Article Category: Highlights

Urology and You: A Doctor Answers Sensitive Questions

Published on February 24, 2025

Last updated 10:52 AM February 24, 2025

Dr. Scott Miller, a Wellstar urologist and expert in robotic and laparoscopic surgery, joined Dr. Bruce Feinberg on 95.5 WSB’s The Weekly Checkup. Together, they tackled common questions about urology, prostate health, incontinence and more.

Does dark urine mean I have a medical problem?

There’s no normal color for urine, Dr. Miller explained. Most of the time, expect urine to be “fairly diluted, almost like water or very pale yellow.”

Urine color may be different in the morning after a night’s sleep without hydration. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines, like multivitamins, can also affect urine color. Any red in urine could indicate the presence of blood. That’s a sign to call your primary care provider or urologist.

Should I be worried about bubbles in my urine?

That depends, according to Dr. Miller.

“If bubbles form simply because of the way your urine stream hits the water—causing a little turbulence—there’s no need for concern,” he said. “But if you actually feel the bubbles or air passing as you urinate, that’s different. It could indicate a bladder infection or an abnormal connection between the urinary and GI (gastrointestinal) tract.”

In that case, Dr. Miller said a doctor would likely order tests to determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.

Do women need urologists?

Yes. Urologists specialize in treating the kidneys and the bladder in both women and men, in addition to addressing prostate health in men.

“Anyone with a urologic issue should see a urologist,” Dr. Miller said. He noted that women are more likely than men to experience conditions like kidney stones and urinary tract infections, making specialized care essential.

Is bladder leakage inevitable with aging?

Dr. Miller noted that bladder control issues are common, but they can be an avoidable part of aging.

“Some females assume bladder control is a natural consequence of childbirth or aging,” he said. “But in reality, these are all treatable issues and sometimes very simple fixes.”

Dr. Miller said that both women and men can benefit from treatments that may include medications, lifestyle changes and minimally invasive procedures. He encourages those experiencing bladder control concerns to talk with their primary care doctor or urologist rather than assume it’s something they must live with.

What about erectile dysfunction? Is it unavoidable with aging?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can occur at any age, Dr. Miller said. But it is more common as men get older.

“ED isn’t necessarily a direct result of aging. … For instance, testosterone levels naturally decline with age, which can contribute to ED. But that’s not necessarily the cause of the erectile function,” he said.

Underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, are sometimes related to ED and are more common as people age.

People with other diseases, such as diabetes, may also experience erectile dysfunction, he explained.

At any age, patients should see a doctor as soon as they start having erectile dysfunction, Dr. Miller said. Doctors can test and rule out other causes. Early treatment for erectile dysfunction is often more successful than when patients delay seeing a doctor.

Is vasectomy safe? Is it reversible?

Not only is vasectomy safe, but it’s also the “most effective form of permanent birth control,” Dr. Miller assured listeners. The outpatient procedure is performed in a doctor’s office, and recovery is quick.

Some men worry that a vasectomy might affect their sexual function or desire, but that’s not true, Dr. Miller added. Vasectomy doesn’t affect the testicles, where testosterone, the male hormone, is produced or the delivery of the hormone to the bloodstream.

Dr. Miller said that when patients ask if vasectomy is reversible, he cautions that while vasectomy reversal is possible, it is a complex procedure with no guarantees. The patient’s age, how much time has passed since the vasectomy and the partner’s fertility all influence the chances of achieving pregnancy.

“So, never count on it,” he said. “But there are other ways to achieve pregnancy, even in someone who has had a vasectomy, including retrieving sperm directly from the testicle” then attempting in-vitro fertilization.

If I have prostate cancer, does that mean I need surgery?

Advances in prostate cancer detection and treatment have changed considerably in how doctors treat the disease, Dr. Miller said.

“Up to 40% of all prostate cancers we diagnose are at least initially candidates for active surveillance,” he said. Of those, 40 to 50% will, over three to five years, require treatment. Even in those cases, he added doctors “have a lot of ‘runway.’”

“It’s like landing a commuter jet on a 747 runway. We don’t need to start at the very beginning of the runway to safely land before the runway runs out,” he said.

For some patients, that may eventually mean they are candidates for laparoscopic surgery to remove the prostate gland or parts of it that are cancerous.

Advances in diagnostic tools, such as MRIs, genetic testing and genomic testing, have also revolutionized the detection and treatment of prostate cancer, according to Dr. Miller. Genetic testing can help determine a person’s risk of developing prostate cancer, while genomic testing reveals the molecular makeup of tumors and helps guide treatment decisions between doctors and patients.

Can I change my diet to prevent kidney stones?

Dr. Miller recommends two dietary habits to help prevent kidney stones: drinking plenty of fluids and limiting sodium intake—not only table salt, but also foods high in sodium, including diet and snack foods. He advised that when you have a meal high in sodium, counter its effects by drinking extra water.

