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What Are The Signs Of A Weak Bladder

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What Are The Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder

Overactive Bladder, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Overactive bladder represents a collection of symptoms. These symptoms include:

  • Urinary urgency. Urinary urgency is a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee. Once you feel the need to pee, you have a short amount of time to get to a bathroom.
  • Frequent peeing. A frequent need to pee means you have to go to the bathroom more often than usual.
  • Urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee, and you may leak pee.
  • Nocturia. Nocturia is the need to get up to pee at least two times each night.

What Else Causes Bladder Control Problems In Women

Certain life events and health problems can lead to stress incontinence in women by weakening the pelvic floor muscles

  • pregnancy and childbirth

Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it hard for your bladder to hold urine in during stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when an actioncoughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activityputs pressure on your bladder and causes urine to leak. A weak pelvic floor can also cause fecal incontinence, or bowel control problems.

Another Oab Surgical Option

When nothing else has worked, bladder augmentation uses a patch of your own tissue to make your bladder bigger. But this is considered major surgery, and the procedure is rarely performed. Most people find a combination of lifestyle changes and other treatments that control their OAB.

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Can Nerve Stimulation Help Overactive Bladder

Yes, nerve stimulation can help improve OAB. Your nerves help tell your brain that your bladder is full. By treating your nerves, you can improve your bladder control.

Nerve stimulation is a reversible treatment. Healthcare providers only recommend it if other treatments dont work.

There are several types of nerve stimulation treatments. These include:

Sacral nerve stimulation

Sacral nerve stimulation is a therapy that electrically stimulates the nerves that control your bladder.

A healthcare provider will implant a small device called a neurotransmitter under the skin near your upper buttock area. The neurotransmitter sends mild electrical impulses through a wire near your sacral nerve. Your sacral nerve is a nerve in your lower back. The impulses help you control your bladder.

Sacral nerve stimulation can reduce the number of times you have to use the bathroom or the number of times you accidentally leak pee. Its overall very effective. Its also an outpatient procedure, so you can go home afterward.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

Percutaneous tibial stimulation sends small nerve impulses to a nerve branch near your ankle. It helps stimulate bladder control.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is an outpatient procedure. Many people need 12 weekly sessions and then monthly maintenance sessions afterward.

Botulinum toxin injections

Botox® is the most well-known botulinum toxin brand. A healthcare provider injects Botox into your bladder wall using a cystoscope.

Standing Versus Sitting Or Squatting

Overactive Bladder: Causes + 8 Natural Remedies

Males

In Western culture, the is regarded by some as more comfortable and more masculine than the sitting or squatting option. However, in public restrooms without urinals and sometimes at home, men may be urged to use the sitting position as to diminish spattering of urine.A systematic review of the effect of voiding position on the quality of urination found that in elderly males with , the sitting position was superior compared with the standing. Healthy males were not influenced by voiding position.

A literature review found cultural differences in socially accepted voiding positions around the world and found differences in preferred position: in the Middle-East and Asia, the was more prevalent, while in the Western world the standing and sitting positions were more common.

Females

Females usually sit or squat for urination, depending on what type of toilet they use: A is used for urination in a squatting position. If there is no toilet available then a squatting or a half squat position is common. A partial is taken up during urination by some women to avoid sitting on a potentially contaminated or when using a . However, this may leave urine behind in the . It can also result in urine landing on the .

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Keep Moving Despite Urinary Incontinence

You might be tempted to put a stop to your exercise routine if all that physical effort can trigger leaks because of a weak bladder. But strengthening your core muscles can help put you back in control. So instead of cutting out your workout, swap high-impact activities that can give you a jolt for low-impact exercise like swimming or cycling. Yoga and Pilates can also help to build strength in the right places without putting an already weak bladder under too much strain.

Is There Surgery For Bladder Control Problems

Surgery for urinary incontinence either corrects an anatomical problem or implants a device to alter bladder muscle function.

  • Most people do not need surgery, but most of those who have surgery become dry.
  • Like any surgery, these procedures do not work on everyone. A small number of people are not completely dry after surgery.
  • Like all surgery, these operations can have complications.
  • Each of these procedures is appropriate only for a certain type or types of incontinence.
  • A urogynecologist or urologist can advise you about which, if any, might work for you.

