Bladder stones, not to be confused with kidney stones, are formed when substances such as calcium oxalate found in urine coalesce into solid lumps and form deposits in the bladder. Though usually small enough to be excreted during urination, sometimes they get trapped in the neck of the bladder. In such cases, as the residues continue to grow larger, they cause extreme pain, infections, and may need surgical attention.

What causes bladder stones?
The most common causes of bladder stones are-

A diet which is high in oxalic acid can cause bladder stones.
Dehydration and a reduced intake of water cause bladder stones.
A protracted use of a urinary catheter, infections of the urinary tract, or an injury that might have impaired bladder function can cause stones to form.
Most often, stones originate somewhere else in the urinary tract and move downwards obstructing the neck of the bladder. There are significant hereditary factors at play here.
Symptoms-

Blood in the urine usually apparent only in the last few drops.
Interruption of the stream of urine and an inability to do so except in certain positions.
Dark-coloured urine.
Diagnosis-

1.Physical Exam
The physician will physically examine to evaluate if the bladder or the rectum are enlarged.

2.Urinalysis
A sample of your urine will be tested for the presence of bacteria, blood and crystallized minerals.

3.CT scan
A CT scan to build a detailed image of the internal organs.

Treatment-

If the size of the bladder stones is small then a simple increase in water and fluid intake should be enough to excrete them out naturally.
If they are too large to flush out from the system naturally, they will either be broken down to smaller sizes using laser ray or similar other energies, or surgically removed.
In order to prevent bladder stones from recurring, here are 5 foolproof methods-

1.Increase the daily fluid intake
A sure-fire way to prevent bladder stones is to increase the amount of water you drink every day. The idea is to reduce the concentration of your urine. A minimum of 2-3 litres of water per day is absolutely necessary.

2.Urinate more often.
If you drink more water throughout the day, you are going to have to urinate more frequently anyway. Do not put it off because you are worried that you will be mocked for having an old lady s bladder.

3.Laxatives.
If you feel like you are constipated, use a laxative. There is no shame in wanting to regulate your bowel movements.

4.Regular Tests.
Get a sample of your urine tested regularly to ensure that your kidneys and bladder are functioning properly and there are no irregularities.

5.Eat fruits.
Get the essential sugar component of your diet from fresh fruits. Say no to saturated sugar and fizzy drinks. Opt for fruits with high water content like melons to add more fluids in your diet.

5 Full-Proof Methods To Prevent Bladder Stones!

What should you do if you have an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder, also known as OAB, is a condition where sudden involuntary contractions of the urinary bladder's muscular walls cause bladder storage dysfunction. It leads to sudden and frequent urges to urinate (urinary urgency), as well as unintentional leakage or urine (urinary incontinence).

This is a condition that affects both men and women and causes tremendous discomfort in nearly every aspect of daily life. The specific causes of OAB vary from case to case but it is generally attributed to infection of the urinary tract or dysfunction of the nervous system. The symptoms are intensified by unhealthy lifestyle choices such as overindulging in caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, and alcohol.

There are several ways in which you can deal with the problem of OAB, depending on the nature of the case. It is necessary for you to consult a urologist for a detailed diagnosis to formulate the best treatment option.

Following are the most effective remedies to treat an overactive bladder:

1. Lifestyle Modifications

Also known as behavioral therapy, this is the first step in the treatment of OAB. It involves inculcating simple changes into everyday habits such as avoiding food and drinks that irritate the bladder, scheduling (and in some cases, practice delaying) bathroom visits, exercising the pelvic floor and bladder muscles, keeping a record of urinating habits in a 'bladder diary' for better understanding the problem, etc. You can incorporate these habits into everyday activities for an easy alleviation of the problem with absolutely no side effects.

2. Medication and Surgery

There are several different kinds of medicines and drugs that can treat the problem of OAB. The most common types are muscle relaxants that loosen the muscles of the urinary bladder to prevent involuntary contractions, and antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs that treat urinary tract infections. Many types of implants are surgically set into the pelvic area to act as electrical nerve stimulators for neuromodulation therapy. Reconstructive bladder surgery is another remedial option.

3. Devices and Products

Urinary urgency and incontinence can be managed through the external use of various devices and products which collect and hold urine or absorb leakages. These include indwelling catheters, condom catheters (for men), urine drainage bags, absorbent pads and adult diapers, and toilet substitutes such as bedpans and bedside urinals.



What Should You Do if You Have an Overactive Bladder?

Bladder cancer is characterized by irregular growth of abnormal tissue (tumor) on the lining of the bladder. This type of cancer may spread to the surrounding tissues or other body parts as well.

What are the causes?

Bladder cancer can be caused by environment-related factors and smoking. In fact, smoking tobacco is one of the major causes of bladder cancer around the world. The chemicals present in tobacco can irritate the bladder lining which ultimately leads to bladder cancer. It may also be caused by continuous exposure to chemicals such as dyes or leather dust and radiation. These chemicals tend to cause unusual changes in the cells of the bladder lining and causes cancer in the bladder.

It can also be caused by modifications in the dna in the cells of the bladder which may impair the functioning of the cells in the body. This can cause mutations in the bladder resulting in cancer.

What are the symptoms?

1. Presence of blood in the urine, often painless

2. Feeling of pain while passing urine

3. Back pain

4. Excessive urination

5. Infections in the urinary tract

6. Lower leg swelling

7. Pain in the bones, especially in the pelvic area

8. Weight loss

Treatment options

Treatments for bladder cancer depend on the stage of the cancer. The various treatment choices are:

Surgery - In some cases, these cancers are surgically removed by a surgeon. A type of surgery used is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (turbt) where the cancer cells are destroyed with laser by passing a thin fiber into the bladder.