In general, “most of the things in your diet will have very little effect on your chance of having kidney stones,” Dr. Miller said.

Because calcium is one of the chemicals that makes up kidney stones, Dr. Miller said many people ask if they should avoid calcium to prevent kidney stones. In most cases, the answer is no. Women especially need adequate calcium in their diets to support bone health and reduce their risk of osteoporosis.

Find a urologist at Wellstar

Do you have questions or concerns about your urinary health? Wellstar’s expert urologists are ready to help. Visit wellstar.org/urology to learn more or schedule an appointment.

“Prostate cancer doesn’t kill men.”

Actually, it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men. When caught early, it’s highly treatable. But when ignored, it’s dangerous.

“I don’t have symptoms, so I’m good.”

Most early-stage prostate cancers are completely silent. No pain, no urinary issues, no warning. That’s why screening matters.

“Testing leads to side effects.”

Screening doesn’t mean treatment. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is a simple tool that helps guide the next steps. Many men with slow-growing cancers don’t need surgery—just monitoring. For those who do need treatment, options are far more precise and less invasive than they used to be.

Still, fear or discomfort around the prostate keeps many men from checking in until it’s too late. We get it. It’s not the most glamorous part of the body—but it’s vital.

Think of it this way: you’d never ignore a lump on your neck or blood in your stool. Why ignore the most common cancer in men (besides skin cancer) just because it’s not visible?

Our team at Wellstar makes prostate cancer screening simple, discreet and personalized. We’re here to talk through your family history, explain your risks and offer guidance without pressure. Whether it’s time for a PSA test, a digital exam or just a conversation, we meet you where you are.

Remember: ignoring prostate cancer doesn’t make it go away. It just makes it harder to treat. Learn more about prostate cancer care at Wellstar.

Ready to take action?

Find a urologist near you and book your appointment online. What’s out of sight shouldn’t be out of mind.

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A parent and young child look at a tablet together.

Highlights

A Pediatrician’s Guide for Parents on Children and Screen Time

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, Wellstar Children’s of Georgia pediatrician and author of the bestselling book “Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right,” uses her “no time, some time, never all the time” philosophy to provide families with guidance around screen time.

At nearly every wellness visit, Dr. Dolgoff talks with parents about how to set healthy limits with screen time. “We’re seeing language delays in children from too much screen time,” she explained.

Some signs that children may be spending too much time on social media, gaming or watching videos can include:

Aggression
Difficulty handling boredom without a screen
Trouble connecting with peers
Sleep disruption
Poor focus in school
Withdrawing from hobbies or activities they once enjoyed

Dr. Dolgoff’s advice? Parents should follow expert recommendations and know the difference between learning-focused content and pure entertainment. “You want to know what your kids are doing on their screens, and you want to know how long they’re doing it for,” she said.

Troubling trends in children’s media habits

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that advocates for children’s health in the digital age. Its most recent survey of the digital habits of children 8 and younger showed that by age 2, 40% of children have their own tablet. By age 4, that number climbs to 58%.

The survey also found that 1 in 5 children use mobile devices during meals, at bedtime or to cope with emotions.

Dr. Dolgoff stresses that parents must monitor and regulate their children’s digital use across all platforms. Yet the same survey shows gaps in how families co-view content: 62% of parents occasionally watched YouTube with their children, compared to only 17% on TikTok.

The survey also found that screen use varies by income. Children in lower-income households spend twice as much time on screens (3 hours, 48 minutes) as those in higher-income households (1 hour, 52 minutes).

Guidelines for screen time by age

As a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Dolgoff suggests that parents know and follow the organization’s screen time guidelines for children:

Under 18 months: No screen time
18 to 24 months: Only educational content with parents
2 to 5 years: No more than one hour per day
6 years and older: Balanced screen time that doesn’t interfere with family, friends and schoolwork

These guidelines are based on the science of children’s and adolescents’ brain development. abies’ brains begin developing before birth, and the early years of life have remarkably rapid brain development.

What do screen time limits look like?

According to Dr. Dolgoff, parents don’t need to worry if little ones under 18 months use screens for video chats with loved ones like grandparents. But she adds an important distinction: “Content matters. Mindlessly scrolling through TikTok videos is not what we want children doing for hours each day.”

Fortunately, children’s programming has expanded considerably since the parents of today were kids. YouTube Kids, PBS Kids, Netflix, Apple TV and other streaming services serve a variety of programs.

