A leaky bladder is not what you think it is.
While incontinence can mean you leak urine, in this blog post we are talking about the leakiness of the bladder lining, not urine leakage.
Have you heard of leaky gut? Just like the gut can be leaky, other barrier tissue in the body can be leaky too.
We have already discussed permeability (leakiness) in relation to asthma and eczema, so it might not come as a surprise that this phenomenon can happen in the bladder too.
In previous posts, we've talked about interstitial cystitis (IC) and how histamine and mast cells can be involved in this condition. Increased permeability in the bladder is also found in IC. (1)
One recent study looking at the relationship between bladder permeability and IC, found that bladder permeability can lead to hyper-sensitization of bladder nerves (2).
What do hypersensitive nerves in your bladder mean?
It means that you will feel the need to pee more urgently, more frequently and that you will have more pain.
Sensitization of a nerves is a topic we discussed in May, when we focused in on the role histamine and mast cell involvement can play in the nervous system. Mast cells and neurons cross talk and make one another more sensitive. Once they are sensitized, they keep “talking” to one another, creating a cycle of sensitization. Mast cells tell neurons to be sensitive, and then sensitized neurons tell mast cells to be sensitive. It becomes a vicious cycle.
It doesn’t matter where it started. Once it has begun, now the cycle keeps perpetuating itself.
How do you break the cycle?
The best way to is to break it in as many places as you can. Did you know that quercetin helps repair barrier tissue (3) and stabilize mast cells (4)?
Are you struggling with bladder pain? Add quercetin rich (+ low histamine!) foods such as apples, onions and cabbage to your diet to help break the cycle of bladder pain.
Want to learn more about what you can do to help alleviate this chronic bladder pain? Join us for a talk coming up this Friday March 18th. Everyone can join in!
Got Pain? is happening tomorrow, March 18th, 7pm Alberta time. Join us live in person in Calgary, or from the comfort of your home.
Tickets are set on a sliding scale so everyone can join in on the conversation. Link to the replay will be available for one week after the fact.
We give a bit more info on what to expect at this upcoming talk. Join us!
Want to learn more about histamine issues, and how it can play in to your symptoms you experience on a daily basis? Join our online community by clicking here. Loads of printable resources, a Master Class on the Histamine Connection. It's free to join!