1. Bladder Health Matters
A presentation by the National Association For Continence in
honor of the Bladder Health Awareness Campaign
Led by Nancy Muller, PhD, executive director of the National Association For Continence

2. What Is The Bladder?
 The bladder is a hollow, balloon-
shaped organ made of a thin layer
of muscle behind the pubic bone.
 The function of the bladder is to
store urine.
 The bladder stretches as it fills. It
can normally hold between seven
to 20 ounces of urine (200-600 ml)
before the urge to urinate
becomes uncomfortable.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

3. Why Is Bladder Health Important?
 Loss of bladder control is a common
condition that affects many Americans.
 An estimated 25 million adult Americans
and 200 million people worldwide suffer
from bladder control loss
 The effect of urinary incontinence on a
person’s quality of life can vary
considerably.
 In the U.S., the total direct and indirect
costs of urinary incontinence including
overactive bladder range up to $32
billion.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

4. Where Do Urinary Problems Begin?
 In the bladder:
 failure to store or failure to
empty the urine
 In the sphincter:
 failure to open, to close, or
stay closed
 In the spinal cord:
 absent or incorrect signals
 In the brain:
 no message or the wrong
message
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

5. Risk Factors Associated With Bladder
Control Issues
• Limited mobility • Diabetes
• Multiple pregnancies • Cigarette
and vaginal deliveries smoking/chronic
coughing
• Neurological disease or
injury • Diet
• Menopause • Surgical treatment for
prostate cancer
• Constipation
• BPH
• Obesity
• Advanced dementia and
cognitive impairment
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

6. Types of Bladder Health Issues
 Stress Incontinence
 Occurs during increased physical effort
or activity.
 This condition allows urine to leak when
you do anything that strains or stresses
the abdomen.
 Example) coughing, sneezing, lifting,
laughing, exercise
 Urgency or Overactive Bladder (OAB)
 Sudden urgency occurs when the bladder
contracts without you wanting it,
without warning.
 You may feel as if you can’t wait to
reach a toilet and you may leak urine on
the way (urgency incontinence).
 Frequency (> 8 times in 24 hour period)
is also a symptom of OAB.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

7. Types of Bladder Health Issues Continued…
 Mixed Incontinence
 Combination of urgency and stress incontinence
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

8. Techniques That Promote Bladder Control
 Pelvic Muscle Exercises (Kegels)
 Through regular exercise you can
build strength and endurance to
help improve, regain, or maintain
bladder control.
 Dietary Changes
 Eliminating or moderating caffeine,
alcohol, & artificial sweeteners can
reduce known bladder irritants.
 Weight Loss
 Loss of 10% of body weight can
decrease incontinence episodes as
much as 50%.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

9. When Should I Seek Treatment For My
Bladder Health?
 Routine leakage of urine
 Frequent, urgent need to rush to the toilet
 Frequent bladder infections
 Pain related to filling the bladder
 Inability to urinate/urinary retention
 Weakness of the urinary stream with or without a feeling of
complete bladder emptying
 Changes in urination related to a neurological condition
 When your quality of life is impacted in meaningful ways
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

10. Who Should I Talk To About My
Bladder Health?
 Urologists - surgeon who specializes in
the lower urinary tract of men and
women. Many urologists have advanced
training in the surgical correction and
medical treatments for incontinence.
Some specialize in female urology.
 Urogynecologists- OBGYNs who
become surgical specialists with
additional training and experience in
the evaluation and treatment of
urinary incontinence, pelvic floor
disorders, pelvic organ support, and
other female bladder health issues.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

11. Who Should I Talk To About My
Bladder Health? Continued…
 Gynecologists - a doctor specializing in the
reproductive health of women and general pelvic health
over a woman’s lifetime.
 Geriatricians - an internist who specializes in medically
treating older people and who may have advanced
training in the diagnosis, treatment intervention, and
management of incontinence.
 Nurse specialists, psychologists, physical and
occupational therapists, and behavioral scientists –
may have training that qualifies them to offer
nonsurgical treatments for incontinence.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

12. What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms of
Incontinence?
 Get educated! Become your own health advocate by
arming yourself with information relevant to your
symptoms and concerns
 Get organized and prepared for your appointment with
a health provider.
 Write down your symptoms as they occur.
 Keep a bladder diary for 2 days, recording consumption of
beverages, activities, and accidents as they occur.
 Find an expert. Get NAFC’s help in looking.
www.bladderhealthawareness.org | www.nafc.org

13. Want Additional Information?
For free additional information contact NAFC
memberservices@nafc.org
www.nafc.org
www.bladderhealthawareness.org