Here are some healthy screen time choices, along with suggested time limits:

Toddler (2 to 3 years): Video call with grandparents and 30 minutes of educational programming such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood or Sesame Street with parents watching
Elementary school (6 to 10 years): Homework on Chromebook or other platform and 30 minutes of YouTube Kids, unstructured outside play and bedtime stories
Teens (13 years and older): Homework time and no more than two hours of other screen use for gaming or socializing with friends

While watching shows or movies with children, parents can spark curiosity and critical thinking by asking open-ended questions such as:

“What do you think will happen next?”
“How would you feel if that happened to you?”
“Could this happen in real life?”
“How would you have made this better?”

Most importantly, parents should help children see screens as just one part of life—not a substitute for family time, active play or friendships.

Sound screen habits begin with parents

Young children develop social and communication skills by observing, listening, talking (babbling counts!), reading, singing and playing with parents, siblings and others. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates that parents put down their phones so they can focus on those activities and interactions.

For help, parents can turn to apps designed to monitor their smartphone and tablet use. They can also examine their habits by asking themselves questions such as:

“Am I scrolling at the dinner table?”
“Am I texting while driving?”
“How much are my children watching me use my phone for entertainment?”
“Am I setting a good example by having hobbies and interests that don’t involve screens?”

Experts advise ways to set and enforce limits

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics understand the temptations of screens and parents’ difficulty setting limits. Some of their advice for parents:

Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters or to stop tantrums.
Create tech-free times, with extended breaks and tech-free zones, including the meal table.
Learn about and use parental controls on devices, including phones, tablets, laptops and televisions.
Make family outings technology-free—and that includes cameras.
Remove screens from bedrooms 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
Set a timer when using a device as a reminder to turn it off or put it away.

Tips for enforcing screen-time limits

It’s in children’s nature to resist when they don’t want to stop doing something pleasant or fun. It’s the parents’ job to stick to the limits they’ve set. Some more ideas for managing children’s reactions to screen-time limits include:

Have a designated “quiet spot” for younger children to calm down if they rage after time on a device is up.
Offer alternatives after a device is turned off. Those could include playing a board game, reading a book together, playing with a favorite toy or creating an art project.
Warn children before their time limit is up.

Resources for parents

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry on screen time limits, music and music videos, video games, movie and video choice, and screen violence
Common Sense Media
Google and Apple content about online safety and parental controls
Healthychildren.org, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics
know2protect, guidelines for protecting children online from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Tower Expansion Groundbreaking 2025

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Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Breaks Ground on $300 Million Expansion

HIRAM, Ga. — With shovels in hand and plans in motion, leaders of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center officially broke ground Thursday, September 4, on a $300 million expansion project that will double the hospital’s inpatient capacity and bring new resources to one of Georgia’s fastest-growing regions.

The hospital, which currently operates 112 beds and a busy emergency department with 40 adult and pediatric bays, is nearing full capacity. As Paulding County continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, high-quality healthcare. Wellstar’s expansion aims to meet that demand head-on.

“This is a big moment for Paulding County,” said Wellstar Paulding President Todd Kennedy. “We’re responding to the needs of a growing community and laying the foundation for a healthier future.”

The new hospital tower will be constructed in two phases, with the first phase—opening in November 2027—adding 56 beds, expanding heart and vascular services, and increasing imaging testing capacity. An additional 56 beds will be added by 2029 as part of the second phase.

“We’re building more than just a new tower,” said Robert S. Owens, chair of the Wellstar Paulding Tower Campaign Cabinet and vice chair of the Wellstar Paulding Regional Health Board. “We’re building the future of healthcare in Paulding County.”

A $20 million parking deck, featuring more than 460 new spaces, is also set to open this November, improving access for patients and visitors.

In recent years, Wellstar has expanded its footprint across Paulding County, adding 69 exam rooms at seven practices across the county to help ease pressure on the hospital and provide more convenient care. Locations in Hiram and Dallas now offer services ranging from primary care and pediatrics to behavioral health and specialty care. Another 46 exam rooms are planned over the next three years.

Wellstar Paulding’s Emergency Department remains one of the busiest in the region, rarely diverting patients despite high volumes. To help manage demand during construction, the hospital has added EMS drop-off spaces, opened a new waiting area for people with less urgent medical needs and created a discharge lounge to free up beds more quickly.

“The newest expansion at Wellstar Paulding is part of our system strategy to expand care across our markets,” said Mary Chatman, executive vice president of acute care operations at Wellstar Health System. “Not only will this provide additional capacity for our Paulding campus, but it will also support our efforts to manage capacity across our footprint.”

Wellstar Paulding has received numerous awards for quality and safety, including the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, Magnet Nursing Facility designation, Leapfrog “A” rating and a CMS 4-star rating for quality.

With approximately 1,900 employees, Wellstar Paulding is also one of the county’s largest employers, playing a key role in both healthcare and the local economy.

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Urology and You: A Doctor Answers Sensitive Questions

Does dark urine mean I have a medical problem?