Binge Drinking Associated with Ruptured Bladders in Women
Binge drinking is becoming more and more of a problem in the US. Although originally linked to the excessive amount of drinking that occurs on college campuses, more and more research has revealed that adults also binge drink (over seventy percent of binge drinking episodes occurred in people over the age of 26). Almost three-quarters of all alcohol consumed by US adults is consumed in the “binge” fashion. In fact, binge drinking among adult women is emerging as a major issue in women’s health today.
Binge drinking, which is defined for women as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages in two hours or less, can wreak havoc on the body. Many who binge drink will find themselves in automobile accidents or be injured in a fall. Many shootings (both accidental and intentional), sexual assaults and episodes of domestic violence occur when at least one of the parties is drunk as a result of binging.
Binge drinkers are also more likely to suffer alcohol poisoning, or develop hypertension, liver disease, neurological damage or diabetes. Women are also more likely to suffer reproductive problems and diminished bone health. Now, we can add exploding bladders to the list of binge drinking repercussions.
The British Medical Journal recently released a report that documented 3 separate instances where women who had engaged in binge drinking actually ruptured their bladders and did not realize it. Ruptured bladders were previously only reported in men who engaged in binge drinking. Although all three patients survived the crisis, addiction professionals see this as a sign that binge drinking in women is becoming more and more problematic.
Bladder rupture, in and of itself, is a horrifying prospect. Once ruptured, surgical intervention may be necessary in order to reconstruct the organ. However, leaking urine can also cause life-threatening infection in the abdomen within one to three days after rupture and typically requires a course of antibiotics to prevent death. Symptoms of a ruptured bladder include a cessation of urine output, blood in the urine, vomiting and/or nausea, fever and abdominal pain.
Drinking alcohol increases the amount of urine that is stored in the bladder; the more we drink, the more urine our bladders must hold. However, drinking also reduces a patient’s ability to sense when she needs to eliminate the urine. In addition, prolonged alcohol abuse can cause the bladder walls to become thin and more susceptible to rupturing. Over a period of time, repeated cycles of overfilled bladders without prompt elimination combined with weak bladder walls can cause rupture. This is especially true if the patient experiences physical trauma at a time when the bladder is overloaded, such as falling or being involved in an automobile accident.
