Bladder Awareness Q and A

This month, we celebrate Bladder Awareness. We hope to highlight commonly asked questions about the bladder and explain why better bladder awareness can help improve overall health.

A snippet on bladder function

The bladder is essentially an organ that stores urine. Blood filters through the kidneys where impurities are removed. These are transported to the bladder via the ureters. When the volume of urine increases to about half the bladders capacity, a signal is sent to the brain letting you know it’s time to urinate. These signals can be ignored but will intensify with time. In women the bladder can hold 500 ml of urine. In men the bladders capacity is 750 ml.

Why is water intake so important for the bladder?

Water intake is important for many body functions. Excess water is filtered through the kidneys and dilutes urine. When urine is highly concentrated it can irritate the inner lining of the bladder causing interstitial cystitis.

Water also reduces the risk of :

• Urinary tract infections (UTI’s)
• Kidney stone formation
• Bladder cancer

How much water should I drink a day?

You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, if you weight 150 lbs, you should drink 75 ounces of water a day. People who exercise will generally drink more water to replace what is lost during a workout. See our blog for the importance of water for pelvic health.

Why is smoking bad for the bladder?

Smoking can lead to chronic coughing which strains the pelvic floor and bladder.

How do pelvic floor exercises help the bladder?

One function of the pelvic floor is to maintain bladder continence. The pelvic floor muscles tighten around the urethra preventing leakage. When the bladder signals to the brain that you need to urinate and you are seated on the toilet, the brain will send a signal to the pelvic floor muscles to relax and allow the urine to flow from the bladder to the urethra and out of the body.

What causes urine leakage?

There are several reasons for leakage. The most common reason is weakness and imbalance of the pelvic floor muscles. The muscles can not maintain efficient tightness keeping the urethra closed. Other reasons include:

• Compromised nerve function
• Medications
• Blockage
  • an enlarged prostate can obstruct the urethra preventing the bladder from emptying fully
• Infections

Is urine leakage with age normal?

Muscles can weaken with age but leakage at any age beyond potty training is not normal. It can be treated effectively. Bladder leakage can impact daily life. See our previous blog for more information on menopause and the pelvic floor.

What are some lifestyle changes I can make to help improve bladder function?

• Hydrate appropriately
• Stop smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Stress management
• Incorporate pelvic floor exercises into your regular exercise routine
• Avoid bladder irritants

We’re Here to Help!

Pelvic health physical therapy can help improve bladder and pelvic floor function. It is a non-invasive therapy that requires additional training. Our therapists have more than 20 years of experience and are passionate about pelvic health awareness. Reach out to us for more information. We offer private treatment sessions for up to one hour and have specialized equipment like a Real-time ultrasound that provides feedback in real time.