Signs You May Be Suffering From A Bladder Problem
Many of us only think about our bladder when we have to pee, so we head over to the closest bathroom, relieve ourselves, and carry on our day. But for some of us, we may be taking that trip to the bathroom more often, or what appears in the toilet is starting to look different from the typical yellow fluid. When changes occur to our bathroom habits and urine, then this is your bodys way of letting you know that there is something more serious going on. But if you ignore these symptoms or dont discuss them with your doctor, you could be making matters worse and putting yourself through unnecessary suffering.
Therefore, here are four signs that you may be experiencing a bladder problem, and believe us when we say you dont want to ignore these signs. Many people dont speak to their doctor about bladder problems because they are either embarrassed or they believe there isnt much that can be done about it. Well, unfortunately, they are wrong, as there are many different treatments available for a variety of bladder problems. The first step is to recognize the signs, so you can speak to your doctor.
How Do I Do Kegel Exercises
To do Kegels:
If you are uncomfortable or uncertain about doing Kegel exercises on your own, a doctor or nurse can also teach you how to do Kegels. A pelvic floor physical therapist or other specialist may also be available in your area to help teach you how to strengthen these muscles.
What Other Therapies Treat A Prolapsed Bladder
Physical therapy such as electrical stimulation and biofeedback may be used to help identify and strengthen the muscles in the pelvis, particularly in those individuals who fail to respond to pelvic floor muscle exercises on their own.
- Electrical stimulation: A doctor can apply a probe to targeted muscles within the vagina or on the pelvic floor. The probe is attached to a device that measures and delivers small electrical currents that contract the muscles. These contractions help strengthen the muscles. A less intrusive type of electrical stimulation is available that magnetically stimulates the pudendal nerve from outside the body. This activates the muscles of the pelvic floor and may help treat incontinence.
- Biofeedback: A sensor is used to monitor muscle activity in the vagina and on the pelvic floor. The doctor can recommend exercises that can strengthen these muscles. These exercises may help strengthen the muscles to reverse or relieve some symptoms related to a prolapsed bladder. The sensor can monitor the muscular contractions during the exercises, and the doctor may be able to determine if the targeted muscles would benefit from the exercises.
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How Does My Doctor Know I Have Interstitial Cystitis
You may have interstitial cystitis if any of the following occur:
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You have to urinate often or urgently
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You have pelvic or bladder pain
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A urologist finds bladder wall inflammation, pinpoint bleeding or ulcers during an exam with a special scope that looks inside your bladder
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Your doctor has ruled out other diseases such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, bladder cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and, in men, chronic prostatitis
How The Disorders May Be Linked
If you have bladder problems, such as frequent urination, in addition to irritable bowel syndrome , you are not alone. There is an overlap between bladder symptoms and IBS, and certain treatments can help provide relief.
This article discusses bladder conditions that often affect IBS patients, symptoms to watch out for, and when to see a doctor.
Verywell / Laura Porter
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Is It Possible To Prevent A Prolapsed Bladder
- A high-fiber diet and a daily intake of plenty of fluids can reduce a person’s risk of developing constipation.
- Avoid straining during bowel movements, if possible.
- Women with long-term constipation should seek medical attention to lessen the chance of developing a prolapsed bladder.
- If possible, avoid heavy lifting, as it is associated with prolapsed bladder.
- Obesity is a risk factor for developing a prolapsed bladder.
- Weight loss may help prevent this condition from developing.
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Try To Prevent Constipation
Constipation causes the colon to swell and strain because of increased abdominal muscle pressure. This can adversely affect the bladder muscles and may also increase the frequency and severity of OAB symptoms.
Eating more fiber, getting regular exercise, and staying hydrated can help prevent constipation. In addition, there are certain yoga poses including the Crescent Lunge, Cobra, and Legs up the Wall that can help relieve constipation and promote healthy bowel movements.
Those who experience chronic constipation should talk with a doctor to learn more about other ways to help manage their constipation more effectively, such as by taking medications or trying physical therapy.
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- The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that produces fluids to feed and protect sperm cells.
- Many men experience urinary changes as they age. In many cases, these changes do not need specific treatment.
- When urinary changes cause problems, they can be treated successfully by lifestyle changes, medication, surgery or a combination of the three.
