What Cause Low Urine Flow
The passing of urine is such a common and frequent daily function, that most of the people do not give enough thought or attention to it. Though common, urination is a very important process, through which several toxic and perhaps even harmful substances are eliminated from the body. It is the function of the kidney, to filter out all the substances in the blood and separate the toxins and other harmful elements from the components that are required by the body. Thereafter the substances that are not useful and have been filtered out by the kidney are sent to the urinary bladder and are subsequently expelled from the body, when the person urinates. While people may pay attention to any increase or decrease in the frequency of urination, not many people pay attention to their urine flow rate. However, Standing Urination Velocity (SUV), commonly known as urine flow should also be taken into account on a regular basis, as a weak urine flow may be an indication of an underlying health problem.
Factors that affect the flow of urine
Urinary flow can be described as the volume of urine that was excreted from the body, the speed at which the excretion process took place as well as the duration that the entire process took. Therefore, the urinary flow rate of each person may vary, as there are several aspects that can influence it. In fact, it is not uncommon for a person to notice an increase of urine flow at some time during the day, but a low flow rate at another time within the same day. This is because the urine flow in a person is determined by:
- The emptiness or the fullness of the bladder
- The circumference of the urethra, i.e., the tube through which the urine exits the body
- The pressure that is applied by a person while urinating
While slow or low urine flow on a couple of occasions is absolutely normal, there may be a cause for concern if a person suffers from chronic urine flow problems. Moreover, a person needs to observe if the slow urine flow is accompanied by any symptoms, which include pain or a burning sensation. In case such symptoms are not evident, then a person can wait and watch for a while and at the same time should increase the consumption of water, to see if there is any improvement to the slow urine. However, if the urine flow rate does not increase even after consuming two or three liters of water within a short span of time, then it could be the indication of an underlying condition.
Causes of slow urination
Some of the causes of weak urine flow are minor and harmless and can be easily resolved, while others may be a bit more serious. Some of the most common conditions that lead to a low urine flow are:
- Dehydration: When the amount of water in the body is fairly low, it is only natural for the body to try and preserve as much of the water as possible. Therefore, the amount of urine that is excreted may reduce. If the urine is darker in color due to increased concentration, then it is probably a case of dehydration.
- Urinary tract infections: This is one of the most common causes of slow urine flow in women. However, in this instance the decrease in flow of urine is accompanied by other symptoms too.
- Prostate problems: Medical conditions related to the prostate gland are extremely common, not just in Caucasian men, but in men around the globe. A condition known as advanced prostatitis or other similar prostate conditions are generally characterized by slow urine flow in men.
- Urinary tract structure: Anatomical structures of the urinary tract could lead to a low urine flow, in case diameter of the tract is smaller than normal. Other causes could also be a weak bladder or a bladder outlet obstruction.
There are several ways in which these conditions can be treated and thereafter, it is possible to increase urine flow to a normal level. However, it is important for a person to first consult a doctor, who diagnoses the cause of the problem through a urine flow test and then proceeds with the appropriate treatment.
What is a uroflowmetry?
A uroflowmetry (also sometimes referred to as a uroflometry) can be described as a “urine flow rate test”. A person undergoing this test is required to urinate in a special toiled that has been equipped with a measuring device as well as a machine. People undergoing this test are required to press a button before they begin urinating and after they finish. The machine then generates a report, which is analyzed by the medical health care giver. Since there are certain medicines that can interfere with the results, doctors will need to let the patients know beforehand, if any medication needs to be discontinued. Moreover, this test needs to be performed when a person has a full bladder, so urinating for at least 2 hours prior to the test should be avoided. Since the person being tested has to do nothing but urinate, there is no discomfort felt during the test.
Based on the results of the test, the doctor may prescribe certain treatment options, medication, home remedies or may even order further tests like a bladder scan, a residual urine test and maybe even nomograms, to determine the presence of any prostate problems.
What is a bladder scan?
Like the name suggests, a bladder scan refers to the image screening procedure, where an ultrasound is used to check the condition of the bladder. This is a very common method used for assessing several problems that are related to the bladder, where the ultrasound technology is used to determine the amount of urine that is retained in the bladder or post void residual urine.
What is a urine residual test?
The residual urine bladder test is a screening procedure usually recommended for those people who have difficulty in empting out their bladders completely, when they urinate. In case there is any urine left in the bladder due to an obstruction, it can stagnate and can cause urinary tract infections. Hence this test is conducted to check if a person has any residual urine left in the bladder after passing urine.
Having a weak urine flow is more common than you think and it affects men and women across all age groups. The flow of urine depends largely upon factors such as, the pressure that is applied while one is urinating, circumference of the urethra and also on the extent to which your bladder is full or empty. Weak urine flow could also be due a condition called bladder outlet obstruction. This is characterized by a blockage at the end of the bladder; the result is a reduction in the flow of urine to the urethra that carries the urine out of the body. The symptoms of such a condition are abdominal pain, a burning sensation while passing urine or a constant feeling of a full bladder.
You have not mentioned if you experience any pain while urinating. However if you do not experience any kind of pain or burning along with the flow, then there is generally nothing to worry about. Having said this, a weak urine flow should never be ignored, simply because it could turn into a more serious situation, such as total urine retention. This basically means that the bladder is unable to flush out any urine from the bladder, thus causing a great deal of pain and discomfort. Try and increase the flow by drinking a lot of water over a short period of time. For example, drink about one liter of water over a span of an hour and try to urinate about 30 minutes later, the flow should ideally increase. Keep doing this on a daily basis to strengthen your bladder and ensure the proper excretion of urine from your system.
How To Increase Urine Flow
Try out a few of these simple and natural home remedies to increase urine flow. Drinking about three liters of barley water (non alcoholic), in addition to your normal intake of water in a day, should also help in increasing the flow of urine. Barley water helps in cleaning your system effectively, by flushing out your kidneys well. Keep this treatment on for about a week for positive results. Cranberry juice is also equally helpful. Drinking 2-3 glasses per day should be good enough. Not only will it help the kidney get rid of toxins, but will also maintain hygiene in the urinary tract. Always make sure your genital area is dry and clean. This will eliminate the risk of any external infection. If you still do not notice a difference in the urine flow you should consult a urologist to determine the cause of the problem.
