[손기정 일중한의원 원장] After middle age, signs of aging such as sagging skin, hair loss, and bending of the waist and back increase. It is perhaps natural that the energy of the body is declining and there are painful spots here and there. Although it is possible to slow down the aging of the human body by making efforts on its own, it is difficult to avoid it.
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The same goes for the invisible organs inside the body. As the years go by, the function gradually declines and becomes weak. Among the organs related to urination, the bladder, which is a urine storage bag, is representative.
Although we usually forget regarding its existence, the bladder is an important organ that stores and discharges urine. It stores urine that flows out of the kidneys by filtering waste products, and when it fills up to a certain amount, it is discharged out through the urethra. It is the last bastion in charge of the body’s circulation. When urine fills up in the bladder during daily life, it is really the greatest happiness of happiness to discharge it coolly without any problems. It’s just that we don’t usually appreciate this physiological phenomenon, which is probably obvious.
It is difficult for ordinary people to even measure the pain and discomfort of patients who suffer from poor bladder function. Not only does the urine not come out well, but the urine flows involuntarily and the underwear gets wet, which causes discomfort every day. The biggest pain is urinary incontinence. Frequent urination, delayed urination, thin urination, shortened urination, residual urination, and nocturia vary from person to person. In severe cases, there are cases where it is difficult to even go out because you have to go to the bathroom once a day every 10 to 15 minutes. At this point, everyday life itself becomes difficult.
Declining bladder function is not only related to aging, but also to chronic cystitis or prostatitis and hypertrophy in men. These diseases cause long-term symptoms of difficulty urinating, and if the problem persists, the function of the bladder will inevitably fall. More than 80% of patients who come to me for prostate bladder disease are accompanied by bladder dysfunction.
Of course, there are many people who suffer from bladder dysfunction even though there is no problem with cystitis or prostate. It is a case of holding back urine for a long time and the elasticity of the bladder muscle is weakened due to aging. When the elasticity of the bladder muscle is reduced and the force of contraction is weakened, even a small amount of urine feels the need to urinate, and even when urinating, it is difficult to squeeze it out. Occasionally, following back surgery or childbirth, the pelvic muscles become weak and the bladder and urethra sagging, resulting in decreased bladder function.
Decreased bladder function should not be left unattended for a long time, considering it only as aging. If you have any problems with the discharge of urine, you must find the cause through examination and treat it. In oriental medicine, the prescription of Yukmijihwangtang, which protects the urinary system, and the bokbunja, psyllium, and Ikjiin, which improve urinary function, are added or subtracted according to the constitution to restore bladder function and restore elasticity. Depending on the patient, lower abdominal acupuncture and heat therapy are combined to facilitate urine discharge. It is good for patients themselves to warm their lower abdomen. Frequent massage of the stomach and back with warm hands can help.
Cholinergic drugs or muscle relaxants that contract the bladder are not a fundamental solution. Rather, the elasticity of the bladder is reduced, so you can suffer for a long time. If the bladder loses its ability to contract and the urine cannot be properly emptied in the bladder for a long time, you may end up wearing a urinal to empty the urine, so you need to be very careful.
