Aging, Health and Slow Urination

At first, many men may accept slow urination as a normal part of aging. Yet slow urination in men is an indication of poor condition of the urinary system, and can occur at any age. It is often the result of a combination of three problems: loss of bladder elasticity, lining irritation, and an enlarged prostate.

Working on just one or two of these problems may not bring a long term satisfactory result. Here are some things to consider if you want to address all three common sources of slow urination. Even if you apply yourself to all three problems, it can take a year or two to get your urinary system back into shape.

I. Loss of bladder elasticity

This is caused by letting the bladder spend too little time empty. To empty, the bladder sqeezes itself like a fist, and to keep its muscles in shape it needs to flex them. It is important that the bladder completely empty itself every few hours.

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II. Lining irritation

The bladder and urethra get cleansed and washed down when you urinate during the day. But while you're sleeping, your urine gets more concentrated as it stays contained for many hours. Highly concentrated urine inflames the lining of smooth muscles at the "neck" of the bladder. This situation can be made even worse if you refrain from drinking fluids before bedtime.

III. Enlarged prostate

An enlarged prostate squeezes the urethra shut, making it difficult to pass urine, especially when the two problems mentioned above have reduced your "water pressure." If your doctor prescribes finasteride (Proscar), don't view it as something to make you feel better. Keep in mind that although finasteride may not relieve your symptoms, its regular use will halt the growth of an enlarged prostate. The earlier you stop prostrate growth, the better, so the time to begin taking finasteride is as soon as you know that you have prostate enlargement.