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- $Unique_ID{BRK00759}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Is it Possible for Something to Block the Flow of Urine?}
- $Subject{urine blockage backup Genitourinary urinary tract obstruction damage
- kidneys stone enlarged prostate Tumors Kidney stones pressure bladder ureter}
- $Volume{J-16}
- $Log{
- Anatomy of the Kidney*0004801.scf
- Small Kidney Stones*0004802.scf
- Stag-Horn Kidney Stones*0004803.scf
- Cross Section of a Kidney*0004901.scf
- Cancer of the Prostate*0007601.scf
- Benign Hypertrophy of the Prostate*0007602.scf
- Formation of Urine*0015901.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Is it Possible for Something to Block the Flow of Urine?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Is it possible for something to block the flow of urine and cause
- it to back up in the system? Could you explain these causes and if they are
- at all serious?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER. The causes of "urinary tract obstruction" are many, and the resulting
- back up of urine is indeed serious and may cause permanent damage to the
- kidneys. Urine is produced by the kidney, which then flows down a tube like
- structure called the ureter, to the bladder. Here the urine is stored
- temporarily, until its capacity is reached and you feel the need to empty your
- bladder through another tube, the urethra, which leads to the outside. Many
- of the obstructions to this normal flow of urine are mechanical, the most
- common in men being an enlarged prostate gland which compresses the urethra,
- making urination a more difficult process. Tumors are another frequent cause,
- either those which grow within the urinary system, or push upon the structures
- from the outside. Kidney stones, formed in the kidney, can become "stuck" in
- the ureter as they are pushed towards the bladder causing the flow of urine to
- stop. Any stoppage in the urinary flow causes increased "backup" pressure to
- be exerted on the delicate kidney tissues, and can impair their function. The
- solution is to discover the cause of the obstruction as rapidly as possible
- and relieve the blockage, to once again allow the kidneys to perform their
- essential function.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-