- For problems such as blood in the urine, pain on urination, inability to urinate or uncontrollable urine flow, see your doctor promptly.
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About Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are common infections that can affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them.
Anyone can get them, but they’re particularly common in women. Some women experience them regularly .
UTIs can be painful and uncomfortable, but usually pass within a few days and can be easily treated with antibiotics.
This page is about UTIs in adults. There is a separate article about UTIs in children.
This page covers:
Who Is Affected By Bladder Problems
Not having control of your bladder is a common health problem for many people. About 4 million Australians have bladder control problems.
Bladder control problems are most common in older people, however they can occur at any stage throughout your life. Many conditions can affect the bladder:
- hysterectomy
- difficulty moving or walking
- conditions related to bladder problems
- medication some medicines can cause problems in the way the bladder works.
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Symptoms Of Urinary Problems
Urinary symptoms commonly experienced with prostate problems include:
- the need to urinate frequently during the night
- urinating more often during the day
- urinary urgency the urge to urinate can be so strong and sudden that you may not reach the toilet in time
- the urine stream is slow to start
- urine dribbling for some time after finishing urination
- a sensation that the bladder isn’t fully emptied after urination
- lack of force to the urine flow, which makes directing the stream difficult
- the sensation of needing to go again soon after urinating.
Although these symptoms often do not need treatment, see your doctor if they are causing you difficulty, as they can be successfully treated.
What Makes You More Prone To Getting Bladder Stones
Having an enlarged prostate Prostates are a small gland, found only in men, between the penis and the bladder. Older men might experience enlarged prostate, and this causes the prostate to press on the urethra and therefore block the flow of urine. If this is not treated, then this can lead to an increased risk of getting bladder stones.
Neurogenic Bladder This refers to the nerves which control the bladder being damaged. This nerve damage prevents someone with Neurogenic Bladder from emptying their bladder fully. This can be caused by damage to nerves in the spine in addition to motor neurone disease and spina bifida. Those with neurogenic bladder usually have a tube named a catheter inserted in order to drain the bladder but this can still leave some urine inside the bladder.
Cystocele This a condition which only affects women. Cystocele causes the bladder wall to become weaker and drop down into the vagina, therefore blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder.
Poor Diet It is unusual for bladder stones to be a result of a poor diet in the UK and is much more common in the developing world. A diet which is rich in foods containing high amounts of fat, salt and sugar and not containing enough vitamins including vitamin A and B makes it more likely for bladder stones to develop.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
According to the Urology Care Foundation, women are at greater risk for UI than men because they have a shorter urethra than men. As a result, any weakness or damage to the urethra in a woman is more likely to cause urinary incontinence. This is because there is less muscle keeping the urine in your bladder until you are ready to urinate.
How To Prevent A Leaky Bladder
- Limit or avoid excess caffeine intake through coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages.
- Perform Kegel exercises on regular basis to maintain strength of pelvic floor muscles.
- Avoid fluid intake for several hours before bedtime.
- Limit fluid intake throughout the day, but keep hydrated.
- Avoid smoking as tobacco use increases risk of bladder cancer, which can cause bladder leaks.
- Maintain a healthy weight as obesity can lead to bladder leakage.
- Urinate after sexual intercourse to eliminate bacteria from the urethra.
- Limit or avoid spicy foods, acidic foods, and artificial sweeteners, as they increase fluid output.
- Use caution with diuretics to prevent bladder leakage from frequent urination.
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Causes Of Urinary Incontinence
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area .
Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:
- pregnancy and vaginal birth
Find out more about the causes of urinary incontinence.
What Can Go Wrong
Some common gallbladder problems include:
Gallstones This is a condition in which small stones, or sometimes larger ones, develop inside the gallbladder.
These stones form from substances found in bile, including cholesterol and a pigment called bilirubin.
Gallstones may cause pain known as biliary colic , but about 90 percent of people with gallstones will have no symptoms.
Most symptomatic gallstones will have been present for a number of years.
For unknown reasons, if you have gallstones for more than 10 years, they are less likely to cause symptoms.
Biliary colic This term is often used to describe severe episodes of pain that can occur when gallstones block the flow of bile to the small intestine.
