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How To Know If You Have An Overactive Bladder

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Can you have a SMALL bladder? (or an Overactive Bladder)?

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How Common Is The Problem

Approximately 600,000 New Zealanders have bladder control problems and experience leakage of urine. Overactive bladder is one of the causes of these symptoms and it can affect both men and women. In two large studies it was found that about 1 in 6 adults reported some symptoms of an overactive bladder. Symptoms vary in their severity. About 1 in 3 people with an overactive bladder have episodes of urge incontinence.

Incontinence in particular can be embarrassing for the person and many people do not seek the help that is available, thinking that nothing can be done for them. However, most men and women with overactive bladder can be helped, so it is important to talk about any bladder problems with your doctor.

It Doesnt Necessarily Happen When You Cough Sneeze Or Jump

You may think you dont have OAB because you dont leak when you sneeze or cough but that isnt a symptom of OAB. Instead, stress incontinence is actually a different type of bladder issue caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, according to the Australian Government Department of Health. Leaking a few drops at a time can be a sign of stress urinary incontinence, when moving, coughing, sneezing, standing up, jumping and jogging put stress on the bladder to cause the leakage, Dr Gregory says. But its possible to have both urgency incontinence, a symptom of OAB, and stress incontinence together. Some women have a disorder called mixed incontinence when leakage occurs with both urge and coughing/straining activity, Dr Taylor says. It is important to discuss these concerns with a physician to tease out what is going on.

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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.

Keeping A Bladder Diary

Pin on Bladder Tips

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms as part of the diagnostic process. A bladder diary can provide useful information. This is something you can bring to your appointment. It will give your doctor details on your condition. To create a bladder diary, record the following information over the course of several days:

  • Record everything you drink, how much, and when.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam after discussing your symptoms. The exam might include one or more of the following tests:

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How Is It Diagnosed

Your doctor will do a physical examination. He or she will ask what kinds of fluids you drink and how much. Your doctor will also want to know how often you urinate, how much, and if you leak. It may help to write down these things in a bladder diary for 3 or 4 days before you see your doctor.

Your doctor probably will also do a few tests, such as:

You may have more tests if your doctor thinks your symptoms could be caused by other problems, such as diabetes or prostate disease.

What Is The Best Treatment For An Overactive Bladder

Contrary to popular belief, an overactive bladder is not a part of the aging process. In fact, it can happen in younger adults, and it is both pernicious and persistent when left untreated. Having an overactive bladder is more than just annoying it is downright embarrassing.

While you might feel tempted to stay home more often than you used to, you should rest assured that there is hope for regaining some normalcy.

An overactive bladder can be treated at home with various remedies as well as under your doctors clinical guidance.

Treatment, of course, can depend on the severity of your symptoms and how well your body responds to various types of interventions.

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Medical Treatments For An Overactive Bladder

Depending on how successful they were and the strength of your condition, your doctor may recommend that you continue with the above treatments and return for another check-up after a specific period of time.

However, if they decide, usually in consultation with the patient, that medical treatment may be beneficial or necessary, they may choose to prescribe one or multiple medical treatments, some of which are detailed below.

What Is Overactive Bladder

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According to the Urology Care Foundation, around 33 million Americans have OAB. They say estimate that 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the United States experience symptoms.

OAB is believed to occur due to malfunctioning nerves that trigger uncontrolled bladder muscle contractions that happen while the bladder is filling. The main symptom of OAB is a sudden urge to urinate thats hard to control. It can be stressful, and it can get in the way of your day-to-day life. It normally responds well to medical therapy.

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Effects Of Caffeine And Alcohol

Tea, coffee, cola, and some painkiller tablets contain caffeine. Caffeine has a diuretic effect and will make urine form more often. Caffeine may also directly stimulate the bladder to make urgency symptoms worse. It may be worth trying without caffeine for a week or so to see if symptoms improve. If symptoms do improve, you may not want to give up caffeine completely. However, you may wish to limit the times that you have a caffeine-containing drink. Also, you will know to be near to a toilet whenever you have caffeine.

In some people, alcohol may make symptoms worse. The same advice applies as with caffeine drinks.

Early Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder Miu

Have you ever been invited on a road trip or large event and second guessed going because you were nervous about finding a bathroom in time? If this sounds familiar you are not alone! In fact, overactive bladder affects an estimated 10 million people in the USA alone. So how do you know if you are experiencing early symptoms? Here are some things to pay attention to according to the National Institute of Continence.

WHAT IS OVERACTIVE BLADDER ?

