Bladder Control: How Your Bladder Works

Bladder Control: How Your Bladder Works

Today we hear quite sad and shocking stories of people with poor bladder control. Sometimes they are so troubled or embarrassed by their condition that they are virtually housebound. Some do try to modify their lives but are still somewhat limited in what they can do. Bladder control is something that we tend to take for granted until of course it is gone. In understanding what makes and how to maintain good bladder control it is essential to understand how the bladder works.

We likely all know that the body stores urine in the bladder. During urination the muscles in the bladder contract and tighten. When the muscles tighten it forces the liquid out of the bladder through the urethra. The urine is then forced out of the body. The muscles surrounding the urethra and the bladder are controlled by spinal nerves. When something happens to disturb the action of the muscles, incontinence can start to occur.

Incontinence can create problems because this can happen without warning.  People can become embarrassed and quite self conscious when bladder control problems start to emerge.

The majority of bladder control problems are treatable. The problem is that many leave the problem too long due to embarrassment. The first thing you should do if you’re experiencing bladder control problems is speak to a doctor. They will take an entire medical history and check it against any other illnesses you may have had. If your problem cannot be diagnosed at this stage then further tests will be performed.

The test will likely include a simple urine and blood test. There are also test that can measure how well you empty your bladder. Your doctor may ask you to keep a journal as well of when and how often you urinate. This may seem like a bit of a pain but it could get to the bottom of the problem. This will help them find patterns and the problem may diagnose the problem.

Bladder control is something that we all take for granted. That is of course until we loose it. Bladder control can present some embarrassing and stressful situations, however one should not panic. The first thing to do is consult a doctor and get some advice. With some testing and checking you may find that your bladder control problems are nothing to get too worried about.