Can Overactive Bladder Be Controlled
Overactive bladder therapy can be challenging to manage. However, many people are very satisfied with the treatment they receive and they often see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Your doctor will guide you to the best steps to begin with and give you options for any additional treatments you may need over time.
Tips For Easing Stress And Anxiety From Overactive Bladder
Dealing with OAB? You arent alone
According to the National Association for Continence, about 17 percent of women and 16 percent of men over the age of 18 have overactive bladder . It becomes even more common with age, affecting 1 in 5 adults over the age of 40. The Urology Care Foundation emphasizes that not all people experience OAB as they age. For those that do, there is always a treatment that will help.
OAB causes a sudden urge to urinate. The urge is so strong its often difficult to control. Symptoms include:
- frequent urination
- difficulty sleeping through the night
OAB can also contribute to mental health issues, including:
- stress
Altering The Bladder With Bladder Augmentation Surgery
When all other approaches to strengthen and retrain the bladder have failed, you may need to alter the bladder itself. This surgery is typically used as a last resort and in only the most severe cases of an overactive bladder.
Bladder augmentation involves enlarging the bladder with a section of your large intestine, so theres more physical space to store urine in and less pressure to urinate frequently. The surgery is the most invasive and complicated procedure for solving overactive bladder problems, and includes a long recovery time and possible lasting consequences. Once you have bladder augmentation surgery, you will cease to be able to urinate naturally you will have to use a catheter or stoma.
The good news is that many, if not most cases of an overactive bladder can be very well controlled with healthy lifestyle changes, and natural and traditional medical treatments. Its important to remember that not all of the listed treatment options may work for everyone.
Remember to discuss the above overactive bladder treatment options with your doctor before beginning them.
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What Happens With Oab
When you have OAB, however, this sensitive process goes wrong. Your detrusor muscle gets stimulated too soon, so you get the urge to pee when there isnt much pee in your bladder. Scientists are still trying to understand exactly how and why this happens. But thankfully, there are lifestyle steps that can help.
Ask A Doctor About Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy can improve bladder control by providing a person with strategies to help manage their OAB symptoms. These strategies may include doing pelvic floor exercises and using a bladder diary to understand the triggers and patterns of OAB.
In a clinical trial involving more than 200 men with OAB symptoms, adding behavioral therapy to pharmaceutical treatment was associated with significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life compared with either behavioral therapy or medication alone.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses specifically on the psychological aspects of OAB. CBT often involves strategies such as reshaping thinking about OAB and learning to calm the mind and body.
In a involving 10 women with drug-resistant OAB, CBT improved urinary symptoms and led to significant improvements in both anxiety and depression.
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Seek Treatment For Oab Symptoms
Many people believe that bladder leaks are a normal and inevitable part of aging. However, although urinary incontinence and OAB are common, people do not just have to deal with them. Various treatment options are available to help manage or prevent the symptoms of OAB, including:
- lifestyle and dietary changes
- pelvic floor exercises
- medications and surgery
A 2019 study found that women who received medical treatment for OAB symptoms also experienced improvements in their anxiety and depression symptom scores.
What Is Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder is a condition where you feel the need to frequently urinate regardless of if you have a full bladder or not.2 Some people with OAB experience incontinence, making their days more unpredictable. However, OAB is a common urinary condition that affects close to 33 million Americans and its nothing to be ashamed about.1 There are numerous treatments to help you manage your symptoms and reduce the negative impacts that OAB may cause in your life. The first step involves understanding your symptoms.
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Make Regular And Controlled Visits
Double void is another approach to dealing with OAB. This technique involves relieving yourself and then, a few minutes later, going again. This deliberate approach to bathroom visits helps you to make sure that after passing urine a second time, your bladder is mostly or completely empty. The main benefit of this approach is that you can avoid having to return to the bathroom just a few minutes after your initial visit, which is both a nuisance and sometimes embarassing.
