About Bladder Problems

Bladder problems are more prevalent in women than in men with 10 to 40 percent of women affected by this problem, according to the FDA report, "Loss of Bladder Control." Bladder control difficulties, also referred to as urinary incontinence, are treatable, and in many cases can be cured, but, unfortunately, most people suffering from this problem are too embarrassed to seek medical assistance.

Types

• On their website, the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), offers detailed information on the types, causes and treatment of bladder problems and urinary incontinence in women and men. Stress incontinence involves urine leakage when involved in physical activities, coughing, sneezing or laughing. Urge incontinence may be the result of stroke, infection or an illness, such as diabetes. This type of incontinence involves loss of urine after an immediate and compelling urge to urinate. Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Some people have physical difficulties that result in urine leakage because of problems getting to the bathroom on time. This problem is referred to as functional incontinence.

Causes

• Bladder problems in women can be the result of infections, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption or illness-related nerve damage resulting from diabetes, Parkinson's disease or stroke. Urine leakage can also be related to trauma from previous surgery, or disc problems. Diuretics can cause urine leakage, as can medications taken for relaxation that may ultimately affect the muscles in the bladder. Urinary incontinence is also linked to obesity, which places excess pressure or stress on the bladder.
  Typical causes of bladder problems in men are an enlarged prostate putting pressure on the urethra, or nerve damage resulting from illness or stroke.

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Non-surgical treatment for men and women can involve utilizing kegel exercises for strengthening pelvic muscles, or, for women, insertion of a pessary ring into the vagina for bladder support. Medications are often prescribed to deal with an overactive bladder, but for some patients, dietary changes that include minimizing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol and controlling fluid consumption can be all that is needed. For patients who suffer from obesity, weight loss may eliminate the problem of urinary incontinence.

Surgical Treatment

• Surgically implantable devices that work through nerve stimulation are sometimes offered to patients when medications fail to control urge incontinence. Bladder surgery, which has a high success rate according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), can be performed in cases of bladder prolapse, a weakening of the supportive structure. For women, the surgeries involve placement of a sling made of natural tissue or a synthetic mesh to support the bladder. Another surgical procedure can be performed to support a weakened urethral sphincter. The sphincter muscles are responsible for keeping urine that passes from the bladder into the urethra from leaking out before it is released upon urination. A different type of surgery is used for men that involves supporting the urethra with a sling that is attached to the pelvic bone.

Alternative Treatment

• UrologyChannel, on their website, offers information on alternative treatments for bladder problems. In addition to a special diet to eliminate the possibility of food allergies or sensitivities, they list herbs that can be used in teas, such as cleavers, marshmallow root and buchu, as well as vitamins and other dietary supplements that are utilized as anti-inflammatory agents, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and flax oil.