The gallbladder contracts vigorously against the blockage, causing severe pain in spasms, or sometimes constant pain.
Biliary colic episodes usually last one to five hours, with mild pain lingering for up to 24 hours. Theyre especially common after large or fatty meals, particularly if youve been fasting beforehand.
Inflamed gallbladder Inflammation of the gallbladder can be caused by gallstones, excessive alcohol use, infections, or even tumors that cause bile buildup.
But the most common cause of cholecystitis is gallstones.
In this case, irritation by gallstones causes the gallbladder walls to become swollen and painful.
An episode of inflammation can last for several hours, or even a few days. Fever is not unusual.
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Problems With Enlarged Prostate Gland
Benign enlargement of the prostate gland is more common as men get older. It can cause troublesome symptoms, although it doesnt always.
The urethra passes through the prostate gland, so men may have problems urinating if the enlarged gland restricts the flow of urine. If the flow stops completely, a catheter is required to empty the bladder. It is rare for this form of acute urinary retention to cause kidney damage.
An enlarged prostate doesn’t always cause urinary problems. Studies indicate that the size of a man’s prostate gland has little influence on the type or severity of his urination problems. BPH is just one possible cause of urinary symptoms.
Another cause of urinary symptoms can be changes to the muscular wall of the bladder, which may cause spasms of the bladder or weaken the bladder, causing problems passing urine.
What Are Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises, also called Kegels or pelvic floor muscle training, are exercises for your pelvic floor muscles to help prevent or reduce stress urinary incontinence. Your pelvic floor muscles support your uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum.
Four in 10 women improved their symptoms after trying Kegels.9 Kegels can be done daily and may be especially helpful during pregnancy. They can help prevent the weakening of pelvic floor muscles, which often happens during pregnancy and childbirth. Your pelvic floor muscles may also weaken with age and less physical activity.
Some women have urinary symptoms because the pelvic floor muscles are always tightened. In this situation, Kegel exercises will not help your urinary symptoms and may cause more problems. Talk to your doctor or nurse about your urinary symptoms before doing Kegel exercises.
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What Medications Treat A Prolapsed Bladder
Estrogen replacement therapy may be used to help the body strengthen the muscles in and around the vagina.
- Estrogen replacement therapy may be contraindicated . The ovaries stop producing estrogen naturally after menopause, and the muscles of the vagina may weaken as a result.
- In mild cases of prolapsed bladder, estrogen may be prescribed in an attempt to reverse bladder prolapse symptoms, such as vaginal weakening and incontinence. For more severe degrees of prolapse, estrogen replacement therapy may be used along with other types of treatment.
- Estrogen can be administered orally as a pill or topically as a patch or cream. The cream has very little systemic absorption and has a potent effect locally where it is applied.
- Topical administration has less risk than the oral preparations.
- The application of estrogens to the anterior vagina and urethral area may be very helpful in alleviating urinary symptoms, such as urgency and frequency, even in the face of prolapsed bladder.
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
A Urinary Tract Infection is an infection in any part of the urinary tract which includes the kidneys, bladder and urethra. Here are the specific names for these three different types of UTI:
Bladder Infection Cystitis
Urethra Infection Urethritis
Kidney Infection Pyelonephritis
As we are focusing primarily on bladder problems, we will take a closer look at cystitis, its symptoms, causes, and how this infection can be both prevented and treated.
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When Should Someone Seek Medical Care For A Prolapsed Bladder
- Any woman who notices symptoms of a prolapsed bladder should contact her doctor.
- A prolapsed bladder is commonly associated with prolapses of other organs within in a womans pelvis. Thus, timely medical care is recommended to evaluate for and to prevent problematic symptoms and complications caused by weakening tissue and muscle in the vagina.
- Prolapsed organs cannot heal themselves, and may worsen over time.
- Several treatments are available to correct a prolapsed bladder.
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Cause Of Urinary Problems As Men Age
Many men experience urinary symptoms as they age, which may be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland . In older men, symptoms may be due to a blockage in the tubes due to a benign enlargement of the prostate gland . The most common symptom is difficulty emptying your bladder. Urinary symptoms may become bothersome enough that they require treatment. Not all urinary symptoms are due to changes to the prostate. Also, some men have enlarged prostates and yet experience few, if any, symptoms.
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