Wednesday, April 17, 2024

How To Tell If You Have An Overactive Bladder

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Seek Help From A Qualified Physical Therapist

How to STOP BLADDER FREQUENCY | Overactive Bladder 101

Vaginal childbirth can damage the ligaments, nerves, and pelvic floor muscles that support the vagina, bladder and urethra. While pelvic floor exercises may help some women after birth, many need more intensive physical therapy.

Talk to your doctor, who may refer you to a qualified physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy if you have any incontinence or pain that doesnt go away after giving birth. Embarking on proper rehabilitation soon after having your baby may help you avoid more serious gynecological problems later on.

Related: Leaking while running? Pro tips to run without worry

How Is Overactive Bladder Diagnosed

A physician starts by first checking for infection, asking about a person’s urinary habits , and performing a physical exam to look for abnormalities in the abdomen or genitals. After that, a neurological exam can determine if nerve or sensory problems are impacting bladder function.

If results of these exams are inconclusive, additional diagnostics include:

  • Measuring post-void residual urine: To determine how much urine remains in the bladder following urination, an ultrasound visualizes the bladder as a catheter is used to remove post-void residual urine. The urine volume is measured significant amounts can cause symptoms of overactive bladder.
  • Measuring urine flow rate: This test will require the patient to urinate in an uroflowmeter, which provides a graph of the patient’s urine flow rate.
  • Cystometry: Cystometry gauges the pressure inside of the bladder. One catheter fills the bladder with warm water while a pressure sensor is inserted in the vagina or rectum to measure the rigidity of the bladder muscle and assess its ability to hold in and push out fluid.

How Bad Is It

Your doctor may ask you questions to help figure out how much OAB is affecting your life. For example, you could rate on a scale of 1 to 5 how much you’ve been bothered by things like accidental leaks, lots of daytime bathroom breaks, and waking up at night to go. Your doctor might also ask you to keep a voiding diary of your bathroom trips.

Recommended Reading: Best Over The Counter Bladder Control Medication

Wer Kann Ihnen Bei Dem Blasentraining

Ein Arzt, Kontinenz-Pflegeberater oder Kontinenz-Physiotherapeut kann für Sie die besten Ergebnisse erzielen. Sie werden für Sie ein maßgeschneidertes Programm erstellen.

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Does It Affect Your Life

Incontinence during pregnancy

Does your recognition of needing to urinate frequently and suddenly keep you from lifes normal activities? This is truly another sign of an overactive bladder. Locating a restroom in an unfamiliar place is a good way to cope, but staying home is not.

Likewise, feeling embarrassed about the number of times you need to run to the bathroom may keep you from accepting invitations. There is help.

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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.

Tips On Oab Treatment

  • Is your OAB medication leaving you with a dry mouth? Talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage.
  • Women: Vaginal weight training can help prevent leaks. Small weights are held within the vagina by tightening the muscles. Do them twice daily for 15 minutes, for four to six weeks.
  • Looking for a doctor to help you manage OAB? Urologists specialize in treating bladder and urinary issues.
  • Menopause can play a role in contributing to OAB. Some women find relief with estrogen administered vaginally. Talk to your doctor.
  • Mild electrical pulses , can stimulate muscle contractions, helping you control OAB symptoms. Do them in conjunction with Kegel exercises.
  • Smoking can aggravate your bladder. If you smoke, try quitting. Your health care provider can help with suggestions on how.
  • On rare occasions, surgery may help a woman with overactive bladder. Discuss with your health care provider whether the ” sling procedure” or other surgery is right for you.
  • Kegel exercises help strengthen pelvic muscles. Tighten the muscles that control urination for three to five seconds. Rest for 10 seconds. Do 10 repetitions.
  • Biofeedback can help you gain awareness of your pelvic muscles and reduce OAB symptoms. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.
  • Don’t give up those Kegel exercises! It may take eight weeks before you notice improvement. And Kegels can really improve — even prevent — OAB.
  • Read Also: Where Do You Feel Bladder Spasms

    Contributing Factors To An Overactive Bladder

    You and your physician cant manage OAB unless you know the causes. There are a number of contributing and risk factors:

    • Diabetes
    • Neurological disorders like a stroke, Parkinsons disease, or MS
    • An enlarged prostate gland
    • Abnormalities in the bladder like stones or a tumor
    • Drinking coffee or alcohol
    • Certain medications
    • Pelvic muscle weakness

    Any of these can contribute to an overactive bladder or be the single cause. Getting older does not cause OAB, but it can contribute to other issues like difficulty walking and being unable to make it to the bathroom in time.

    It is essential to be evaluated by Florida Urology Partners in order to discover the cause for your bladder problem, and then be treated.

