Behavior: Sweat More Lose More
If youve been slipping on your new years diet and exercise resolutions, the promise of improved OAB symptoms might be the kick-in-the-pants you need. A study in the Open Access Journal of Urology found that weight loss of 5%-10% had an efficacy in women similar to that of other nonsurgical urinary incontinence treatments. Eating a balanced diet is key, but exercise is, too, says Diego Illanes, M.D., chief of urogynecology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. Physical activity is proven to stimulate the central nervous system and causes weight reduction, he says. This translates to a healthy bladder.
Fixing Overactive Bladder Without Medication
Considering the side effects, many doctors do not always turn to medications to help treat your bladder problems. Here are some ways to treat the condition without medication.
1. Try Kegel Exercises
Sometimes, the weak pelvic floor is the reason behind your overactive bladder. If this is the case, performing Kegel exercises may help. You can do Kegel exercises anywhere you want and they are equally effective for both men and women. Be sure to perform Kegel exercises when you feel the urge to use the toilet. The exercises will prevent the bladder spasm and make it easier to hold the urine. It certainly takes some time to experience the benefits of these exercises, but they will eventually take effect and help treat your overactive bladder.
2. Identify and Avoid Dietary Triggers
You may not know it but what you eat can make your urinary problems worse. Studies have found that eliminating or reducing the intake of certain foods and drinks from your diet may help treat overactive bladder. Some of these dietary triggers include citrus juices, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, high sugar foods, and milk products. You may develop acute incontinence when you consume something that is diuretic in nature this is true in case of alcohol and caffeine. Certain medications act as diuretics and aggravate your overactive bladder. Interestingly, you should avoid cranberry juice when you have OAB.
3. Control Your Fluid Intake
Kegel Exercises And Muscle Training
You can also do special pelvic floor exercises, or Kegel exercises, in addition to regular exercise. Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles to minimize involuntary contractions and improve posture. Its also one of the safest behavioral therapies without side effects and complications.
To do Kegel exercises:
You can also talk to a physical therapist to see if youre squeezing the right muscles.
Yes, Kegel exercises works for men, too »
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Overactive Bladder And Botox
Botox may be best known as a great wrinkle reducer for the face. But this injection has actually shown great promise as a treatment for many medical conditions.
Most overactive bladder medications aim to calm muscles and nerves in the urinary tract. If these medicines arent effective, your doctor may consider injecting Botox into your bladder muscles. This can help calm the muscles and reduce symptoms of OAB.
Botox injections for overactive bladder are well-tolerated with few side effects. The injections effects typically last six to eight months. After that time, your doctor may want to use another round of injections to control symptoms.
Common Treatment For Overactive Bladder Linked To Increased Risk Of Depression
Finding a bathroom during times of urgency can be extremely stressful, but luckily, were usually able to find the facilities in time and enjoy well-deserved relief. While this may not occur often, there are people out there who struggle with this ordeal on a daily basisthey have been diagnosed with overactive bladder. Being a recognized disorder, there are various pharmaceutical treatment options patients may choose from. However, according to a new study, an antimuscarinic medication used in women for the treatment of overactive bladder was linked with and an increased risk of depression.
This population-based retrospective cohort study found that use of antimuscarinics was associated with subsequent depressive disorder in women with overactive bladder, said Li-Ting Kao, senior author of The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study. Continue reading
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Dietary Changes And Fluid Management
One of the most straightforward methods in the treatment of OAB involves making dietary changes. This involves cutting out several known food irritants from the diet and limiting fluid intake.
Foods to avoid
Foods and drinks, which are known to cause or worsen the symptoms of OAB include:
- alcohol
- tomatoes
- vinegar
As triggers from food vary from person to person, it can be helpful for people to keep a diary detailing food intake and bladder symptoms. A diary can help people work out which foods are causing the greatest problems.
Manage fluid intake
Drinking enough water is essential for health. Too little water can lead to concentrated urine, which can irritate the bladder lining, increasing urgency. Too many liquids may worsen frequency symptoms. Fluid intake before bed can contribute to urinating during the night.
A , published in Research and Reports in Urology, recommends limiting fluid intake to 6 to 8 glasses of water daily, and avoiding liquids for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
Home Remedies For Treating Overactive Bladder Problems
Overactive bladder can cause many health problems and social embarrassment, try these home remedies to treat this condition.
There are many problems that are associated with our urinary system. Not all the problems can be considered as a disease but are quite serious issues. Overactive bladder is one such condition in this a person has the urge to urinate more frequently than normal which is not good for health. This can happen both during the day and in the night. Overactive bladder also results to urgency and uncontrollable urge, that means a person loses his control to urinate and sometimes leaks urine trying to control. This can affect your social life and relationships, hence it is important to treat it. Here are some home remedies that you should try to treat your overactive bladder.
