How Is Oab Treated
Some Tips To Prevent An Overactive Bladder
-Maintain a healthy weight.
-Do physical activities and exercises.
-Reduce your consumption of caffeine and alcohol.
-Stop smoking: smoking is irritating to the bladder muscle.
-Treat your chronic conditions, such as diabetes, that might lead to overactive bladder symptoms.
-Do Kegel exercises for the pelvic muscles.
Prescription Overactive Bladder Treatment
One of the more popular methods of treatment, which most often comes with trial and error as well is prescription medication. It is widely accepted as the most conventional form of treatment, and it can be highly effective, it also comes in various forms, as well as most health insurance companies often cover it.
However, with conventional medication usually comes a slew of other adverse side effects that we need to be aware of. Most doctors start treatment with prescribed medication, along with some lifestyle recommendations, and go down the list of medications and treatments, as they usually get more invasive from here on out. Ask your doctor if medication is right for you.
Medication for Overactive Bladder
Some of the most commonly prescribed medications are tolterodine, oxybutynin, and mirabegron. Because OAB can be boiled down to simply “muscle spasms,” these kinds of medications treat that. However, they all do it in different ways. Tolterodine and mirabegron come in tablet or pill form.
Oxybutynin usually comes in a single-use gel packet. This would be applied to different parts of the abdomen and torso every application. Sometimes certain antidepressants work as an aid for OAB but are not specifically advertised to that category as it is off-label.
Botox for Overactive Bladder
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Surgical Options For Overactive Bladder
Do you often feel like you need to go to the bathroom immediately? Overactive bladder , characterized by the urgent need to urinate, can be inconvenient and annoying and can impact your quality of life. It can also lead to certain health complications, such as infections.
If lifestyle changes and medications havent worked to treat your OAB, you may want to consider surgery. But take note: Surgical options come with significant risks and side effects, so be sure to weigh your options carefully.
Drugs For Overactive Bladder
In people with overactive bladder, muscles in the bladder wall contract at the wrong time. A group of drugs called anticholinergics combat this problem by blocking the nerve signals related to bladder muscle contractions. Research suggests that these drugs also might increase bladder capacity and decrease the urge to go.
Anticholinergic drugs include:
Oxytrol for women is the only drug available over the counter. Overall, these drugs work about the same in treating overactive bladder, and generally people tolerate all of them well. The main side effect is dry mouth, but anticholinergics also can cause constipation, blurred vision, and increased heartbeat.
Anticholinergics aren’t right for everyone. Some people with glaucoma, urinary retention, or gastrointestinal disease should avoid using anticholinergic drugs.
The drugs mirabegron and vibegron called beta-3 adrenergic agonists. These medications work by activating a protein receptor in bladder muscles that relaxes them and helps the bladder fill and store urine.
Another type of drug for overactive bladder is the tricyclic antidepressantimipramine hydrochloride , which also relaxes bladder muscles.
Doctors also treat men with drugs that relax a muscle at the bladder neck and prostate to help with emptying. They include:
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Urinary Incontinence Treatment: What To Expect
A complete evaluation will allow your doctor to offer you the right solution for your care. You can expect the diagnostic process to include:
- A complete medical history and physical, which may include a brief neurological exam to assess any nerve damage. If you have had treatment or surgery in the past, your doctor may also review your medical records.
- Urine sample, to test for infection or other pathology that may cause incontinence.
- Urodynamic tests or a urinary stress test, where your doctor may assess urine loss with stress, such as exercise, sneezing, coughing or laughing, may be recommended.
Following your evaluation, we will review treatment options with you to develop a care plan that best meets your needs. Nonsurgical treatment, such as Botox injections of the bladder in women with overactive bladder, can be performed at any of our medical offices.
If you choose surgery, our team will recommend procedures that best treat your symptoms. A common option is the insertion of a bladder sling, a minimally invasive procedure in which a small strip of mesh is implanted to support the bladder opening to prevent leakage.
What Behavioral Changes Can I Make To Help With Overactive Bladder
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:
- Cough.
- Laugh.
- 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:
- Tea.
- 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.
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What Is Overactive Bladder Disease
Overactive bladder disease is an uncomfortable and painful disease. In this disease, the control of the bladder muscle is impaired and the need to urinate frequently develops. In addition to the frequent need to urinate, patientssometimescomplain of urinary incontinence .
Symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome include:
- The need to urinate more than usual
- Having a sudden urge to urinate
- Inability to control urination
- Waking up to urinate more than once a night
- leaking urine
| This disease causes a serious decrease in the quality of life of patients. There is no clear cure for overactive bladder disease. But we have good news for you, there are ways to effectively manage this disease . |
There are many options for the treatment of overactive bladder disease. Among these treatments behavioral treatments, lifestyle changes, medications and surgical treatments.
What Medications Can I Use For Overactive Bladder
Your doctor may suggest trying behavioral techniques before having you use a medication to treat overactive bladder. However, medications can work very well to return normal function to the bladder. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of using the following commonly prescribed medications:
Anticholinergic medications
These medications control muscle spasms in the bladder:
- Oxybutynin , oxybutynin XL , oxybutynin TDDS .
- Tolterodine .
- Mirabegron .
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Surgical Treatment For Overactive Bladder
Surgery may recommended for severe cases. The two most-commonly used procedures are:
- increases bladder size by removing a section of the bowel and adding it to the bladder. Increased bladder size allows someone to store more urine, reducing the urge to urinate. Possible complications include infection, blood clots, bowel obstruction, urinary fistula, and an increased risk of bladder tumors .
- Sacral Nerve Stimulation is a newer surgical technique that involves placing a small electrical device in the lower back. The device sends electrical impulses to the sacral nerve, which improves control of the muscles in the bladder and pelvic floor.
Natural Treatment For Overactive Bladder
Certain herbal supplements have proven beneficial in treating OAB symptoms. However, some of these supplements are not something that can usually be found in mainstream stores and shopping sites.
Seeking out a naturopath would be helpful as they would likely be able to help you find a vendor. It is advised that you speak to your doctor first before trying some alternative remedies as it may have unknown side effects.
As well, be wary of where youre buying herbal supplements. A reputable vendor or company can save you from contaminated products, as well as provide proper knowledge of the product and dosage.
There are many other types of herbal remedies that have shown signs of helping with OAB. It can be a trial and error treatment, as many types of treatments for OAB are.
Gosha-Jinki-Gan and Hachimi-Jio-Gan
One popular Chinese herbal blend is Gosha-jinki-gan . GJG is a blend of 10 traditional Chinese herbs that inhibit the bladder and can drastically decrease frequency during the day.
There is another Chinese herbal medicine that claims it may influence bladder muscle contraction. It is Hachimi-jio-gan . HE is made up of eight natural ingredients, however, some of which are also in the herbal medicine GJG.
Corn Silk
It is recommended you use homegrown or organic corn as supermarket corn is loaded with pesticides. However, it is easily found in your local grocery store in the herbal supplement aisle in capsule form.
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What Other Surgical Procedures Are Available For Oab Who Is A Candidate For These Procedures
Beyond bladder injections and nerve stimulation, less common surgical options are more involved and can be risky.
There are two major abdominal and bladder surgeries for end stage, severe, refractory, and complicated OAB: augmentation cystoplasty and urinary diversion.
In the most refractory of cases, surgeons can completely bypass the bladder with urinary diversion. During urinary diversion, they disconnect a segment of small intestine and fashion it into a channel. This connects the ureters from each kidney on the backend of the channel out to the skin, where the surgeon can place an ostomy appliance to collect the urine. This procedure is called an ileal conduit.
These two surgical options are major open abdominal procedures that include intestinal surgery and require multiple-day hospitalizations. Complications from these surgeries can be more severe and include:
- bleeding
Lifestyle Fluids And Diet
A few small changes to your lifestyle could help to alleviate urgency and frequency symptoms associated with an overactive bladder . It is important to make sure that you are drinking enough fluids to avoid bladder irritation and infection. It is advisable to limit your intake of fizzy drinks, caffeine and alcohol. More advice on Lifestyle, Fluids and Diet.
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Surgery For Overactive Bladder
Overactive Bladder at its best can be annoying. The constant running to the bathroom can be frustrating to say the least. But at its worst, OAB can be debilitating. Those with severe OAB make multiple trips to the bathroom a day and even night, and many times may have embarrassing accidents too. It can cause anxiety in social situations, limit interaction with friends and family, and can even negatively affect a persons work. If you think youve tried everything and it hasnt worked for you, surgery may be an option.
Surgery is typically a last resort for most people and should be considered only after more conservative options, such as behavioral modifications, medication or even advanced therapies like Sacral Neuromodulation have failed. The surgeries listed below are often done on women who no longer wish to have children, as childbirth can often remove many of the benefits of surgery.
