You wake up constantly in the middle of the night to pee. You can’t sit through a movie without a few bathroom runs. You let out a cough and… well, that’s not the only thing you let out. Bladder problems can be embarrassing, but are just as important to investigate; by ignoring what your bladder is telling you, you might be missing the indicators of an underlying medical issue. Here are some signs that your bladder problems could mean something more, and when is the right time to get checked.
You feel the urge
Do you think you might be taking too many bathroom breaks? Even if you’re not producing much urine, do you still feel an overwhelming urge? If so, you might be suffering from an overactive bladder. If you have an overactive bladder, your sudden urge to urinate might even lead to an urge incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine. You might also urinate frequently, eight or more times a day, and wake up two or more times in the night to pee.
While you might feel hesitant discussing these symptoms with your doctor, medications are available. It’s worth having that conversation: Don’t let an overactive bladder disturb your quality of life!
You feel the burn
That burn you feel when you pee might not just be annoying; it might be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). While UTIs can happen to anyone, women are at a greater risk of developing the infection than men. Plus, if left untreated, they can cause serious damage to your urinary tract.
Luckily, your UTI can be treated with antibiotics. However, it’s vital that you recognize and report your symptoms before the infection spreads to your kidneys and causes any major damage. Along with a burning sensation while urinating, you might also experience pelvic pain and a persistent urge to urinate. Also, check and see if your urine appears cloudy, or red, indicating blood in the urine.
You see red
The color of your urine can tell you a lot about your health. Red, orange or pink pee might indicate blood in your urine, or hematuria. Bloody urine can point to a number of different conditions, none of which should be ignored. These medical predicaments can range from very severe to more benign. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, hematuria is usually the first indicator of bladder cancer. Bloody urine might also point to a UTI, bladder stones, or even an overactive bladder, in severe cases.
Regardless of the severity, heed any warning signs of red in your urine and find out the underlying cause from your health professional.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20352808
https://www.caring.com/articles/8-signs-of-bladder-problems
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355715
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
