Can Constipation Cause Men Difficulty with Urinating?
A man who has new-onset difficulty with urinating may immediately fear prostate cancer, cross his fingers and hope it’s only constipation.
- Difficulty with urination can present as a problem with urine stream.
- It can also be an issue of reduced urine output — fewer than normal trips to the toilet.
“Constipation can cause many men to have difficulty passing urine,” says Dana Rice, MD, a board certified urologist and creator of the UTI Tracker mobile app, which helps patients catalog daily urinary tract symptoms, medication and behavioral patterns, and offers personalized tips for UTI prevention.
Constipation is bad enough, but when difficulty urinating is tossed into the equation, it’s just one lousy situation. But it sure beats prostate cancer.
However, Dr. Rice adds, “Men who have enlarged prostates can particularly have issues.
“The prostate gland abuts the rectal vault, and if the rectum is full of hard or impacted stool it can place pressure on the urethra, making it harder to pass urine.”
A CT scan will reveal constipation and, if it’s interfering with urine output, will show this.
Sometimes constipation is so bad that it must be removed by a doctor’s fingers, and then the patient is given an enema to clean out the remainder of the feces.
Treatments and Prevention of Constipation
“Probiotics, high fiber diets and stool softeners are all ways to avoid constipation,” says Dr. Rice.
Probiotics are found in “live culture” yogurt and kefir, and in the form of pills. Foods high in fiber include lentils, peas, fruits and vegetables.
A sedentary lifestyle promotes constipation.
If you have a desk job, get up every 45 minutes or so and walk around for a few minutes.
If you don’t have a workout regimen, then start one. Excessive inertia is a risk factor for constipation.
For more information on the UTI Tracker, you can go to utitracker.com.
Dana Rice, MD, is with Inova Medical Group in Fairfax, VA, and her clinical interests include bladder, kidney and prostate cancer, minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock Syda Productions
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Top 5 Ways Diabetics Can Prevent Foot Problems & Amputation
“Here today, gone tomorrow” can describe a diabetic’s foot.
Here are five ways that a foot surgeon says a diabetic can prevent amputations and other problems with the feet.
Diabetics do NOT have to lose their feet, let alone legs, to amputation!
There are five key things that a diabetic can do that will prevent the need for a foot amputation or the development of serious foot problems, says Peter D. Highlander, DPM, Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeon, Director, Wound Reconstruction Center, The Bellevue Hospital, Bellevue OH.
Routine Foot Checks
“The first line of prevention is checking the soles of the feet at least twice daily (morning and night),” says Dr. Highlander.
“If your eyesight or flexibility prevent you from observing the bottoms of your feet, then have a spouse check or purchase a plexi-glass mirror to aid in the process.”
If you live alone or otherwise do not see a caring individual on a daily basis, you must acquire the habit of using a mirror, and you can supplement this with reading glasses (depending on your vision) that will magnify the area of inspection. A magnifying glass will also help for those with visual issues.
Shoes
“Avoid going barefoot and open footwear,” advises Dr. Highlander. Seems like these days, going barefoot is the thing to do.
Though our very ancient ancestors routinely went barefoot, this doesn’t mean that in today’s day and age, it’s safe – especially for diabetics.
Nor is it sightly if you don’t keep your feet and toenails clean and healthy looking.
Dr. Highlander continues, “See your local podiatrist [foot doctor] for diabetic shoes and protective orthotics which is a paid service by most private and government insurers to those patients who qualify.”
Routine Foot Inspections by a Doctor
A doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) should regularly inspect your feet. Don’t rely on only a primary care physician.
Shutterstock/Alexander Raths
“Research has shown that diabetic patients who routinely see a podiatrist were much less likely to undergo an amputation compared to diabetic patients who did not see a podiatrist,” says Dr. Highlander.
“Depending on risk factors determined by your podiatrist will determine how often you should be seen, but a minimum annual to biannual checkups are necessary for those with low risk. Patients with higher risk are to be seen more often.”
Seek Treatment ASAP
“Accidents happen and we all get blisters and other minor injuries from time to time,” begins Dr. Highlander.
