The kidneys make urine, which is a fluid through which wastes from the body including urea are eliminated from the body. There are two kidneys on the right and left side, which make urine, and pass it down to the bladder through tubes known as ureter. The bladder acts as a reservoir of the urine that is formed in the kidneys. It is stored temporarily there before being excreted out of the body through the urethra. The urinary bladder is a highly muscular organ and has a rich connective tissue. 

Interstitial cystitis (IC) or painful bladder syndrome (PBS) is a very common condition, which affects females more than males. While the exact etiology is not known, it could be age-related and also lifestyle related. People who are used to controlling the urge to pass urine are highly likely to develop this condition. The simple logic is that there is additional pressure on the bladder from the urine that is contained for longer period of time. As such, the muscular wall stretches and begins to feel stressed.

When this habit continues over a period of time, the bladder wall may become irritated or inflamed or even scarred in severe cases. There is no role of bacteria in this condition, and antibiotics are of no help in managing this condition (though the name cystitis usually indicates infection).

The following symptoms are seen as a result of this constant irritation and inflammation.

One may suffer from pain and pressure in the bladder as it continues to collect more and more urine.
This pressure in the bladder also puts pressure on the surrounding tissues in the abdomen including the pelvis, urethra, abdominal organs, uterus, etc.
Women may experience pain in the vaginal tract including vulva and behind the vagina.
Men may experience pain in the area of the scrotum, testicles, prostate, and penis.
There is an increased urge to urinate, which may be as much as 9 to 10 times a day. As the condition progresses, there could be more visits, as many as 40 to 50 visits a day.
This tendency and urge to urinate increases during nighttime.
For women, this urge to urinate and other symptoms including pain are worse during menstruation.
There could be pain during intercourse for both men and women.
There could be pain even otherwise, which can range from a mild dull ache to a piercing pain.
At a structural level, this constant pressure leads to pinpoint bleeding (glomerulations) and sometimes even ulcers in the bladder wall.
There is no definitive treatment for IC or PBS. However, bladder distention and instillation are proven methods of increasing bladder capacity, which therefore helps in relieving symptoms.

Painful Bladder Syndrome - Know The Signs!

Cystitis is a condition which is characterized by bladder inflammation that is usually a result of bladder infection. This disorder is very common among women. The condition tends to get better in a few days without any treatment. In case of chronic cystitis, long term treatment may be required.

Symptoms
Common symptoms include excessive urination (may be dark in color) and a burning pain during urination. One might feel generally unwell, tired and may experience cramps in the lower abdomen. In case of children, there may be a rise in the body temperature, coupled with weakness and vomiting.

Causes

Engaging in sex (irrespective of whether one is using protection or not) can result in this condition.
Inserting objects such as tampons into the urethra to release the bladder can most definitely result in this condition.
Using contraceptive measures such as diaphragm.
It occurs when bacteria which is present in the bowel or on the skin comes in contact with the bladder via the urethra. Women are at an increased risk as their urethra is shorter and the anus is close to the urethra.
Homeopathy and Cystitis
Homeopathy is a system of treatment that is natural and holistic. It does not have any side effect like the other conventional treatments. The various homeopathic remedies for cystitis are  

Cantharis: Cantharis is a homeopathic remedy that is very effective in treating infections. In case of bladder inflammation and pain while urinating, this remedy is preferred. For cystitis with an inflamed bladder as the root cause, this remedy is very effective.
Apis Mellifica: In case of chronic bladder infection, Apis Mellifica is administered. It cures the inflammation and also gets rid of the swelling. This also helps in relieving any burning symptom that you may experience while passing urine.
Staphysgaria: Staphysgaria is a homeopathic remedy which is used to treat symptoms of cystitis that include a sharp pain in the urethra accompanied by involuntary discharge of urine. There may also be a constant urge to urinate.

Bladder Inflammation - Effective Homeopathic Treatment for it!

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!

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?

Second hand smoke may cause bladder cancer. True or false? Take this quiz to know more. 

People with the highest bladder cancer risk are those who?
  Smoke heavily
  Started smoking at a young age
  Have smoked for a long time
  All of the above - Right
Smoking cigarettes enhance the chances of an onset of the bladder cancer. As per studies over one-third of all bladder cancer cases have a link with smoking. Smokers are at increasing risk of getting bladder cancer, which may be up to 4 times that of someone who has never smoked. People who smoke may reduce their risk of getting cancer by passing urine more often. However, there is not enough evidence to support that this is true for everyone. The more you stay away from cigarettes, the better it is.

Which type of chemicals present in cigarette smoke may cause of bladder cancer?
  Formaldehyde
  Carcinogenic chemicals - Right
  Hydrogen cyanide
  All of the above
Cigarette smoke contains carcinogenic chemicals which are harmful to our body and known to cause cancer. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, these cancer-causing chemicals are absorbed into the blood stream. When the blood passes through your kidneys, these chemicals may often get deposited in the urine. As the urine waits in the bladder to be expelled, these harmful chemicals damage the cells lining the bladder, increasing your risk of bladder cancer. Experts believe that healthy eating habits may help in preventing bladder cancer.

Second hand smoke may cause bladder cancer.
  True - Right
  False
The health risks brought on by cigarette smoking are not restricted to smokers. Exposure to secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke significantly increases the risk of cancer in nonsmokers, as well as also a few respiratory ailments in kids. Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke that is discharged from the end of a burning cigarette and the smoke emitted from the lungs of smokers. You may use medical masks when going outside, to protect yourself from second-hand smoke.

Aryl-amines present in tobacco decreases the risk of bladder cancer.
  True
  False - Right
As per medical research arylamines such as benzidine, 2-naphthylamine, and 4-aminobiphenyl which are present in tobacco smoke are associated with increasing the chances of getting bladder cancer. Aryl-amines use both an early and a late-stage activity, compatible with a two-mutation theory of bladder carcinogenesis. You may consult your doctor to educate yourself about these harmful effects.

Quitting smoking is a critical step in preventing bladder cancer.
  True - Right
  False
Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. Quitting smoking not only decreases the risk of bladder cancer but also reduce the risk of getting a heart attack or chronic lung disease. As per research people who quit before reaching the age 50 reduce their chance of dying by half for the next fifteen years compared with those who continue to smoke. Smoking low-yield cigarettes, as compared to cigarettes with higher tar and nicotine, provides no clear benefit to health. The earlier a person quits, the greater the health benefit.


Bladder Cancer - How Smoking Can Cause It?

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?

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