What Is Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Overactive bladder syndrome means that the bladder, which is a bag made of muscle, squeezes suddenly without you having control and when the bladder is not full. OAB syndrome is a common condition where no cause can be found for the repeated and uncontrolled bladder contractions.
Overactive bladder syndrome is more common in women than in men, so is included in our women’s health information. However, this problem can affect men as well as women.
OAB syndrome is sometimes called detrusor instability or overactivity or an irritable bladder.
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Specific Antidepressants May Suppress Symptoms
Specific antidepressants such as Tofranil, Tyramine and Norfranil may help to suppress overactive bladder symptoms. Which one your doctor chooses to prescribe will depend on your particular symptoms.
For example, the SSRI class of antidepressants works better for stress incontinence than for urge incontinence, although its not clear how it helps. Alternatively, tricyclic antidepressants are known to have anticholinergic side effects, which relax the bladder muscle and cause the muscles of the bladder neck to contract.
Tips For Oab When You’re Out And About
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Get More Oab Management Tips With A Visit To Norman Urology
There are many things that can affect bladder health. Theres no need to suffer needlessly, either physically or mentally. Whether youre suffering from OAB or just want more advice to keep your bladder healthy, Norman Urology has the answers and the most current treatments. You can count on superior, specialized care from experienced, compassionate professionals.
How Your Doctor Can Help
If lifestyle measures dont work, there are several things your doctor can offer. The first step is usually a course of bladder training, which helps you learn how to increase the amount of time between when you first get the urge to go to the toilet and actually peeing.
Pelvic floor training may also help improve bladder control read about how to do pelvic floor exercises. There are medicines that can help, too.
In some specialist cases, your doctor may suggest injections of Botox into your bladder, to help it relax. Read more about Botox injections and other procedures for urge incontinence.
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How To Deal With Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be painful, embarrassing, and even debilitating. Whether it is you, a member of your family, or even a close friend, this is an issue many will have to deal with.
Often people assume that urinary incontinence will only affect the elderly, but in fact, individuals of any age can suffer. Due to the diversity of people affected, potential causes and their treatments are highly varied.
Care and nursing at home specialists, Helping Hands says, No two people are going to have exactly the same need, which is why its extremely important the care you or your loved one receive is tailored to the individual. If the symptoms listed below seem familiar, it may be time to see your doctor.
What Foods And Drinks To Avoid
While you may want to drink less liquid so you dont have to urinate as often, you should still make sure you stay hydrated. More concentrated urine, usually darker in color, can irritate your bladder and cause more frequent urination.
Other foods and drinks can contribute to OAB symptoms, including:
- alcohol
- tea
- tomato-based foods
You can test which drinks or foods irritate your bladder by eliminating them from your diet. Then reincorporate them one by one every two to three days at a time. Permanently eliminate the particular food or drink that worsens your symptoms.
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Tips For Oab And Diet
When To See A Physician
While it might be tempting to chalk up frequent urination as part of getting older, its time to see the doctor if:
- You need to urinate more than eight times per day.
- You get up two or more times during the night to urinate.
- The need to use the bathroom disrupts your ability to work and to enjoy everyday activities.
Dr. Greenleaf says frequent urination also could be a symptom of other conditions, such as a tumor in the abdomen, cancers of the bladder, or diseases like diabetes.
It is best to see your physician to determine what is causing frequent urination and, if there is an underlying medical reason, partner with your physician to determine the best course of action, Dr. Greenleaf adds.
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Could My Overactive Bladder Be Linked To Stress Or Anxiety
Theres thought to be a connection, but the link isnt well understood. Its hard to know whether OAB symptoms contribute to stress and anxiety, or if theres an underlying biological reason for both bladder and psychological symptoms. But as stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on your life in all sorts of ways, its really worth taking steps to support your mental health. Speak to your doctor for advice, and get information about stress relief.
How Your Bladder Should Work
The walls of your bladder are mainly made up of a group of muscle fibres known as the detrusor muscle. This allows your bladder to stretch to hold pee, and to squeeze to push pee out.
