What Your Bladder Symptoms Are Really Telling You About Your Health

Bladder symptoms can have a large number of causes, and different symptoms and implications for men and women.

Overactive Bladder/Incontinence

This is a very common condition in which there is a sudden, sometimes uncontrollable urge to urinate or a need to urinate more frequently. This can become more common as the muscles around the bladder weaken with age, but treatments are available, even if you are older. Stress incontinence occurs as a result of physical activity such as sneezing, causing urine to leak.

A urologist can advice you on lifestyle changes, products, devices and surgical options that can help. An overactive bladder can sometimes indicate a bladder infection or prostate issues in men, so you should advise your doctor if you are getting up to urinate more than a couple of times a night. An increased urge to urinate is also occasionally a symptom of bladder cancer.

Bladder Infection

When bacteria enters the urethra and travels into the bladder it can cause an infection. Women are more prone to them than men as they have shorter urethras. They are also more likely if you are older, immobile, pregnant, diabetic, have a large prostate or recently had a surgical catheter. Symptoms can be cloudy, bloody or foul smelling urine, frequent urges to urinate, pain or burning when urinating, or lower back pain. If your doctor diagnoses a bladder infection with a urine test, he may give you antibiotics to kill the infection. Fluid intake is also important as it’s believed to flush out any bacteria.

Bladder Cancer

Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer and it’s usually painless. A more frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when passing urine can also be possible symptoms. Pelvic pain, bone pain, leg swelling and unintentional weight loss can also be indicators. Remember these symptoms may have other causes, and blood in the urine can also be a sign of a kidney infection, kidney stones or an enlarged prostate in men. If however, you have several of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.