Diseases that can cause Symptoms of Bladder Problems

The bladder is an often ignored organ in the body that has a key body function: the elimination of wastes.  The kidneys filter the blood of wastes and regulate the water content in the circulatory system.  The liquid waste drains into the bladder, which acts as a holding tank; until the bladder is full at which time it is expelled during urination. Bladder symptoms are often the source of embarrassment and frustration for millions of people. Some common symptoms of bladder problems people may experience are:

1. Incontinence (the inability to control when a person urinates)
2. Stress Incontinence (urine leakage when a person sneezes, laughs, coughs or strains)
3. Hematuria (blood present in the urine)
4. Dysuria (pain or burning  during urination)
5. Frequent urination of small amounts
6. Bladder spasms (pain in the lower abdomen caused by the bladder having spasms like a muscle does)

Disease Processes That Cause Bladder SymptomsThere are many diseases that may cause a patient to have bladder symptoms.  Some bladder symptoms are indicative of a minor problem such as a bladder infection and some indicate a serious illness such as cancer.  The following is a list of some of the more common ailments (but is not exhaustive)Bladder Infection (sometimes referred to as a UTI)-A bladder infection occurs when bacteria overgrow in the bladder and cause irritation in the bladder.  Symptoms of bladder infection include painful, burning or frequent urination.  Blood may also be present in the urine. Treatment usually involves treatment with antibiotic.Bladder Cancer-Any of the above listed bladder symptoms may be present in addition to pain in the lower back, swelling in the lower extremities (legs), a mass or growth in the lower abdomen, and difficulty beginning the urine stream when attempting to urinate.  Overactive Bladder (also called OAB or urge incontinence) –Patients with OAB have an urgent need to urinate and may not get to a toilet in time to urinate. Symptoms of OAB include sudden urges to urinate, urinary frequency (eight times or more a day; two of these times occur at night), and incontinence caused by the uncontrollable urge to urinate (this is called urge incontinence).  Interstitial Cystitis-Patients with IC have a chronic irritation of the bladder.  Symptoms of bladder interstitial cystitis include constant pelvic pain, reduced bladder capacity, urinary urgency and frequency.  Diagnosing IC is sometimes difficult and usually consists of ruling out any other causes of the bladder symptoms.  The majority of IC cases are found in women.Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)-Men who suffer from prostatis (including prostatis caused by cancer) may cause bladder symptoms.  These bladder symptoms include hematuria, dysuria, pain and incontinence.  Since prostatitis can be a symptom of cancer (prevalent in men over 50) or other serious condition; consulting a doctor is very important.Contrary to what many people think, bladder problems are not a normal part of the aging process.  Bladder symptoms are an indication of some type of problem and should be discussed with your doctor. Don’t let embarrassment over any bladder problems keep you from seeing your doctor.  Many problems are minor, but there are treatments available to improve your quality of life while managing your bladder symptoms.