Different Causes of Bladder Control Problems

While you may feel like the only person in the world suffering with a bladder control problem, know that at least thirteen million other Americans also struggle with urinary incontinence. In addition, while bladder incontinence is common, it is certainly not normal.

Many bladder issues are curable, and all are manageable to a certain extent. Although the incidence typically increases with age in both men and women, the majority of elderly folks do not have issues with urinary incontinence. Healthcare professionals advise anybody who has difficulty partaking in their normal daily activities because of bladder problems to seek help.

The normal capacity of the bladder is between ten and fifteen ounces and its main function is to store and empty urine from the body. Bladder control problems are a set of conditions that affect the proper functioning of the bladder. Common problems include having to urinate frequently and/or urgently, being unable to hold in urine, and straining or feeling pain while urinating. Most often, having to urinate with increased frequency and urgency is related to the bladder not being able to hold the normal capacity of urine.

There are a number of different causes of bladder control problems which are either temporary, like pregnancy, or permanent. The bladder is controlled through interaction between your brain and spinal cord and the organs of the lower urinary tract. These organs are the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. Any disease that affects one of more of these bodily components could cause bladder control problems.

Folks with diseases or conditions affecting the brain and/or spinal cord, such as spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis may suffer from bladder control problems. Folks who have suffered a stroke may also have trouble controlling their bladder, either temporarily or permanently. Pregnancy and delivering a baby vaginally can also cause bladder problems due to the pressure and stress put on the pelvic floor. Pressure can also be put on the pelvic floor from being overweight. While all of these physiological impairments can cause bladder control problems, it is important to note that the majority of folks have no symptoms of damage or disease to their lower urinary tract.

There are also things that can cause the bladder to become overactive. Your doctor may check whether you have a bladder or urinary tract infection, which can cause pain and burning when urinating along with increased urination frequency. Drinking alcohol is also known to make some folk’s bladder more active, as are a number of medications. When discussing your bladder issues with your healthcare professional, be sure to tell him or her about any medicines you take as well as the frequency with which you consume alcohol.

After the life events of pregnancy and childbirth, both risk factors for what are usually temporary bladder control problems, come menopause for women and prostate gland enlargement in men. Both of these life milestones are thought to increase a person’s risk for bladder issues, although the specific physiology is unknown. Aging can also affect bladder function as the tissues in the lower urinary tract weaken.

As the risk factors associated with bladder control, such as pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, enlargement of the prostate gland, and aging affect nearly everybody in the United States, it is no surprise that nearly fifty percent of women and thirty percent of men will experience some problems with bladder control over the course of their lifetimes.