    Sometimes lifestyle changes can be a solution. Limiting coffee consumption and exercising more can help relieve some of the symptoms. Whatever you do, dont ignore OAB.

    Contact Florida Urology Partners at , or request an appointment online, for an evaluation if you have any of the symptoms of an overactive bladder.

    Cause Overactive Bladder Syndrome

    How to treat an Overactive Bladder
    • The precise cause of overactive bladder syndrome is not well understood and is still under investigation. Several factors may be involved and the main one may vary from individual to individual. Some people experience sudden and spontaneous contractions of the bladder muscle
    • Some people are more sensitive to the feeling of their bladder filling
    • Some people have a smaller bladder which is filled to capacity more quickly

    Read Also: Stage 4 Bladder Cancer Symptoms

    Losing Weight May Help To Improve Your Bladder Control

    Excess weight puts extra stress on your pelvic floor muscles and contributes to an overactive bladder and loss of bladder control. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, it will help with bladder control.

    The best weight loss plans are always those that set realistic goals combined with healthy eating habits and physical activity. Fad diets, although often successful short-term, rarely achieve sustainable weight loss, because once you tire of the diet, you often revert to ingrained unhealthy eating habits.

    Check out our Obesity and Weight Loss guide for more information.

    Things To Try At Home

    The first step in treatment will be to try some things at home, such as urinating at scheduled times. This is called bladder retraining.

    You can also do special exercises called Kegels to make your pelvic muscles stronger. These muscles control the flow of urine. Doing these exercises can improve some bladder problems. It may help to work with a physiotherapist who has special training in pelvic muscle exercises.

    There are other changes you can make that can help:

    • Cut back on caffeine drinks, such as coffee, tea, and sodas.
    • If it bothers you to get up at night to urinate, cut down on fluids before bed. But don’t cut down on fluids at other times of the day. You need them to stay healthy.
    • At night, if you have trouble getting to the toilet in time, clear a path from your bed to the toilet. Or you could put a portable toilet by your bed.
    • Get to and stay at a healthy weight.

    Recommended Reading: Cranberry Juice Cure Bladder Infection

    Get To Know Overactive Bladder

    Overactive bladder causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control. The definite causes of overactive bladder remain unknown. Overactive bladder occurs when the muscles of the bladder start to contract involuntarily even though the volume of urine in the bladder is low. These involuntary muscle contractions produce an urgent need to urinate. Symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate and waking up at night to urinate regardless of the amount of water intake. As a result, overactive bladder significantly impairs self-confidence, increases risk of depression and other psychological effects as well as induces sleep disturbance, leading to decreased quality of life. Overactive bladder has been commonly found in women than men, aged 30-40. In fact, the prevalence of overactive bladder collectively increases with age where the highest prevalence is found in people aged over 50. Several conditions may contribute to signs and symptoms of overactive bladder, including neurological disorders such as stroke, diabetes, hormonal changes during menopause in women, abnormalities in the bladder, such as tumors or bladder stones and factors that obstruct bladder outflow. Other possible risk factors may include certain medications, excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol and declining cognitive function.

    What Causes An Overactive Bladder

    What causes an overactive bladder and what you can do to stop it ...

    Normal urination involves your kidneys producing urine and passing it into your bladder. From there, urine flows out of your urethra and out of your body.

    Nerve signals get sent to your brain while your kidneys empty urine into your bladder, and this causes your brain to become aware of the need to urinate.

    When the urge gets triggered, signals are sent to the nerves in your urinary sphincter muscles, instructing them to relax so that urine can flow. The muscles in your bladder contract, pushing the urine out of the bladder, through your urethra, and out of your body.

    Heres the thing muscles behave either voluntarily or involuntarily, which is what happens to those with overactive bladders, according to Britains National Health Services .

    Your bladder muscle is involuntarily contracting, even when there is not a lot of urine in your bladder. This, unfortunately, tends to be a symptom of a deeper underlying cause.

    So, just what could be causing your bladder muscle to involuntarily contract?

    There are quite a few possibilities, including:

    • Diabetes
    • Cognitive decline

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    Tips For Oab When You’re Out And About

