Bladder problems are rarely serious medical threats (although bladder cancer is certainly an exception), but they are definitely bothersome and annoying because they are often socially embarrassing.
Bladder problems happen more often as we get older. But some bladder problems, like shy bladder and bedwetting, also happen to the young.
This article is intended to provide a general understanding of how the human bladder functions, and the most common bladder problems that afflict people everywhere - both young and old.
The human bladder is a sac-like structure near the bottom of the abdomen. Its major job is acting as a storage area for your urine.
The bladder has a waterproof skin which doctors call the transitional cell epithelium.|A waterproof tissue serves as a lining for the inside of the bladder. The medical name for this lining is the transitional cell epithelium.}
Urine is deposited into the bladder from the kidneys through tubes called ureters. It is eliminated through a tube leading outside the body called the urethra.
Most adult bladders will hold about 400 milliliters of urine.
As mentioned above, bladder problems become more common as people grow older. It can be tougher to control the bladder. This sometimes results in a condition known as incontinence. Incontinence can also happen when there is a medical problem or disease that affects the bladder. There are a number of bladder control products available on the market that help people who have incontinence or bladder control difficulties.
There are several kinds of bladder cancer. The the type that happens most often starts in the lining of the cells inside of the bladder. This variety is called urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) or transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
A bladder infection is a bacterial infection that's also known as a urinary tract infection or UTI. Although UTI can be very distressing, it's fairly very treatable with antibiotics and can be cured quickly if treated properly.
An overactive bladder is a condition that is caused by a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of your bladder. Overactive bladder causes an unexpected and unstoppable need to urinate. OA is also called urge incontinence and is a type of urinary incontinence or unintentional loss of urine.
Bladder Stones - Bladder stones are crystalline masses that originate from minerals and proteins which naturally occur in urine. They are considerably less common than kidney stones.
Bladder Spasms - A bladder spasm may also be called bladder instability. Normally bladder muscles are relaxed and only go to work when you urinate. But when the bladder is unstable, it sometimes contracts quickly and unexpectedly. This contraction is also referred to as a bladder spasm.
Bladder Prolapse - Also called cystoceles. It is more often called fallen bladder or prolapsed bladder. Fallen bladder happens in women when the front wall of the vagina, which holds up the bladder, weakens or grows loose. The bladder may then begin to slip into the vagina. There are four different stages, but the basic result can be urinary difficulties, discomfort, and stress incontinence (which is urine leakage caused by sneezing, coughing, exertion, or some other physical condition).
Enuresis (More commonly known as bedwetting) - Enuresis is, simply put, involuntary urination, usually during sleep. This condition is more common in children and almost always goes away as the child gets older. However, repeated enuresis can be a sign or symptom other physical or emotional problems.
Paruresis - This is a disorder that is also called shy bladder, shy kidney, or bashful bladder. Both women and men can suffer from paruresis, which is a type of social anxiety disorder in which the sufferer is unable to urinate when others are nearby, typically in a place like a public restroom.
Although there are a number of bladder problems may be more psychological than anatomical in nature
, it still makes sense to talk to your physician about them. He or she can recommend treatment options or prescribe products that will at least help you cope with these bladder problems if you have them.
Article Tags: Embarrassing Bladder Problems, Bladder Problems, Embarrassing Bladder, Transitional Cell
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio journalist who often writes on issues related to symptoms of bladder problems and bladder control problems. To read more of his articles, visit Bladder Problems.
