Bladder

The urinary bladder is a triangular shaped, hollow organ located in the lower abdomen above and behind the pelvis.

The urinary bladder works as a storage vessel for urine. It can accommodate up to 800 mL of urine atmaximum capacity in adults.

In case of an overactive bladder, a sudden urge to urinate that difficult to control is felt. Urgency incontinence- when there is a strong urge to urinate that cannot be controlled. Urinate frequently due to incomplete emptying leading to urinating eight or more times in 24 hours.

Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. Pain may get intense the bladder fills up. The pain is short lived and relief is provided when the bladder is empty. 

There bladder problems are:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI) that affects the bladder (cystitis)
• Urinary incontinence
• Overactive bladder
• Interstitial cystitis (also known as bladder pain syndrome)
• Bladder cancer

Specific signs and symptoms of bladder problems include:

• Bladder leakage
• Pain or a burning sensation during urination
• Cloudy urine
• Urgency
• Frequent urination due to incomplete emptying
• Urine that smells strong
• Blood in the urine
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pressure or pain in the lower abdomen

The reasons for bladder problems are:

In females weak pelvic floor muscles due to

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Trauma or injury
• cystocele and pelvic organ prolapse 
• menopause 

Men sometimes develop UI along with prostate problems.

Prostate problems: The prostate gland in men surrounds bladder opening. The prostate enlarges as age advances in men. This non-cancerous enlargement is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) which causes

problems with starting to urinate

• A slow urine stream
• Incomplete bladder emptying 

Certain health changes and neurological problems can lead to urinary incontinence

To keep your bladder healthy and prevent any problems follow the below advise:

• Drink enough fluids, especially water. 
• Limit alcohol and caffeine
• Quit smoking. 
• Avoid constipation. 
• Keep a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly. 
• Kegels exercises. to help hold urine in the bladder
• Use the bathroom often and when needed. 
• Take enough time to fully empty the bladder when urinating. 
• Be in a relaxed position while urinating. 
• Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.  
• Urinate after sex
• Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes.

Bladder Tests are as below:

• Urinalysis: This basic test of urine is done both routinely and when looking for problems with either the bladder or kidneys. 
• Cystoscopy: A narrow tube is passed through the urethra and into the bladder to look, diagnose and treat bladder problems. 
• Urodynamic testing: A series of computer assisted tests to measure the bladder pressure

The treatments of Bladder issues are as below:

• Cystoscopy: A narrow tube is passed through the urethra into the bladder to diagnose and treat bladder problems.
• Surgery: Bladder, urinary incontinence and cystocele may also be treated with surgery.
• Bladder catheterization: to relieve pressure in the bladder.
• Anti-spasm medications: help relieve some bladder (detrusor) overactivity and incontinence.
• Kegel exercises: Exercising the pelvic muscles (as when stopping your urine stream) may improve urinary incontinence.

Urologist. An urologist specializes in male and female urinary disorders, as well as the male reproductive system.

No. Many people with bladder pain syndrome think they should drink less to relieve pain and reduce the number of times they go to the bathroom. But one needs fluids, especially water, for good health. Getting enough fluids helps keep your kidneys and bladder healthy, prevent urinary tract infections, and prevent constipation, which may make your symptoms worse.

Some ways that severe symptoms of bladder pain syndrome may affect a woman's health include: Lack of high-quality sleep. Women with severe symptoms might get up throughout the night to urinate. Interrupted sleep can lead to extreme fatigue and sometimes depression.

Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain. The condition is a part of a spectrum of diseases known as painful bladder syndrome.

cancer is uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. a mass that spreads is known as malignant and a tumor that grows but does not spread is termed benign. Urinary bladder cancer may originally start from the kidneys or ureters any may involve the bladder cells as well.

The stages are-

• NX: The regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated.
• N0 (N plus zero): The cancer has not spread to the regional lymph nodes.
• N1: The cancer has spread to a single regional lymph node in the pelvis.
• N2: The cancer has spread to 2 or more regional lymph nodes in the pelvis.
• N3: The cancer has spread to the common iliac lymph nodes, which are located behind the major arteries in the pelvis, above the bladder.

In general, the main treatment options for bladder cancer are:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy (local and systemic)
• Targeted therapy
• Radiation therapy