When typical cancer-causing risk factors are eliminated, the main defense against bladder cancer is a generally healthy lifestyle. Plenty of water, activity, fresh fruits and vegetables are the best ways to fuel your body to run as optimally as possible, which is the best way to avoid illnesses and cancers of all sorts. If you believe you may have a pelvic illness or injury, or if you’d like to discuss your bladder cancer risk factors with a professional, schedule an appointment online or call Arkansas Urology at 800-255-1762.

Drinking lots of water, eating foods with vitamins and getting plenty of exercise are all excellent ways to stay healthy and potentially prevent kidney stones, however, for some people this will not be enough. Should you develop a kidney stone though, you need to know what to expect.

Most patients who develop kidney stones don’t realize they have them until they begin experiencing pain. This can be felt as a burning sensation when urinating or when you have a need to urinate, but more often it is felt as a pain in the lower abdomen or back that can be sharp and sudden. This pain is often strong enough to send a patient to the emergency room. It’s important to have sharp lower abdomen or back pain treated because this type of pain is indicative of many other illnesses that can be very serious if left unchecked.

Your doctor may use a blood test to check for high mineral levels, but will more than likely use a form of imaging test like x-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan to look for the stone(s) themselves. You will also be asked to provide a urine sample.

Treatment of kidney stones will often consist of a “watch and wait,” approach that may include medications prescribed for pain management. It is critical to drink a lot of water during this time to help flush out the kidney stone and potentially break it apart. While urination may be painful, it is the only way to pass the stone without additional assistance. Drinking cranberry juice may help to break apart kidney stones further and/or prevent infection.

Stones 10mm in size or smaller can be passed on their own, but stones that show little to no signs of moving or are too large to pass will be treated with medication, shock wave therapy or ureteroscopy. Alpha-Beta blockers help relax the uterine wall so that stones pass more easily. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses high-frequency waves to break large stones into smaller, passable pieces. Ureteroscopy uses a thin tube in the urinary tract that allows the doctor to break apart the stone and remove the pieces through the tube. These treatments are typically sufficient for most large stones, but unusually large stones may require surgical removal.

With proper hydration, professional consultation and plenty of rest, kidney stones should pass within a few weeks uneventfully and with minimal discomfort. If you suspect you may have a kidney stone, or have experienced any pain similar to that described in this article, you should call your urologist and schedule an appointment. Contact Arkansas Urology online or call 877-321-8452 to speak directly with a provider, today.

Urological cancer is not one kind of cancer but can refer to many different types of cancer. Within each type, there are varying ranges and grades of each. Bladder, kidney, adrenal, prostate, penile and testicular cancer all fall under the scope of urological cancer. Urological cancer is an umbrella term used for all of these specific types. Some of these conditions are gender-specific, while some can affect all people.

Since there are several types of urological cancer, symptoms could range anywhere from trouble with urinating, pain when using the bathroom, blood, lower back pain, fatigue, weight loss, rash, achy pain, enlargement, just to list a few. Again, if you are experiencing any of these, see your doctor. Because there are various types, there are also various treatment plans. As a result of all of these being different, your signs and symptoms will vary too. With any type of urological cancer, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. And we definitely cannot group all urological cancers together to say that certain symptoms and treatments apply to each kind.

It’s best to speak with your doctor if you think you are experiencing any symptoms that seem unusual or are out of the ordinary for you. Just because you may be experiencing issues doesn’t mean it’s urological cancer, it could be another treatable condition. However, it’s always best to consult with a physician as soon as possible to get the right diagnosis. 

New year means new goals. Here at Arkansas Urology, we want you to be happy and healthy by helping you and your family  make wise, healthy decisions regarding your wellbeing over the course of the next year. Think of focusing on your kidneys and bladder this year to boost your urologic health. Here is our list of our top 10 tips for a healthy 2018.

1. Stay hydrated! This helps to rid your body of waste, toxins, and ensure your kidneys and bladder are working well.
2. Exercise your pelvic floor muscles by doing kegel exercises.
3. Choose to be smoke-free. Smoking has the potential to increase bladder and kidney cancers.
4. Empty your bladder before bed.
5. Make sure to bathe thoroughly every day to prevent infections.
6. Maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly.
7. Try to limit your intake of salt since it makes you retain more water and is hard on your kidneys.
8. Resist the urge to hold it in. Go to the restroom when nature calls.
9. Avoid eating foods that may irritate your bladder such as acidic foods like tomatoes and oranges.
10. Of course, make plans to visit your urologist for checkups throughout the year!

We hope these top 10 tips for a healthy 2018 help you reach your goals and enjoy a year full of health!

BPH, otherwise known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, is an enlarged prostate gland. When the prostate gland becomes enlarged it can create problems with urinating due to the enlargement narrowing or blocking the urethra, making it difficult to urinate. BPH is very common in men as they get older. The cause of BPH can be blamed on changes in hormone balance and cell growth, as well as genetics.

Symptoms of BPH can include having trouble starting and stopping urinating, a frequent feeling of needing to go, pain when urinating, and not feeling like you have emptied your bladder. The most common symptom is an enlarged prostate. Again, due to the prostate being enlarged with the potential to block your urethra, it could lead to other complications such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or blood in your urine. On the other hand, you also may have no signs of symptoms.

In order to properly diagnose BPH, your doctor may conduct several tests ranging from a physical exam to taking a urine sample or performing a rectal exam. Treatment options can be as simple as at home treatments. This could include avoiding caffeine and alcohol, steering clear of medicines that make going to the restroom difficult, and emptying your bladder as best as you can. If at home treatments do not prove to be an effective method of treating your BPH, your doctor may prescribe medication or suggest surgery to relieve your symptoms if they persist. Surgery options could include transurethral incision of the prostate, laser therapy, microwave therapy, or needle ablation.

Be sure to check with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms or others since prostate cancer and BPH have similar symptoms. While BPH does not cause prostate cancer, since the symptoms are similar it is certainly important to be seen by your doctor.