Chemotherapy - In this method, medications are used to target and destroy cancer cells.

Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy uses rays such as x-ray or uv rays to destroy cancer cells in the body

Immunotherapy - This treatment boosts the immune system of the body so that it attacks the cancerous cells in the bladder.

Causes And Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

An overactive bladder is a condition that is characterized by a problem in the bladder storage function; a problem that eggs one on to urinate frequently. This condition can cause problems in your social and work life. You may isolate yourself from others and feel embarrassed about the situation.

Symptoms
If you have an overactive bladder, you may exhibit symptoms of frequent urination, involuntary leakage of urine and frequent urge to urinate. These symptoms might disrupt your daily life; so it is important to seek advice from a medical practitioner.

Causes
To better understand what causes an overactive bladder, you need to know how the urination process works. Urine is produced by the kidneys, which flows to the bladder. During urination, the urine is excreted from an opening in the bladder and flows out via the urethra. As the kidneys secrete urine, the bladder starts to fill up. During this stage, nerve signals are sent to the brain; signals that trigger your body to urinate. The bladder muscles tighten that pushes the urine out of the body.

An overactive bladder results from the involuntarily contraction of the bladder, which might happen even if the content of urine in the bladder is low. These contractions create the urge to urinate. The various causes of an overactive bladder are:

Excessive fluid intake, if your fluid intake is high, then you may have the tendency to urinate frequently.
Presence of tumors or stones in the bladder can make the bladder overactive as well.
Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption has the same effect as an excessive intake of fluids has.
Urinary tract infections may interfere with the entire process of urination, thus causing your bladder to swell up and become overactive.
Other diseases and conditions such as constipation and an enlarged prostate can hamper bladder functioning.
Treatment
There are multiple approaches to treat an overactive bladder; your doctor may use one or a combination of multiple methods.

Medications: Medications such as Trospium and Tolterodine help in relaxing the bladder. These medications help treat symptoms of frequent urination.
Bladder injections: Botox is a protein that is injected into the bladder that causes partial paralysis of the bladder muscles. This helps in treating the constant urge to urinate. However, its effects are temporary as they last for 6-9 months.
Lifestyle modifications: Certain lifestyle modifications such as incorporating exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles, maintaining optimal weight levels and bladder training to control its functioning can help with managing an overactive bladder.
Surgery: If the other treatments do not produce the desired results, then surgery is usually recommended. The aim of the surgery is to enhance the storage capacity of the bladder and reduce bladder pressure.

Frequent Urination - Is It A Symptom of An Overactive Bladder?

Urinary Tract Infections are a group of diseases that affect one s urinary system such as the urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys. Women are more prone to contracting UTIs than men. They may be accompanied by symptoms such as a constant urge to urinate frequently along with a burning sensation in the concerned parts and pelvic pain. The urine may have traces of blood in it. These infections are usually treated with antibiotics.

Causes behind Urinary Tract Infection:

Urinary Tract infection generally occurs when the bacteria enter the urinary tract via the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder. Although the urinary system is structured to ward off such invaders, at times, the defense mechanism fails. In that case, the bacteria may evolve into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract.

Few risk factors are:

Female anatomy: A woman s urethra is shorter as compared to a man s, thus lessening the distance the bacteria need to travel to the bladder. This increases the chances of UTIs in women.

Using diaphragms and spermicidal agents for birth controls

A dip in the levels of estrogen post menopause

Abnormalities in the urinary tract that hinder the discharge of urine or cause the urine to travel back into the urethra.

Enlarged prostate or kidney stones that cause the urine to be trapped in the bladder.

An impaired immune system because of diabetes and other ailments

Using catheters (tube) to urinate is one of the common risk factors because of the chances of infections.

Urinary Tract Infection - Reasons behind It

A large number of women visit the doctor for common ailments like involuntary urination or incontinence, which occurs due to weakening of the sphincter muscles around the urethra. An overactive bladder is an embarrassing as well as an annoying condition and it comes in forms like urinary urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia and frequency. Yes, there are solutions to this problem and the main solution that can be adapted is a change in lifestyle.

Imperative tips to follow to treat an overactive bladder

It is very important that the diet pattern be changed and food items as well as drinks that worsen the condition be avoided.
It is best to avoid spicy food, especially those that contain hot peppers. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, orange and tangerine must be avoided; tomato products and tomato paste must be avoided.
It is also best to avoid alcoholic beverages and even drinks that contain caffeine.
It is important to maintain a healthy diet. To improve bladder problems, it is obligatory that food products that contain more fiber are included in the diet.
These fibrous food items could include whole wheat bread, fresh fruits, cereals and beans. To maintain bowel regularity, it is very important that women follow a regular exercise program.
Women must take charge of their treatment and it is most important that before taking any medication, they must make behavioral modifications. It is important to record the input of the fluid consumed as well as to keep a check on the number of times they urinate. Women must not only maintain a healthy weight, but also quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes can irritate the muscles of the bladder and excess coughing can lead to leakage of urine. Non-irritating fluids that can improve the bladder condition can be taken 3-4 times in a day; so it is best to avoid beverages that are acidic or caffeinated. The techniques that would help you to control an overactive bladder can be learnt under the guidance of a doctor to decrease the urge to urinate.

Consult your doctor for medications to treat an overactive bladder. Some doctors even prescribe certain medications to treat an overactive bladder and these include anticholinergics. These drugs help to control the muscle spasms, which mainly lead to an overactive bladder. The most common anticholinergics recommended by doctors are solifenacin, oxybutynin, fesoterodine, propantheline and dicyclomine.

Overactive Bladder - Is There A Solution?

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