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Home Remedies For Overactive Bladder
Overactive Bladder and Home Remedies
Introduction
Overactive bladder which is also known as incontinence or Detrusor instability is a condition which results in involuntary action of the bladder. Frequent trips to the rest-rooms for urination are a characteristic of this disorder. Here the bladder muscles cannot be controlled and their contraction and relaxation are affected. The urination process cannot be managed when inflicted with this condition. The four types of incontinence are stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence and overflow incontinence.
Basic modifications can be made to ones lifestyle when looking to cure the bladder problem. Avoidance of spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks can alleviate the symptoms of a weak bladder. Increasing the intake of fibrous foods can also go a long way in gaining control of the bladder. Exercising on a regular basis can promote regular bowel movements. Reduction of obesity is also helpful when battling bladder issues. Abstain from smoking is another way of preventing incontinence. Conditioning the bladder muscles through various techniques can help in regulating the urine flow and a doctor can be consulted for the same.
Out of the many treatments for overactive bladder, the home remedies can be deemed the best solution to deal with the quandary.
Home Remedies
- Bladder Muscles Training
- Herbal Intake
- Kegel Exercises
- Lowering Fluid Intake
- Yoga Therapy
- Flotrol Benefits
How To Know You Have Overactive Bladder
It is important to confirm if you have an overactive bladder or not because increase in frequency can also be because of increase in liquid diet. Having an overactive bladder has these symptoms-
- Needing to go to bathroom more than normal
- Not being able to hold urine
- Experiencing incontinence while urinating
- Need of urinating several times throughout the night
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Behavior: Change Your Diet
This is going to take some work, but the payoff can be great. Dr. Carmel says 70% of her patients see symptom improvement with behavioral modifications alone. If you dont do this, any other treatment will not work, she says. She recommends starting by limiting fluid intake to two liters spread throughout the day to reduce overall urine volume. Next, experiment with eliminating bladder-irritating foods and bevvies like alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, spicy food , citrus, tomatoes, and milk. Keeping a food diary can help you track how these foods affect your symptoms.
Home Remedies To Treat Overactive Bladder
1. Corn Silk
This is a waste material that is left behind after corn cultivation. Corn silk is also used as a medicine for curing many ailments such as bedwetting and irritation. It can help in treating overactive bladder by eating it in small amount daily. This will strengthen your mucous membranes in the urinary tract and prevent urine from leaking. Corn silk can also prevent overactive bladder if had from beginning.
2. Pumpkin Seeds
These are widely used as a natural remedy for treating digestive problems and inflammation. Pumpkin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties that improve abnormal frequency of urination. It also helps to treat urinary functions that go wrong and reduces overactive bladder issues. Pumpkin seeds can also be had with soybean seed extract to increase its affect and reduce incontinence. Pumpkin seeds also have omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for digestion and health.
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3. Kohki Tea
Kohki tea is found in subtropical regions. Its origin is from a subtropical plant which mostly grows in china and is sweet in its original flavour. This tea has anti-oxidants that are beneficial for bladder health and has protective effects of the bladder. Kohki tea is also beneficial for treating partial bladder obstruction and contractile response. It can he had with little water or soy milk for better effects. Drink it twice for few days to treat overactive bladder problems.
4. Eating to Reduce Constipation
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Natural Remedies For An Overactive Bladder
1. Kegel Exercises
If a weak pelvic floor is at the root of your OAB then kegel exercises can help a lot. These pelvic floor exercises can be done anywhere at anytime and they benefit both men and women. When done regularly, they can really help an overactive bladder.
Melody Denson, MD, a board-certified urologist with the Urology Team in Austin, TX, recommends these exercises for OAB. She says, They will trigger a reflex mechanism to relax the bladder. If you feel a tremendous urge to urinate, doing a kegel before you run to the bathroom will help settle down the bladder spasm and help you hold it until you get there.
2. Avoid Dietary Triggers
Significantly reduce the following foods and drinks that are known to contribute to overactive bladder:
- Alcohol
- Soda and other carbonated beverages
- Spicy foods
- Artificial sweeteners
- Milk and milk products
- Sugar and high sugar foods
Caffeine, alcohol and certain medications like diuretics are known to be major causes of acute incontinence, especially in the elderly population. Cranberry juice is surprisingly another thing to avoid if you have OAB. Although cranberry juice is often recommend for bladder health, it actually acts as an irritant if you have OAB.
3. Watch Fluid Intake
4. Double-Void
5. Schedule bathroom trips
6. Delay Urination
7. Try Acupuncture
8. Stop Smoking
Absorbency Products Can Help
No matter how fast you can run, sometimes that bathroom is just a little bit too far in the distance. Dont let yourself get caught in an embarrassing situation There is a wide range of products available that are discreet and comfortable.