  • Worried about leaks at the gym? A tampon or pessary can offer support to pelvic tissues, helping you control leaks.
  • Going out to a restaurant, grocery store, or shopping mall? Time your fluids carefully, and check bathroom locations as soon as you arrive.
  • Eating out tonight? You may want to cut back on the cocktails. Alcohol can aggravate your OAB symptoms.
  • Buy concert or sports seats near bathrooms. Cut liquid intake three to four hours before leaving the house. Once there, take a bathroom break before lines get long.
  • A little embarrassed about going to the store to buy adult pads or briefs? Remember, you can order products easily online.
  • Passionate about those jalapeno poppers at the local bistro? It may be time to go cold turkey — spicy foods can stimulate the bladder.
  • Reaching for the artificial sweetener when you order out? Such sweeteners may irritate your bladder — increasing OAB symptoms.
  • Have a lot to do today? Schedule in some rest breaks. Doing too much can overtire muscles — leading to urine leakage.
  • When you’re out, don’t forget scheduled toileting . This routine can help control OAB symptoms.
  • OAB affects one out of every 11 people in the U.S. Look around you at the mall, the restaurant. You’re not alone. Talk to your doctor get help — today!
  • Always looking for a bathroom when you’re out? Don’t just accept OAB. Talk to your doctor — infections and other problems can cause OAB symptoms.
  • Carefully Manage Your Fluid Intake

    Drinking too much fluid puts pressure on your bladder, and makes you need to urinate. Drinking too little means your urine becomes concentrated, which irritates your bladder, and leads to urinary urgency.

    However, it’s important to maintain your fluid intake to avoid dehydration. You can drink slowly and throughout the day to maintain adequate hydration.

    • Aim to drink four to eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day.
    • Look at your urine and aim for a light yellow color. Dark urine is a sign that you are not drinking enough. Colorless urine is a sign of drinking too much.
    • Try to drink only during the day and stop a couple of hours before you go to bed.
    • Drink mainly water avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks night.

    Also Check: Weak Bladder Control After Childbirth

    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.

    Certain Foods And Drinks Trigger Symptoms

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

    Spicy or acidic foods, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine can all be irritants, so you might notice your overactive bladder symptoms getting worse after you consume them. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing more urine to be filtered through the kidneys, increasing subsequent urine production and the feeling of OAB, Dr Taylor explains. Caffeine acts as both a diuretic and also makes the bladder more sensitive by lowering the threshold at which a bladder contraction will occur. Dr Gregory says that some people just have a lower tolerance for certain foods that irritate the bladders lining. If you have that type of sensitivity, then a good strategy is to identify and avoid your trigger foods, he says. Culprits often include red chillies, tomato sauce, wasabi, and even cranberry juice.

    Recommended Reading: Bladder And Urinary Tract Infections

    Evaluation Of Patients With The Oab Syndrome

    There are usually no clinical signs on examination, so a careful history is essential. Table Table11 presents the questions a clinician should ask a patient presumed to have OAB. The primary care physician should take a focused history and perform a primary evaluation for urinary tract disorders, such as recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary bladder calculi, and bladder tumors. Such an evaluation is necessary to rule out general conditions and risk factors that cause incontinence such as diabetes mellitus, stroke, lumbar disc disease or spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, pelvic surgery, multiple vaginal deliveries and obstetric history, immobility, dementia, and psychiatric disease.

    Try To Avoid Caffeine Carbonated Drinks Sugar Alcohol And Spicy Or Acidic Foods

    • Caffeine is a diuretic which makes you need to use the bathroom more often.
    • Carbonated drinks and sugar are thought to stimulate the bladder.
    • Alcohol switches off the ability of your body to concentrate urine. This means you tend to urinate more dilute, watery urine, which dehydrates you. Since you are dehydrated, you may drink more.
    • Acidic or spicy food may aggravate your overactive bladder and worsen your symptoms. Certain acidic fruit and juices like orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime can aggravate your bladder, too.

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    When You Gotta Go

    The best way to describe an overactive bladder, or OAB, is an urgent need to urinate. It can happen frequently and suddenly during the day, and several times at night. An overactive bladder will even wake you up at night to go. If you urinate more than eight or more times within a 24 hour period, you probably have an overactive bladder.

    When you gotta go, it is hard to control that urge, and sometimes you can leak a bit.

    Wird Es Rckschlge Geben

    Overactive Bladder â Dr. ANURAG GUPTA

    Sorgen Sie sich nicht über kleinere Veränderungen in Ihrer Blasenkontrolle von einem Tag zum anderen. Das ist ein normales Erscheinungsbild. Jeder, der bei einem Blasentraining-Programm mitmacht, kann Rückschläge haben, bei denen die Symptome möglicherweise schlimmer scheinen. Das kann passieren, wenn:

    • Sie eine Blasenentzündung haben .
    • Sie müde oder ausgelaugt sind.
    • Sie sich um etwas Sorgen machen oder gestresst sind.
    • das Wetter nass, windig oder kalt ist.
    • Sie krank sind .
    • Sie eine menstruierende Frau sind.

    Verlieren Sie nicht den Mut, wenn Sie Rückschläge erleben. Bleiben Sie positiv und versuchen Sie es weiterhin.

    Read Also: Clamp Foley For Bladder Training

    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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