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.

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. Find out more about Natural Bladder Control For Men and Women

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Millions of Americans have urinary incontinence. It is a condition that affects both men and women, young and old alike. But what is urinary incontinence, and what can you do if you have it? This article will answer these questions and more.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence refers to the unintentional, uncontrolled release of urine. Commonly, this leakage occurs during a cough, laugh or sneeze, or when you have the urge to urinate but cannot reach a bathroom in time. It's important to realize that incontinence is not a disease but a symptom. Incontinence is a byproduct of some other problem within the lower urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence does not normally lead to major health problems, but it can obviously be unpleasant and embarrassing. With that being said, urinary incontinence is actually quite common (especially with older adults) and is relatively easy to treat.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urge incontinence and stress incontinence are the two most common types of incontinence within females. Understanding the difference between these two is the key to understanding their causes.

Type #1 - Stress Incontinence

Significant weight gain and childbirth can stretch the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles control the bladder, and when they're stretched they cannot do their job of closing off the urethra. This condition can be worsened by smoking, being overweight, or during menopause.

Type #2 - Urge Incontinence

When you hear the phrase "overactive bladder," it's normally describing the condition of urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is sort of the reverse of stress incontinence. Only instead of being caused by a lack of muscle contraction, it's caused by the muscles contracting involuntarily.

Urge incontinence can be caused by a number of factors, including kidney stones, bladder stones, tumors that press on the bladder, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or simply age-related changes in the bladder muscle.

Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

There are several treatments for urinary incontinence. Talk to your doctor to determine the treatment that's right for you, as it will depend on the cause of your incontinence and other factors. Treatments may include medication, lifestyle changes, special exercises or minimally invasive surgery.

Preventing Urinary Incontinence

There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of developing urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, thereby reducing the chances of stress incontinence. Maintaining a healthy wait and being a non-smoker also go a long way toward preventing incontinence.

Learn More

B.R. Cornett writes on behalf of the Urology Team of Austin, Texas. To learn more about urinary incontinence in females [http://www.urologyteam.com/female-urology/incontinence.htm], or to get help for it, visit the Urology Team website at www.urologyteam.com

Nowadays, several women suffer from bladder infections during pregnancy. Medical studies suggest that around 3 to 4% of the pregnant women suffer from UTI. Initially, the infection enters the urinary bladder but eventually it attacks the kidneys and damages them. However, pregnant women are at higher risk of acquiring kidney infections. Hence, they should take proper precautions to avoid such ailments.

The pregnant women are highly prone to bladder infections due to changes in body hormones and shift in the position of urinary organs. Hence, these physical changes facilitate the transfer of bacterium from the urinary bladder to the kidneys. Therefore, pregnant women should maintain proper hygiene standards to keep the disease at a bay. Usually, the doctors recommend regular urine test to check the presence of infection in the urinary organs.

The infliction of urinary tract infections can lead to premature delivery or high blood pressure among nursing mothers. Hence, the mother needs an appropriate treatment to ward off the disease. They can consult a medical practitioner or gynecologist, who can suggest an appropriate antibiotic treatment for the disease. The doctor will consider various factors like stage of pregnancy, condition of fetus, allergies, drug components etc before subscribing a medicine for the bladder infections.

Medical conditions like inadequate urine flow due to kidney stones or medicines can increase the risk of acquiring UTI. At times, the infection can get out of control and lead to kidney damage. Hence, a pregnant woman should not neglect the symptoms of bladder infections and take immediate medical help. Every pregnant woman has certain dreams for her unborn baby and any kind of negligence can hamper the health of your baby and pose severe delivery problems.

Hence, consult your doctor and purchase an effective medication that can cure bladder infections without showing any side effects on the pregnant women and her unborn baby.

About the Author:

Robert Henry is connoisseur in the field of medication. He has been writing some amazing articles on bladder infections, symptoms and cures of the disease. His knowledgeable articles have brought amazing changes in the lives of several individuals.