Incontinence products excel in their absorbency and wont leak or become lumpy when they get wet. They help control odor and minimize contact between urine and your skin, preventing the development of a rash or other irritation.
Many incontinence products are available, from discrete pads with little bulk that can be slipped into underwear, to disposable adult-sized underwear with in-built absorbency and easy-tear sides. Gender-specific products account for the different requirements of men and women, and there are many reusable and washable options available.
Common brands include Attends, Because, Tena, Tranquility, Depend, Prevail and Poise.
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Herbs For An Overactive Bladder
by Discreetlyfit | Mar 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
Hello,
Have you ever wondered if there are any herbs that can help an overactive bladder? Because I have! So, to satisfy my curiosity, I went straight to a reliable source and asked Naturopath and Herbalist Norelle Hentschel. I hope you find her insights as enlightening as I do.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them below.
Warm Regards
Has your bladder become way too needy?
Hello, I need to go pee and I need to go now!
Do you scope out where all the toilets are when you go somewhere and carry a backup pair of undies in your handbag?
You are not alone.
Treating Overactive Bladder With Medication
In most cases, your overactive bladder is not the result of an underlying health problem, but it can sometimes indicate serious health issues, such as kidney disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis . Your doctor will check all your symptoms and then prescribe some medications to fix the issue. The most common prescription medications for overactive bladder are fesoterodine, darifenacin, oxybutynin, tolterodine, and trospium. Your doctor may also give you a topic gel or a skin patch to treat your condition.
While these medications work for some people, they can cause several side effects. Some doctors prescribe the beta-3 agonists to minimize the side effects, but other medications may cause problems like dry mouth, constipation, blurry vision, drowsiness, and dizziness. It is due to these side effects that many people look for ways to fix overactive bladder without medication.
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What Are The Symptoms Of An Overactive Bladder
The symptoms of an overactive bladder may include:
- A sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control
- Urinary incontinence Involuntary loss of urine following a sudden urge to urinate.
- Frequent urination, usually 8 or more times in a day
- Nocturia Awakening 2 or more times during the night to pee.
While the specific cause of an overactive bladder is unknown, it is usually a result of the involuntary muscle contractions of the bladder. What could probably be causing this condition? Lets find out in the next section.
The Three Stages Of Oab Treatment
First, you need to know that the goal of OAB treatment is to reduce your symptoms, not to eliminate them all together, says Maude Carmel, M.D., an associate professor of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. To set expectations, Dr. Carmel tells her patients: If you have OAB, I can make you better, but not cure you. That said, symptom reduction can mean significantly fewer trips to the bathroom. The American Urological Association recommends a three-line treatment strategy to help: behavioral changes first, medications second, and finally neural regulation therapies.
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What Causes Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is a symptom that can occur due to various conditions. You might experience this due to various reasons based on your gender and age. It can occur at different points of your life due to different reasons.1 A few causes are as follows:
- Diabetes: You might be experiencing frequent urination if you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is a common symptom of diabetes. Thus, frequent urination may be an indicator of diabetes.1
- Urinary tract and bladder conditions: The need to pee often can also be due to certain conditions that affect the urinary tract.1 Some of the conditions are:
- Urinary tract infection
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Overactive Bladder Treatment Strategies
by Senior Editor
If you are among the 30% of men or 40% of women in the United States who have a frequent and/or urgent need to go , youre probably wondering if this is just life now: planning your activities around the nearest bathroom. And while OAB can have many causes, from a neurological condition to enlarged prostate, and even pelvic-muscle changes from pregnancy and childbirth, its very likely theres a treatment out there that can ease your symptoms. Lets talk medically backed OAB treatment options first, then well cover some common complementary therapies, too.
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What Causes An Overactive Bladder
Your kidneys produce urine, and the urine later drains into your bladder. As you urinate, the urine further passes through an opening at the bottom of your bladder and then flows out of your body through the urethra. In women, the urethra is located right above the vagina, whereas, in men, the urethra opens at the tip of the penis.
This entire process of urination is controlled by nerve signals. When your bladder is filled, your brain receives signals to trigger the urge to urinate. As you urinate, your brain again receives signals to relax the muscles of your pelvic floor as well as the urethra to help pass the urine. Simultaneously, your bladder tightens to push the urine out.
In the case of an overactive bladder, the contraction of the bladder occurs involuntarily, even when the volume of urine inside is relatively low. This action causes a sudden urge to pee.
While the exact cause of this occurrence is yet to be found, the following are some factors that could be contributing to the symptoms of an overactive bladder:
- Neurological disorders