Urinary Retention Research Paper

Words: 437
Pages: 2

Urinary retention is when the body is unable to empty the bladder. The bladder is where the urine is stored. Urinary retention can be either acute or chronic. Acute urinary retention can be sudden and cause a lot of pain. The urinary retention may result in a life-threatening condition that requires immediate emergency assistance, because the person cannot urinate at all. A person that suffers from acute urinary retention can experience symptoms such as the urge to urinate without being able to, or having a bloated lower abdomen. On the other hand, chronic urinary retention can be a long-term medical condition. This means that the person has suffered the condition for a while, and still has some difficulties emptying the bladder completely. …show more content…
There are many things that could cause urinary retention, but there are two main causes: obstruction or non-obstruction (Urinary Retention Causes, symptoms). An obstruction is a blockage that impedes urine to flow out of the body. A cystocele, for example, is caused when the “rectum sags into the back wall of the vagina,” (Urinary retention causes & treatment) causing the urine to be stay inside the body. Non-obstructive causes include a weakened bladder muscle as well as nerve problems. Nerve causes can be very dangerous because it means the brain is unable to receive the message that the bladder is full and may lead to a stroke, diabetes, or even trauma to the spine or pelvis (Urinary retention causes & treatment). Drugs, surgery, infection and swelling, can also be other causes of urinary