Most men of 60 and over find that they are having to plod their way to the smallest room in the house in the early hours. The prostate gland tends to get bigger with age. It is situated near the bladder and, when enlarged, can force the patient to relieve an irritated bladder, resulting in nightly trips across the landing to the lavatory.
Since older people are usually light sleepers, these nocturnal disturbances can spoil many a night's complete rest and eventually the patient begins to suffer from a prolonged loss of sound sleep. Gradually, the patient will not only have to urinate more frequently but will also suffer from a sense of urgency and have to constantly keep within hailing distance of a lavatory. As the patient gets older, the patient may not be able to urinate at all, which can be an agonising experience.Teacher: Michael Many articles taken from 'A word with the doctor', by Dr. John Windsor.
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