When your bladder becomes full and stretched with pee, nerve signals tell the detrusor muscle to squeeze. They also tell the ring of muscle that keeps your bladder closed to relax, to let pee flow out. After youve finished peeing, nerve signals tell your urethral sphincter to close the opening again, and your detrusor muscle to relax.
Normally, you should first feel the urge to pee when you have about 240ml of pee in your bladder. You should then be able to hold about 480ml of pee before you really need to go. So you have some time to get to the toilet before your bladder is completely full.
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Travel Tips For People With Overactive Bladder
Everyone deserves to take some time off of work and enjoy life. Some people are content with staying home and simply enjoying the time to relax, while others want to pack their bags and explore. If youre one of the latter, but are suffering from overactive bladder , it might seem like traveling is impossible. Were here to tell you that its not.
Traveling with OAB is possible and doesnt have to ruin your trip. While it will be a bit more difficult than managing your regular day-to-day routine, you can do it. With a few preparations and some strategic planning, youll be able to enjoy your vacation time without embarrassing mishaps. In this article, well explore some great travel tips for people with overactive bladder.
Blame A Small Bladder
Just like some people are short and others are tall, some people are born with a smaller bladder. However, when your bladder is full it can stretch to hold more fluid.
You dont have to run to the bathroom every time you feel the urge. Depending on how long you hold it, you can stretch out the bladder and be able to hold more, says Dr. Greenleaf.
If you give in to the urge too often, that can actually exacerbate your problem.
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What To Do About Overactive Bladder In Children
Talk to your doctor if you suspect your child has an overactive bladder. In many cases, the condition goes away on its own. If not, treatments and at-home measures can help your child overcome or manage this condition.
Overactive bladder symptoms do not have to limit your activities or negatively impact your quality of life, says pediatric urologist Lynn Woo, MD, Chief of Pediatric Urology at UH Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital.
It is important to rule out any underlying problems with the bowels or bladder first, but overactive bladder can be a very treatable condition, she says.
Treatment options for overactive bladder include behavioral strategies as well as medications that regulate bladder function.
Often, children with overactive bladder have underlying or unrecognized constipation and may need further evaluation by a gastroenterologist, who specializes in digestive health issues.
Pediatric psychological support also can help children and adolescents cope with challenges of overactive bladder.
How To Cope With An Overactive Bladder
1. Do Kegel Exercises Every Day
These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which help control the release of urine. Kegels can often be more effective than medication at improving some types of incontinence particularly effective in men who have undergone surgery for prostate issues.
These exercises can be done anytime and anywhere as no-one knows youre doing them. First, figure out which muscles to target by stopping in midstream when youre urinating. The muscles you use to do this are your pelvic floor muscles. To perform Kegels, squeeze those muscles and hold for a count of ten. Relax, then repeat. Perform at least three sets of ten contractions a day.
2. Eat Small Portions
Studies find that losing weight is one of the most effective ways, next to pelvic floor exercises, to prevent incontinence.
3. Train Your Bladder
Doctors think one cause of incontinence is that some people tend to urinate too often. This can reduce the amount your bladder is able to hold and teaches your bladder muscles to send must go signals even when the bladder isnt full. Bladder training, a programme of gradually increasing the time between each visit to the toilet, helps you strengthen bladder muscles and increase the amount of urine you can comfortably hold.
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Incontinence And Alzheimers Disease
People in the later stages of Alzheimers disease often have problems with urinary incontinence. This can be a result of not realizing they need to urinate, forgetting to go to the bathroom, or not being able to find the toilet. To minimize the chance of accidents, the caregiver can:
- Avoid giving drinks like caffeinated coffee, tea, and sodas, which may increase urination. But dont limit water.
- Keep pathways clear and the bathroom clutter-free, with a light on at all times.
- Make sure you provide regular bathroom breaks.
- Supply underwear that is easy to get on and off.
- Use absorbent underclothes for trips away from home.
For more ways to deal with incontinence and other common medical problems in someone with Alzheimers, visit Alzheimers Disease: Common Medical Problems.