The bladder is found
in the lower part of the abdomen. Your bladder is a hollow
pelvic organ with flexible, muscular walls that stores urine.
In males, it is superior to the prostate, and separated
from the rectum by the rectovesical excavation. In females,
the bladder is separated from the rectum by the rectouterine
excavation, and it is separated from the uterus by the vesicouterine
excavation. Bladder problems are not a natural consequence
of aging.
Incontinence is uncontrollable leaking of
urine from the bladder. Incontinence is both a health problem
and a social problem. Incontinence is often worse if you
are overweight, have a cough or a urine infection and after
the menopause. Incontinence occurs if the bladder muscles
contract or the muscles surrounding the urethra relax without
warning.
Symptoms of a bladder infection may include
going to the bathroom frequently, passing blood in the urine,
cloudy and odorous urine, increased spasticity in the lower
extremities, fever and chills. A person with any of the
following symptoms should see a doctor: blood in the urine
(urine that looks bright red or rusty), pain during urination,
passing urine often, or feeling the need to urinate even
though nothing comes out. Restricting alcoholic beverages,
carbonated sodas, coffee and other caffeinated products,
and beverages and foods with artificial sweeteners appears
to reduce symptoms in some people.
Overactive bladder is a significant health
problem. An overactive bladder is more common in women,
and in older adults, but can be found in younger folks and
in men. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a treatable medical
condition caused by involuntary bladder muscle spasms. The
bladder muscle can be such that it cannot contract (ie it
is always relaxed) or overactive and the sphincters (especially,
the voluntarily controlled one) uncontrollable and either
too relaxed or too tight.
There are three key symptoms of an overactive
bladder. You may have only the first two, or all three.
1-
Frequency, needing to empty your bladder more frequently
than usual. Going to the toilet more than eight times in
24 hours is usually regarded as unusual.
2-
Urgency, the sudden feeling that you have to go right now.
3-
Urgency incontinence. This means that your need to go is
so urgent that you lose control before you can get to a
toilet.
Of all those who have an overactive bladder,
40% have urgency incontinence. Apart from overactive bladder,
another common cause of bladder leaking is called stress
incontinence.
The typical person with overactive bladder
is an adult who urinates more than 8 times per 24 hours
with a voiding volume averaging approximately 150ml.
Pharmacological therapy for treatment of
overactive bladder is based on the use of muscarinic receptor
antagonists. As common a problem as overactive bladder is,
patients seldom mention it to health care providers.
Cancer occurs when cells in the bladder
begin to grow uncontrollably affecting the normal function
of the organ, and, sometimes surrounding organs. In fact,
patients with bladder cancer sometimes have a similar type
of cancer in the lining of the kidneys,ureters, or urethra.
Therefore, a complete evaluation of the urinary system is
recommended for patients diagnosed with a cancer of the
kidney, bladder, ureter, or urethra. Treatment recommendations
for some patients may be influenced by the type of cancer.
Fortunately, when bladder cancer symptoms are diagnosed
early, bladder cancer is treatable with a variety of treatment
options.
Treatment options depend on the stage
of bladder cancer. Treatment for urinary incontinence varies
according to the type of incontinence. It can include both
drugs and surgery. The chance of recovery from the disease
(prognosis) and the choice of treatment for bladder cancer
depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in
the lining of the bladder or has spread to other places
in the body) and the patient's general state of health.
A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and
treatment of any and all medical conditions.
By Paul Rodgers
