November is Bladder Health Awareness Month, and Midland Memorial Hospital wants you to stay healthy by helping you recognize common bladder health issues.  It may be uncomfortable to talk about, but if you have symptoms of a bladder problem, the sooner you speak up the sooner your condition can be diagnosed and treated.

Common Issues

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Women are more commonly affected with UTIs, which can cause painful or burning urination, the sensation of needing to urinate more frequently, and urine that appears cloudy or has a strong smell. 

• Urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine.  Symptoms can range from small amounts of leakage to an inability to control the urge to urinate. This is most commonly seen in older women who have had one or more children, due in part to the pelvic muscles becoming more relaxed over time.

• Bladder cancer. Each year, there are 50 to 75 thousand new cases of bladder cancer, but the good news is that it can be treated effectively if caught early.  Risk factors for bladder cancer include working with certain chemicals and industrial dyes, and can also be associated with certain chemotherapy agents.  However, the number one risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking.  Quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do in order to help prevent bladder cancer.  Bladder cancer is difficult to detect, but it is important to notify your physician if you should ever see blood in your urine, which could be sign of a problem.

If you are having bladder issues, don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about it or call 68 NURSE and speak to a registered nurse. Treatments are available, and Midland Memorial Hospital is here to help you.

Midland Memorial now offers the da Vinci robot for surgical procedures.  da Vinci robotics can be beneficial for many urological procedures, including the treatment of bladder cancer. The benefits of using the robot include shorter recovery times, smaller incisions, and decreased blood loss.  Talk to your doctor about the benefits of da Vinci robotics for your bladder health needs.