“If a break in the skin is noted then you should be seen. It is much easier for your foot doctor to issue successful treatment early in the process.
“Nearly all patients who undergo amputations will note putting off being seen by a foot doctor for many reasons; none of them are justified.
“If you’re diabetic and you notice a break in the skin to a foot, then call today to be seen by a podiatrist ASAP.
“If you are concerned for infection, then go to the nearest emergency department.”
Don’t think for a second that you have some kind of built-in protection factor for foot amputations, such as being young or athletic.
Years ago along Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile, where throngs of people gather to play “power” volleyball, I spotted a young man in a wheelchair eagerly watching some players in action.
He was made up of a head, torso and a single arm. The rest of his body was short stumps – raw and fresh looking, as though the limbs had been cut off just a few days prior.
I asked someone what had happened. I was told that just a few weeks ago, that very man had been on the beach playing power volleyball with those same athletes – but that he had gotten careless with his type 1 diabetes management.
Type 1 or 2 diabetes, a sore or wound does not turn into a raging spreading infection and dead tissue sooner than you can get to a medical clinic for an evaluation and treatment.
Stop Smoking
Cigarettes are called “cancer sticks.” They can also be called “amputation sticks.” They are among a diabetic’s worst enemies.
Dr. Highlander explains, “Diabetes alone affects the immune system and the body’s ability to heal on its own.
“Smoking or any source of nicotine also compromises the ability to heal. Nicotine causes the blood vessels in your lower extremities to constrict which restricts blood flow, and this process continues for up to 45 minutes after the last nicotine exposure.
“With chronic nicotine exposure, the blood vessels become permanently diseased.
“All in all, diabetes and active nicotine use is a recipe for disaster and often ends with someone losing a limb.”
Dr. Highlander provides advanced treatment and prevention options for lower extremity wounds with a special interest in deformity correction and soft tissue coverage for non-healing wounds.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/MRAORAOR –
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Stiff Feet in the Morning: Causes and Solutions
Are you under 50, not previously injured but keep waking with stiff feet in the morning that soon return to normal once you’re up and about?
Stiff Feet, No Injury
“Stiff feet in the morning can be caused by a number of underlying conditions,” says Arielle Levitan, MD, board certified in internal medicine and co-founder of Vous Vitamin LLC and co-author of “The Vitamin Solution: Two Doctors Clear the Confusion About Vitamins and Your Health.”
“Most commonly, a condition called plantar fasciitis causes people to have stiffness in their feet when they first wake up,” continues Dr. Levitan.
“This is an inflammation along the bottom of the foot.” The tissue affected are ligamentous bands called plantar fascia.
Along with the morning stiffness in the foot caused by plantar fasciitis is also a burning type of pain — in the arch and/or bottom of the heel.
Only one foot may be affected, but for some people, both feet are affected by this common disorder for which being overweight is a risk factor.
Other Causes of Stiff Feet in the Morning
“Other conditions that can cause stiffness in the feet upon waking up also include various forms of arthritis, tendinitis (Achilles) or less commonly certain vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin D deficiency that results in muscle stiffness,” explains Dr. Levitan.
Prevention of Stiff Morning Feet
“Stretching out the feet can make a big difference,” says Dr. Levitan.
“Some people also sleep with ankle braces to prevent the stiffness in the morning.
Stretching out the feet can make a big difference. Freepik/yanalya
“Vitamin D replacement and sometimes a magnesium replacement can help with these types of symptoms.”
If there is no pain with the stiffness, and soon after you’re up and about, your feet feel normal, there’s no need to be concerned.
The situation may simply be related to lying still in a bed for many hours – especially in an older body. Inert joints can become stiff, and all they need is some movement to unstiffen.
To help prevent or minimize morning foot stiffness, you should consider taking up a physical activity that stretches and really uses the feet, such as yoga, hiking, jogging, step aerobics or martial arts.
Now if there’s pain along the arch and/or the bottom of the heel, you can place your bet on plantar fasciitis – for which there’s a variety of treatment options available such as ultrasound-guided injection, Botox or stretching, and exercises.
Dr. Levitan is board certified in internal medicine and has a special interest in women’s health and preventive medicine.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained clients of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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