Overactive Bladder, or OAB, is the frequent and urgent need to empty your bladder. Also sometimes called spastic bladder or irritable bladder, Overactive bladder can be a nuisance at best, and debilitating at worst. Its frustrating to constantly be running to the bathroom, and can cause anxiety, shame and even depression when it is also accompanied by urinary incontinence. Contrary to what many people think, overactive bladder is NOT a normal part of getting older, and isnt something you should think you have to live with. Its a real medical condition that deserves treatment.

OVERACTIVE BLADDER SYMPTOMS

There are many hallmark symptoms of overactive bladder. Someone with overactive bladder typically has

  • Urinary urgency: feeling a sudden urge to urinate
  • Experiencing urge incontinence, or the unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate
  • Frequent urination, usually more than eight times in 24 hours
  • Waking up more than once in the night to urinate

CAUSES OF OVERACTIVE BLADDER

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Diagnosis Of Overactive Bladder

To thoroughly diagnose overactive bladders, tests should be conducted by highly expert urologists. Diagnostic tests include medical history, physical exam, which may include a rectal exam and a pelvic exam in women, urine sample to test for infection or other abnormalities and focused neurological exam that may identify sensory problems or abnormal reflexes. Overactive bladder assessments include:

  • Frequency and quantity of urination in each day starting from morning time after waking up and before going to sleep at night
  • Frequency and quantity of urination during nighttime starting from sleep at time to morning time.
  • Number of urination with inability to hold the urine
  • Number of urination with a sudden urge to urinate and that is difficult to control

In addition, tests might also involve measuring urine left in the bladder, measuring urine flow rate and testing bladder pressure. Individual patients might need different tests and procedures depending on their medical conditions and personal factors.

What Behavioral Changes Can I Make To Help With Overactive Bladder

Overactive Bladder? Here

There are many techniques and changes to your typical behavior that you can try to help with an overactive bladder. These can include:

Keeping a log: During a typical day, write down your fluid intake, the number of times you urinate, the number of accidents and when they occur. Make a note about what happened when the accident happened, like when you:

  • Were unable to reach the bathroom in time.

Monitoring your diet: Eliminate or decrease foods or beverages that may worsen your bladder symptoms. These could include:

  • Spicy and acidic foods and drinks.
  • Foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners.

Maintaining bowel regularity: Constipation can place added pressure on the bladder and have a negative effect on your bladder function. By keeping healthy bowel habits, you may be able to avoid constipation and help to lessen bladder symptoms. The following are some suggestions for maintaining bowel regularity:

  • Increase your fiber intake by eating foods like beans, pasta, oatmeal, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Every morning, take 2 tablespoons of this mixture: 1 cup apple sauce, 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran, and ¾ cup prune juice.
  • Exercise regularly to maintain regular bowel movements.

Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight can add pressure on your bladder, which may contribute to bladder control problems. If you are overweight, weight loss can reduce the pressure on your bladder.

  • Drinks that contain artificial sweeteners.

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Overactive Bladder At Night

If you find that you wake up to urinate more than one time per night, you may have a condition called nocturia, or overactive bladder at night. Nocturia isnt the same as overactive bladder. In fact, some people who experience no OAB symptoms during the day can still have nocturia.

Nocturia is more common in people over age 60, but one in three adults over 30 need two or more trips to the bathroom each night. Most adults can sleep six to eight hours without waking up. Others may only need to wake up once.

If you require more bathrooms breaks during your slumber, you may be experiencing overactive bladder at night.

How Do You Sleep With Oab

Getting a Good Nights Sleep with OAB

  • Double-void before bed. Denson advises that you double-void, or urinate twice, right before bed. Go to the bathroom, then brush your teeth and go through the rest of your bedtime routine, she says.
  • Do Kegel exercises. Done regularly, they help control an overactive bladder.
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    What Are The Causes Of Overactive Bladder

    In many cases, the cause of OAB is not easily identifiable. OAB symptoms are more common as one gets older, but should not be considered an untreatable consequence of aging. Also, OAB can occur in young women as well. Some women will experience OAB after childbirth or pelvic surgery. Certain neurological conditions can cause OAB symptoms including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury.

    How Do I Know If I Have Overactive Bladder

    Overactive Bladder

    May 27, 2020

    Do I Have Overactive Bladder?

    A constant urge to urinate isnt something to ignore or attribute to being hydrated. Overactive bladder is a common condition in both men and women. So, what exactly is overactive bladder? Dr. Staskin, Director of Urology at Boston Clinical Trials, shared an insightful article from MayoClinic with us:

    Overactive bladder, also called OAB, causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control. You may feel like you need to urinate many times during the day and night and may also experience unintentional loss of urine, called urgency incontinence.

    If you have an overactive bladder, you may feel embarrassed, isolate yourself, or limit your work and social life. The good news is that a brief evaluation can determine whether theres a specific cause for your overactive bladder symptoms.

