2 weeks Ago By Prerna Mittra
In men, urinary problems tend to increase with age. Why does it happen? And what can be done to remedy this problem? Recently, a bizarre incident from the US made news, wherein a leading global tech company fired an employee who relieved himself in a hotel lobby in New York. According to news reports, the 66-year-old worked as a salesman at the company and was forced to urinate inside the lobby of a hotel at Times Square, owing to a bladder condition.
The aggrieved has claimed that the company's decision to terminate his employment was 'unjust'. Seeking redressal, he has slapped a lawsuit on the company's American subsidiary, demanding compensation in millions of dollars. While many people are finding it absolutely absurd that a person would want to relieve themselves urgently, and that, too, in a public place, doctors are of the opinion that certain health conditions pertaining to the bladder do, indeed, make it challenging for people to hold their pee.
What Happened In The Lobby? In this salesman's case, for instance, he has a chronic bladder condition that he has been managing since 2016. In February this year, while returning to his hotel after a work dinner, the man realised he needed to use the restroom urgently. Despite racing back, he could not hold himself any further.
The hotel's main lobby restroom was purportedly out of reach, too. He then decided to urinate in a quiet corner. A co-worker saw him do it and reported the matter to human resources that led to him losing his job.
Living With Bladder Condition: What Doctors Say We reached out to doctors to understand more about bladder issues, and what kind of condition could have led a person to relieve themselves with such urgency. According to Dr Raghavendra Kulkarni, consultant urologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Hyderabad , public toileting or 'wild toileting' is a growing concern in the post-pandemic world. "Public toileting could result from various conditions, the list is exhaustive.
It falls under the broader term 'lower urinary tract symptoms'. It is a part of the following spectrum: urgency, increased daytime and nighttime frequency, with or without incontinence. Public toileting is usually the result of urinary urge incontinence that is described as involuntary leakage of urine, with a sudden compelling desire to void," Dr Kulkarni expressed.
He added that it can be reversed and cured. var firstScrolled3 = false; window.addEventListener("scroll",(event) => { if(!firstScrolled3) {window.
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"A condition called 'overactive bladder' is commonly encountered in urology out-patient clinics. It has a considerable impact on day-to-day activities and quality of life." The doctor said that early diagnosis and treatment are necessary, because otherwise, irreversible changes can occur in the lower urinary tract.
How Does The Urinary Bladder Work? Dr Suraj Pinni, consultant urologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Hyderabad explained that the function of the urinary bladder is to store urine and subsequently empty it. "Once a significant amount of urine is collected, nerve endings in the bladder lining get stimulated and convey the message to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain responds to this message based on the strength of stimulus from the bladder and also on the level of brain development.
In newborns or people with underdeveloped or degenerative brain conditions, the bladder is emptied in a reflex manner. In older children and adults, the brain can postpone the act of voiding urine to an extent. In several conditions, this control is lost and leads to episodes of severe urgency to pass urine and, at times, inadvertent leakage of urine or 'incontinence'," Dr Pinni said, adding that these urinary problems tend to increase with age and also vary between men and women owing to anatomical differences.
Treatment According to Dr Pinni, an objective assessment of urinary symptoms and evaluation of the urinary system by a professional can identify the underlying cause. "Treatment can range from simple lifestyle changes, medications and, in some situations, surgery. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, they must consult with a urologist for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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