Oab Surgery: A Serious Decision
Be sure to talk with your doctor about all of your treatment options. Before deciding to have surgery, ask your surgeon about:
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Risks of the operation: Be sure you are comfortable with accepting these risks.
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Your surgeons qualifications: A surgeon who is board certified or a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons has met certain quality and ethical standards.
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A second opinion: Your doctor should be able to refer you to another expert so you can get his or her take on your options.
Together, you and your doctor can determine the best solution for your OAB symptoms.
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Understanding Your Urinary Tract
Waste from your body is removed from your blood stream by your kidneys and becomes urine. Normally, urine passes down the ureters into your bladder . A sphincter made of muscle circles the opening of your bladder, where urine flows out of your bladder. The sphincter acts like a valve that opens and closes to control when the urine comes out of your body. When you urinate, your bladder squeezes and your sphincter relaxes. Urine passes from the bladder through the urethra and out of your body. In women, the urethral opening is right above the vagina. In men, the urethral opening is at the tip of the penis. Surgery may involve any of these parts of your urinary tract as well as your intestines or your stomach.
What Are The Possible Risks And Complications During Botox Treatment For Overactive Bladder
There are general factors that increase the risk of complications during the procedure and they include:
- Obesity: Generally, the greater the degree of obesity, the greater the surgical risk
- Smoking: The longer the smoking history , the greater the surgical risk
- Advancing age
- Poorly controlled diabetes, as evidenced by a high hemoglobin A1c and a high fasting glucose
- Poorly functioning kidney, as evidenced by increased BUN and blood creatinine
- Poorly functioning liver, as evidenced by increased blood liver function tests
- Hypertension , especially if it is poorly controlled
- Poor nutritional status
- Poor lung function, as evidenced by abnormal lung function tests
- History of bleeding disorders
- Longstanding illness, such as autoimmune disorders and chronic infections
- Poor immune system due to a variety of causes
The possible complications that may arise during the procedure are:
- Infection
- Accidental injury to the neighboring tissue, blood vessel, nerve, or bone
- Side effects of Botox, which may be immediate and severe in some individuals
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Are There Any Other Oral Medications That Can Help With Oab Symptoms
In addition to anticholinergics, another second-line therapy includes . The Food and Drug Administration approved this drug for the management of OAB in 2012.
Myrbetriq has fewer side effects with a similar efficacy to anticholinergics. Therefore, switching to Myrbetriq can be helpful if a person cannot tolerate the side effects of anticholinergics.
Some side effects of Myrbetriq include:
- hypertension
- difficulty voiding
People may wish to combine Myrbetriq with anticholinergic medications for additional efficacy.
When Should You Consider Surgery
Its a good idea to talk with a specialist before you seriously consider surgery. He or she can confirm that your symptoms are due to OAB and not another medical condition.
In general, you should look into surgery only after trying lifestyle changes and medication. These therapies arent permanent, unlike most surgeries, and they carry few risks. You may need to try more than one medication to find the right one for you.
Before you make any decisions, consider the pros and cons of surgery compared with more conservative treatments. The American Urological Association recommends surgery only in extremely rare cases due to the risks associated with OAB procedures.
If you and your doctor decide to move forward with surgery, you will have several options to consider.
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Natural And Herbal Treatments
As in many diseases, natural and herbal treatments have an important place in the treatment of overactive bladder . Vitamins, herbal supplements, and some natural treatments may be helpful.
Vitamins and Natural Supplements
Some herbs, food supplements, and vitamins can be alternative options for overactive bladder treatment. Some herbal mixtures from Chinese medicine, mushroom extracts such as ganoderma lucidum, and herbal extracts such as capsaicin may be helpful.
Supplements such as magnesium hydroxide and L-arginine may be used as a way to relieve symptoms in people with overactive bladder or incontinence.
| Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking food supplements and vitamins. Some supplements can interact with medications and harm you. |
acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting fine-tipped needles into certain energy areas in the body. It is believed that the energy flow is regulated with the help of needles placed at these points .
As a result of some studies, it has been shown that acupuncture therapy can be used in the treatment of overactive bladder. However, there is insufficient evidence that it will work in all patients.
Essential Oils
Overactive bladder disease is caused by unexpected contraction of the bladder. Essential oils that can help calm these muscles can ease your symptoms and ease your symptoms.
Some essential oils you can use include:
- Lavender oil