The bladder is the sac-like organ of the body that holds urine. Bladder problems can be embarrassing and inconvenient. Imagine feeling an urgent need to use the restroom in public or getting up several times at night to urinate. You could wind up peeing on yourself which can lead to stress. Bladder problems are a prevalent health concern among Singapore’s male and female populations of different age groups. It can affect everyday living, sexual health, mental stability, and general quality of life. In Singapore, options to treat a bladder problem are a particularly important medical topic.
The following are the bladder problems in Singapore:
1. Urinary incontinence
- Urinary incontinence is also called involuntary urination and affects the way how a person controls the holding and releasing of urine. It is also grouped as bladder control problems.
- The types of urinary incontinence are identified according to symptoms observed. The types are:
- stress incontinence-occurs when physical movements such as sneezing, coughing and laughing puts pressure on the bladder causing urine leakage
- urgency incontinence-also called overactive bladder (OAB); characterized by sudden urge to urinate and urine is released at the wrong time; happens when bladder muscles and some nerves are not properly functioning together to hold urine;
- reflex incontinence-urine is released without any prior notice or urge to urinate and frequently results from bladder nerve damage (from injuries in the spinal cord, etc.) which can make bladder muscles to contract or reflex at the wrong moment overflow incontinence, thus urine leaks
- functional incontinence-caused by physical limitations (or disability), difficulty speaking or thinking that keeps a person from getting to the bathroom on time; common examples are people with Alzheimer’s disease, people in wheelchairs, etc.
- temporary incontinence-lasts a brief period of time as a result of a momentary circumstance, like taking a certain medication or being ill (having urinary tract infection, etc.) and causing leakage
- bedwetting-unintentionally passing urine while in bed.
2. Bladder stones
- Bladder stones are hardened minerals found in the urine and develop when urine becomes concentrated. Bladder stones, like kidney stones, are solid and crystalline.
- Bladder stones are more common in people who have difficulty emptying their bladder fully. Small bladder stones may naturally dissolve but larger ones may block the flow of urine and may need surgically removal.
3. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Any infection within the urinary system is referred to as a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and can be classified as follow:
- Lower Tract Infection-also called bladder infections or cystitis; commonly caused by bacteria found in the intestines which go from the anus and spreads to the urethra and bladder
- Upper Tract Infection-also called kidney infection or pyelonephritis; occurs when bacteria spreads from the bladder or from other body parts through the bloodstream to the kidney
4. Bladder Polyps
- Unusual growths in the bladder lining, known as bladder polyps, can either be malignant or benign.
- Men are more likely to be impacted than women, therefore gender is one risk factor. Other risk factors include smoking cigarettes.
- Bladder polyps typically don’t show any symptoms but when symptoms manifest, they could consist of urinating in pain, urine that contains blood, urinating frequently
5. Bladder Cancer
- Bladder cancer is distinguished by unusual growths on the bladder wall.
- Bladder cancer can remain localized to the bladder, invade surrounding tissues and organs, or spread to other regions of the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system. It is potentially fatal if not discovered early.
- Bladder cancer ranks seventh among the most frequent cancers in Singapore.
- Surgery, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy are among the available treatments for bladder cancer.
Doctors detect bladder problems in Singapore using a variety of tests. In order to detect the presence of any bacterial infection, the doctor will usually request for a urine sample to be sent for analysis. The doctor may also perform a pelvic check. There is another test used by doctors to detect bladder problems in Singapore called cystoscopy, which entails inserting a tube with a camera into the urethra and up into the bladder, depending on the suspected problem. Through cystoscopy, the doctor will be able to see well into the bladder’s interior as a result, enabling the doctor to search for anomalies in the bladder
Treatment is determined by the underlying source of a patient’s bladder problem and can range from medications such as antibiotics to surgery in severe cases. Here the common treatments for bladder problems in Singapore:
- Training the bladder which includes Kegel exercises and scheduled urination
- Prescription of additional drugs to lessen the urge to urinate and relax the muscles and nerves that control the bladder.
- Use of Medical devices which deliver electric currents to target nerves and muscles found in the urinary track. This intervention is occasionally used to treat OAB
- Surgery can also be used if previous treatments are not enough to provide relief. Surgical procedures include bladder suspension and incontinence sling surgery. Surgery is also used when cancer of the bladder is detected and the bladder is completely removed.
To help keep a healthy bladder, here a few tips:
- Use the bathroom frequently and as needed. Prolonged retention of urine in the bladder can weaken the muscles that control it and increase the risk of bladder infection.
- When peeing, allow yourself enough time to completely empty your bladder. Urinating quickly might prevent you from completely emptying your bladder.
- While urinating, adopt a comfortable position. It will be simpler to empty the bladder if the muscles surrounding it are relaxed.
- Urinate after having sex. Bacteria from the colon or vaginal cavity may be transferred to the urethral opening by sexual activity. Urinating soon after intercourse can help reduce the risk of infection in both men and women.
- For women, after using the restroom, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the urethra.
- Make lifestyle adjustments like drinking more water, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight/decreasing weight (especially if you’re overweight), and changing into a healthier diet
- Eat fiber-rich foods like vegetable and fruits to avoid constipation which can put pressure on the bladder
- Quit smoking. Smoking increases risk of developing bladder problems especially bladder cancer.
Dr Ng Kai Lyn
38 Irrawaddy Rd, #05-34/35 Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563
