Bladder problems affect both men and women. They tend to become more common as patients age but can occur at any time. These problems range significantly in severity from mild urinary tract infections (UTIs) to fatal cancers. Read on to learn about several of the most common bladder problems in adults and how they can be treated.
Symptoms of Bladder Problems
The bladder is a hollow organ found in the lower abdomen. It acts as a storage space for urine and works in conjunction with other parts of the urinary system to eliminate waste and expel it from the body. Symptoms of bladder problems tend to be more common in older adults since the bladder tissue tends to toughen and become less elastic and the muscles of the pelvic floor often become weak with age, but some problems can come up at any point in a patient’s life. Every bladder problem exhibits slightly different symptoms, but there are a few clear signs that patients should seek medical help. They include:- urinary incontinence
- frequent need to urinate (more than eight times per day)
- waking up at night to urinate
- increased urgency of urination
- pain that occurs before, during, or after urination
- bloody or cloudy urine
- having a weak stream while urinating
- trouble emptying the bladder fully