Bladder control problems effect many people, especially as they begin to get older.  Though incontinence is common, it is not something that “just happens”.  Incontinence is a symptom, not an independent condition.  Bladder control problems can indicate problems that vary from mild to severe and life-threatening.  Therefore, if you are experiencing difficulty with bladder control problems you should consult with your physician to determine the cause.
Most often the cause for incontinence is not life-threatening.  The loss of bladder control can be troublesome though.  There are things that you can do, on your own and at home to improve you bladder health.  Making some changes to your lifestyle can help reduce the effects of bladder control issues or even reduce your chance of developing those issues in the first place.

Fluids:  Friend or Foe?

You may think that reducing your intake of fluids will help you reduce your urine production and thus alleviate your bladder control issues.  Limiting some fluids certainly does help, but there can be some unpleasant consequences.  Reducing your fluid intake too much can lead to the growth of kidney stones.
Drinking 6 – 8 cups of fluids each day is about the optimal level for reducing bladder problems while avoiding creating other problems.  Not just any fluid will do either.   There are a number of liquids that should be greatly limited, if not cut from your daily routine altogether.
Diuretics are substances that increase the production of urine.  Examples of diuretics include caffeine and alcohol.  Limiting your caffeine intake can greatly reduce bladder problems.  If possible, avoid alcohol altogether.  Much more than being just a diuretic, it also relaxes the muscles of the bladder which could lead to a very awkward situation for you, depending on where you are doing your drinking.
Very acidic juices, such as orange juice or grapefruit juice can irritate your bladder as well.  Of course, their fruits from which they are derived can cause just the same problems for your bladder.  If you experience trouble with bladder irritation, systematically cut out juices and fruits so that you can isolate which ones give you bladder problems.

Lifestyle

There are other habits you can adopt that will help you reduce bladder control problems.  Try to get into the habit of urinating regularly.  Don’t try to hold it.  Train yourself to go often and especially to urinate if you know you will not have access to a facility for any period of time.
Getting plenty of exercise can help with bladder issues and contribute to a healthier bladder.  Excessive weight can make bladder issues worse.  Exercise can help shed that weight, plus there is cause to think that aerobic exercise, itself, helps promote bladder health.
Also, don’t be embarrassed to purchase absorbent pads or undergarments.  Purchasing such items is much less embarrassing than the situation caused by needing them and not having them.  Also make sure that you keep up with your personal hygiene to eliminate embarrassing and unpleasant urine smells.

Prostate cancer is the number two cancer risk for men.  Because prostate cancer is such a prominent risk for men, many doctors urge getting regular prostate exams and testing after the age of 40.  There are a number of methods used to identify prostate cancer in its earliest stages when it is more easily treatable.

DRE

A digital rectal exam should be a part of any man’s yearly physical.  This exam allows the doctor to judge the health of the prostate, evaluate any enlargement that may be happening and to check for nodes that could be cancerous growths on your prostate.

Screening

If you doctor feels that you have a higher than average risk for developing prostate cancer then he or she may recommend cancer screening.  There are a number of factors that increase the chances of developing prostate cancer.  African-American men are the most susceptible.  Chances of prostate cancer also increase as you get older or if you have had prostate cancer in the past.
A screening test can help to catch cancer before it produces any symptoms and before it spreads.  Often by the time a patient experiences symptoms the cancer has already grown and spread to other organs.  However, just because your doctor recommends screening doesn’t mean that he or she necessarily thinks that you have cancer, only that you may be at higher risk for it.

What is PSA?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is the type of screening most often used to help catch early-stage prostate cancer.  The prostate-specific antigen is a protein that is made by the prostate.  Most men have a fairly low PSA level.  When PSA levels rise it can be a red flag that there is a tumor affecting the prostate.  However a high PSA level does not necessarily mean cancer, it can also indicated a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.  PSA screening does not indicate cancer but can let your doctor know if further testing is needed.

Further Testing

If PSA screening shows elevated levels of prostate-specific antigens but there are no other signs of cancer then the doctor may simply recommend regular DREs and PSA screenings to monitor the prostate for changes.  However, if PSA levels continue to rise or if the doctor detects a growth during a digital rectal exam then there is cause for further testing.  These test can help discover if there is indeed a cancerous growth or if it is a non-cancerous issue with the prostate.
Testing to determine and diagnose cancer can vary.  The doctor may want to test to rule out non-cancerous causes first, such as doing a urine test to eliminate the possibility of a urinary tract infection.  Transrectal ultrasound, x-rays or cytoscopy can be used to get an image of the prostate to eliminate the possibility of non-cancerous enlargement.
If cancer is suspected the doctor will want to do a biopsy.  A tissue sample will be taken from the prostate using a needle.  It can then be examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cell growth (cancer).