Patient's question:
Patient is male, 33 years old, previously had average health, with elevated liver enzymes and high blood lipid levels. Slightly overweight, 5'7" tall, weighing around 150 pounds, with a very large abdomen. In the past two to three months, he has experienced frequent urination, needing to urinate about ten times a day, especially in the morning, with about half an hour between each urination. The urine is thin and accompanied by pain. Ultrasound and tests for prostate and urinary tract cancer cells were conducted, but all results were normal. The doctor prescribed medication for the prostate, which he took for a month without improvement. He is unsure of the cause.Doctor's answer:
Generally, a healthy person urinates 1 to 3 times during the night (from 8 PM to 8 AM), with a urine output of 300 to 800 mL (average 500 mL), which accounts for 1/4 to 1/3 of the total daily urine output. If the frequency and volume of nighttime urination significantly increase, it is called nocturia, and in severe cases, it can even equal or exceed the daily urine output. Normal people may occasionally experience nocturia, usually related to increased nighttime fluid intake, but if nocturia occurs frequently, it often indicates a pathological condition and is a sign of declining kidney function.What Causes Nocturia? How Is It Classified?
Nocturia is often classified into three categories:
1) Renal Insufficiency-Related Nocturia: Common in chronic nephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, hypertensive renal artery sclerosis, hypokalemia-induced kidney damage, tubulointerstitial diseases, and chronic renal insufficiency caused by various kidney diseases.
2) Voiding-Related Nocturia: Common in chronic heart diseases, heart failure, edema, or pleural/peritoneal effusion.
3) Neurological Nocturia: Caused by psychological factors.
Be Careful About Nocturia Frequency in Prostate Enlargement
Many middle-aged and elderly men dismiss the initial symptoms of nocturia, weak urine flow, and difficulty urinating, believing that these are normal for aging and ignore them. In reality, these symptoms in middle-aged and elderly men are often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). If not treated promptly with proper medical care, it can lead to increased urine retention in the bladder, urine reflux causing hydronephrosis, and in severe cases, uremia.
Experts emphasize that middle-aged and elderly men who suspect prostate enlargement should seek medical attention early at a professional urological department to avoid complications such as acute urinary retention, urinary tract infections, stones, hydronephrosis, hematuria, or kidney failure due to delayed or improper treatment.
Treatment Methods for Nocturia:
1) Symptomatic Treatment: Control evening fluid intake and empty the bladder before bedtime.
2) Treatment Based on the Underlying Cause: For example, anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapies for primary kidney diseases, antihypertensive medications for hypertensive patients, or sedatives like diazepam or temazepam for neurological nocturia before bedtime.
3) Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment: TCM believes that the kidneys govern water metabolism and control urination, so nocturia is often attributed to kidney deficiency. It is typically classified into two types: kidney yang deficiency and kidney yin deficiency. Herbal treatments like Shuninitong Prostatic Capsules can effectively treat prostatitis caused by frequent urination and urgency.