Bladder Health Month takes place every November. Bladder Health is a very important issue in the public health sector. Diseases such as Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Cancer, Urinary Tract Infections and Urinary Tract Infections need to be addressed because they lead to the reduction of the quality of life for most people. This month is dedicated to informing, empowering and educating people about these diseases and infections that affect the bladder.

Understanding the Bladder
The bladder is a hollow, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine temporarily before releasing for urination.

Urine is formed in the kidneys and it’s then deposited into the bladder through the ureters.Upon the urge to urinate, urine flows from the bladder through a passage known as the urethra. A normal human bladder can store between 300 to 500 milliliters of urine. Women are more susceptible to develop bladder infections as compared to their male counterparts. This is because microbes can penetrate into the female urinary system easily as compared to that of males.

Bladder-related Diseases
Various infections and diseases are known to affect the bladder. A Bladder Infection popularly known as the Urinary Tract Infection is an infection found anywhere in the urinary canal due to bacterial infestation. Most of these infections are acute and early intervention prevents any long-term complications. These infections commonly affect women but men can also contract them. Treatment for Bladder Infections is usually antibiotics that are taken orally.

Bladder Cancer
Bladder Cancer is of key interest as far as Bladder Health is concerned. Cigarette smoking is the most common predisposing risk factor to the development of Bladder Cancer. This disease commonly presents with blood in urine which is also known as Haematuria. Treatment options include resection of the cancerous cells and chemotherapy.

Bladder Tamponade is another condition that affects the bladder. When blood clots form at the urethra, it leads to blockage of these exits and urine cannot flow out. Surgery is required to remove that obstruction.

Bladder Rupture is a condition in which the bladder becomes ‘torn’ due to overfilling beyond capacity. This commonly occurs in binge drinkers who take large quantities of liquor and don’t urine immediately.

Urinary Incontinence is a condition that occurs due to the loss of bladder control. It is characterized by uncontrolled urination due to lack of this control. This condition increases as people age and women experience it more than men. Common causes of Urinary Incontinence are damage to the prostate gland and the nerves that innervate the bladder.

During the Bladder Health Month, people are educated on ways to keep their bladder healthy. People are advised to drink a lot of water. People should take their time while urinating to ensure emptying of all urine and this will prevent the occurrence of bladder infections. Women should maintain high hygienic levels in order to prevent bacterial infestations of their urinary tracts. People should watch the type of foods they take as some of them may cause these bladder problems.