Seeking Justice

Millions of people around the world have to deal with an assortment of bladder everyday. These bladder problems are rarely life-threatening (bladder cancer being an exception), but they can be both troublesome and socially embarrassing.

Bladder problems become more frequent as the years go by. But some bladder problems, like shy bladder and bedwetting, also happen to the young.

This article is intended to provide a basic understanding of how the human bladder works, and the most typical bladder problems experienced by people – both young and old.

Your bladder is a sac-like organ in the lower abdominal area.  Its major job is acting as a storage area your urine.

The bladder is lined with waterproof skin which medical professionals call the transitional cell epithelium.~A waterproof tissue serves as a lining for the inside the bladder. The medical name for this lining is the transitional cell epithelium.}

Urine comes to the bladder from the kidneys through tubes called ureters. It is then expelled through a tube known as the urethra.

A typical adult bladder will hold about 400 milliliters of urine.

As mentioned above, bladder problems become more common as people age. It can be more of a challenge to control the bladder. The result is a condition called incontinence. Incontinence can also occur when there is a medical problem or disease that affects the bladder. There are various bladder control products available in pharmacies and even grocery markets that help people who must endure incontinence or bladder control problems.

There are several kinds of bladder cancer. The kind that happens most often  starts in the lining of the cells inside of the bladder. This type 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 or UTI. Although UTI can be very distressing, it’s fairly very treatable and can be cured quickly if treated properly.

An overactive bladder is a condition caused by a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder. This condition causes an urgent and unstoppable need to urinate. Overactive bladder is also referred to as urge incontinence and is a form of urinary incontinence or unintentional loss of urine.

Bladder Stones – Bladder stones are crystalline masses that form from minerals and proteins which naturally occur in urine. They are a lot less common than kidney stones.

Bladder Spasms – Also known as bladder instability. Usually bladder muscles are relaxed and only go into action when you urinate. But when the bladder is unstable, it sometimes contracts suddenly and without warning. This contraction is commonly known as a bladder spasm.

Bladder Prolapse – Also called cystoceles. It is more often called fallen bladder or prolapsed bladder. Fallen bladder occurs in women when the front wall of the vagina, which holds up the bladder, becomes weak or loosens. 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 (Bedwetting) – Enuresis is, simply put, involuntary urination, usually during sleep.  Bedwetting is more common in children and typically goes away as the child matures. However, repeated  enuresis can be a sign or symptom other physical or emotional problems.

Paruresis – This is a condition that is also known as shy bladder, shy kidney, or bashful bladder. Both men and women can get paruresis, which  is a type of social anxiety disorder in which the sufferer is unable to urinate when others are able to see or hear, typically a place  like a public restroom.

Although several bladder problems may have psychological or emotional components, it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor about them. He or she can suggest treatment options or prescribe products that will at least help you cope with these bladder problems if you have them.

Neal Kennedy is a retired TV and radio reporter who often writes on subjects related to symptoms of bladder problems and bladder control problems. To read more of his articles, visit Bladder Problems.

Filed under: technology by Robert