    You may be able to manage symptoms of an overactive bladder with simple behavioral strategies, such as dietary changes, timed voiding and bladder-holding techniques using your pelvic floor muscles. If these initial efforts dont help enough with your overactive bladder symptoms, additional treatments are available.

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    Changes In Bladder Habits Or Symptoms Of Irritation

    Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:

    • Having to urinate more often than usual
    • Pain or burning during urination
    • Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full
    • Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
    • Having to get up to urinate many times during the night

    These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection , bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate . Still, its important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

    Pathophysiology Of The Oab Syndrome

    Various factors may be involved in OAB and the major cause may vary from individual to individual. The etiology of OAB is still under investigation and is not well understood. However, 4 theories have been proposed to explain the pathophysiology of OAB:

  • The neurogenic theory: reduction in the inhibitory neural impulses and increase in the afferent impulses from the bladder trigger the voiding reflex .
  • The myogenic theory: the detrusor muscle becomes more sensitive to cholinergic stimulation leading to increased spontaneous activity .
  • The autonomous bladder theory: alteration or exacerbation of phasic activity is generated by muscarinic stimulation .
  • The afferent signaling theory: spontaneous bladder contractions during filling result in increased afferent output and hence the awareness of bladder filling .
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    What Can You Do For An Overactive Bladder

    Overactive bladder, or OAB, is a condition that causes a sudden urge to urinate, and affects both men and women. The urge may be difficult to stop, and overactive bladder may lead to the involuntary loss of urine, known as urge incontinence.

    If you have overactive bladder, you may feel embarrassed, isolate yourself or limit your work and social life. The good news is that a brief evaluation can determine whether theres a specific cause for your overactive bladder symptoms.

    Is an overactive bladder common?

    Overactive bladder affects over 33 million Americans. Urge incontinence is the most prominent form of incontinence among women in the U.S., where 1 in 4 women over 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntary.

    What causes an overactive bladder?

    Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause all are major reasons of the increased prevalence of incontinence in women as compared to men. Normally, when your bladder is full of urine, the brain signals the bladder to empty. Your bladder muscles contract and force urine out of the bladder. When the bladder is not full, your bladder is relaxed.

    With a healthy bladder, the brain signals that the bladder is getting full, but there is time to wait to go to the bathroom. With overactive bladder, there is no waiting. People often feel a sudden urge to urinate. This also can happen if the bladder is not full.

    When is it important to talk to a health care provider?

    What can you do to reduce your risk of overactive bladder?

    Foods To Eat And Drink For Optimal Health

    Physiotherapy for Overactive Bladder

    Dr. Fourcroy recommended tackling incontinence by making your diet as simple as possible.

    Very often, I have my patients start off with Cream of Wheat and baby food and then add back little by little to see what causes problems, she said.

    Since constipation can cause or exacerbate urinary incontinence, you should make sure youre getting enough fiber by filling your daily diet with the following foods:

    • Noncitrus fruits

    For most of these things you can do a little trial and error try certain elimination diets or eliminate certain fluids to see if theres a positive impact, says Benjamin M. Brucker, MD, a urologist at NYU Langone adding that its best to start with bland foods and slowly add things back.

    There are a number of juices that are less irritating to your bladder than others, including apple, grape, cherry, and cranberry. These juices also help by making urine more acidic, preventing the spread of bacteria and controlling urine odor. But beware of additives in these drinks. A study published in March 2016 in the journal Research and Reports in Urology noted that artificial sweeteners can increase the likelihood of OAB. And remember to drink plenty of water, which is the best way to hydrate your body.

    Overall, you should drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid every day. If you drink less, your urine might become concentrated and irritate your bladder. If you drink more, you might overtax your bladder and make matters worse.

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    Treatment Options When Behavioral Changes Arent Enough

    Behavioral changes are the first step, but they may not be enough for some women. In these cases, we have a number of possible treatments for overactive bladder. I often recommend pelvic floor physical therapy for patients who dont find success with behavioral changes alone. We have a network of physical therapists throughout the greater Washington region who help patients train the muscles of the pelvic floor, so they have more time to get to the bathroom when the urge strikes.

    If physical therapy isnt enough on its own, medications are the next step in the treatment process. We use a class of medications called anticholinergics to treat the symptoms of overactive bladder. These medications block involuntary nerve signals, like the ones that control the processes of the urinary tract. Some anticholinergics can cause unpleasant side effects, such as constipation, dry eyes and dry mouth. However, newer medications may make it possible for women to avoid these effects.

    Anticholinergics used to be the last tier of treatments available for overactive bladder, but we now have access to a range of newer treatments that can relieve these symptoms. Acupuncture with electrical stimulation near the ankle is one such example, as its been shown to be as effective as medication therapy for treating overactive bladder.

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