A recent British study has shown urinary problems such as an enlarged prostate can sometimes be diagnosed by the shape of a man's urine stream.  Healthy men in the study had spiral-shaped urine streams, with the specific formation of the stream correlating to their maximum flow rate.

One of the team members, aerodynamics researcher Andrew Wheeler of the University of Southampton, suggests that by applying a computational fluid dynamic method they were able to show for the first time that medical practitioners can use the shape of the urine stream as a diagnostic tool.

Part of the computations determine flow rate and urethral dilation, both of which are used as the main indicators for urological problems. 

To test their experimental and computational models, the investigators studied 60 healthy men with an average age of 26, along with 60 men (with an average age of 67) with urinary flow problems.  For the healthy subjects, a positive correlation was seen between peak flow rate and their estimated maximum wavelength.  However, no such association was determined for the men with urine flow problems.

The study's co-author, Martin Knight of Queen Mary, University of London, stated the computer model was perfectly matched to the lab experiments as well as the video data of the human volunteers.  In the real-life tests, there "was an excellent correlation between the shape of the urine stream and the urine flow rate."

While this type of testing cannot diagnose whether the reduced flow rate is caused by problems in the bladder muscle or an obstruction in the urethra, if the monitoring is used over an extended timeframe it may be used to assess the efficacy of medication given to treat an enlarged prostate.

The research was first used as a student project at Queen Mary to come up with a non-invasive way of measuring urine flow rates at home.  It was believed home measurements would provide a more typical (and accurate) flow rate than those taken in a hospital setting.

Knight concludes that although current techniques can be very accurate, they are expensive or difficult to perform outside of a medical facility.  He hopes this new approach will offer a useful solution to allow men to monitor the flow rate of their urine and thus help to diagnose potential problems.

Herb of the Day

Ginger Ginger is an herbaceous tropical perennial and grows from aromatic, tuberous rhizome which is knotty and branched. This...

Health tip of the Day

Homemade Healing Mixture for Dry and Cracked Feet Oils are rich in essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid. Linoleic and linolenic acids are needed for the grow...

Latest Post

1

Berries Smoothie - Youth Elixir Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and flavonoids.........

2

Homemade Healing Mixture for Dry and Cracked Feet Oils are rich in essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid. Linoleic and linolenic acids are needed for the grow...

3

Bone Fractures When bones receive more pressure than they can withstand, a fracture occurs. Some of the more common causes are falls, ...

4

Indigestion Most people will suffer from indigestion (also known as dyspepsia) at some point in their lifetime. This condition is ty...

5

Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is typically caused by an irritation or infection of the intestines or stomach. It can cause diarrhea, v...

6

Gastritis Gastritis is most commonly caused by an infection of Heliobacter pylori bacteria, which is also the primary cause of ulc...