Types of operations used in people with incontinence include the following:

  • Altering the position of the bladder neck, which can change how urine is released from the bladder
  • Repairing or supporting severely weakened pelvic floor muscles
  • Removal of a blockage
  • Implantation of a sling around the urethra
  • Implantation of a device that stimulates the nerves to increase awareness of the need to urinate
  • Injection of a naturally occurring material called collagen around the urethra
  • Injection of Botox into the bladder muscle using a cystoscope
  • Surgical placement of an artificial urinary sphincter
  • Enlargement of the bladder

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How Do I Do Kegel Exercises

To do Kegels:

  • Lie down. It may be easier to learn how to do Kegels correctly while lying down. You dont have to lie down once you learn to do Kegels correctly.
  • Squeeze the muscles in your genital area as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine or passing gas. Try not to squeeze the muscles in your belly or legs at the same time. Try to squeeze only the pelvic muscles. Be extra careful not to tighten your stomach, legs, or buttocks .
  • Relax.Squeeze the muscles again and hold for 3 seconds. Then relax for 3 seconds. Work up to 3 sets of 10 each day.
  • Practice Kegels anywhere. When your muscles get stronger, try doing Kegels while sitting or standing. You can do these exercises at any time, such as while sitting at your desk or in the car, waiting in line, or doing the dishes. Dont do Kegel exercises at the same time you are urinating. This can weaken your pelvic floor muscles over time.10
  • If you are uncomfortable or uncertain about doing Kegel exercises on your own, a doctor or nurse can also teach you how to do Kegels. A pelvic floor physical therapist or other specialist may also be available in your area to help teach you how to strengthen these muscles.

    What Behavioral Changes Can I Make To Help Fix Overactive Bladder

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    You can make many changes to your behavior to help fix your overactive bladder. These include:

    Keeping a bladder diary

    A healthcare provider may ask you to keep a bladder diary for a few days. Noting what happened before you had an accident can help the provider determine the cause of your OAB. Youll use your bladder diary to track:

    • What you drink.
    • Tomatoes and tomato-based products.
    • Spicy and acidic foods and drinks.
    • Foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners, such as diet soft drinks and some chewing gums.

    Maintaining bowel regularity

    Constipation can place pressure on your bladder and affect your bladder function. You may be able to avoid constipation and reduce bladder symptoms by keeping healthy bowel habits. The following can help you maintain bowel regularity:

    • Increase your fiber intake. Incorporate foods such as beans, pasta, oatmeal, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables into your diet.
    • Drink two to four extra glasses of water each day.
    • Exercise regularly.

    Managing your weight

    Having overweight can put pressure on your bladder, which may contribute to bladder control problems. Maintaining a weight thats healthy for you can reduce pressure on your bladder.

    Stop using tobacco products

    Cigarettes and other tobacco products can irritate your bladder muscle. Coughing spasms due to smokers cough can also cause leakage.

    Bladder retraining

    Bladder retraining teaches you how:

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    Bladder Health For Older Adults

    Everyone uses their bladder many times each day, but they may not know what to do to keep their bladder healthy.

    Located in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ, much like a balloon, that stores urine. It is part of the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. Urine contains wastes and extra fluid left over after the body takes what it needs from what we eat and drink.

    As you get older, the bladder changes. The elastic bladder tissue may toughen and become less stretchy. A less stretchy bladder cannot hold as much urine as before and might make you go to the bathroom more often. The bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to empty the bladder fully and causing urine to leak.

    Causes Of Urinary Incontinence

    Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.

    Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.

    Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.

    Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area .

    Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:

    • pregnancy and vaginal birth

    Find out more about the causes of urinary incontinence.

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    Try To Prevent Constipation

    Constipation causes the colon to swell and strain because of increased abdominal muscle pressure. This can adversely affect the bladder muscles and may also increase the frequency and severity of OAB symptoms.

    Eating more fiber, getting regular exercise, and staying hydrated can help prevent constipation. In addition, there are certain yoga poses including the Crescent Lunge, Cobra, and Legs up the Wall that can help relieve constipation and promote healthy bowel movements.

    Those who experience chronic constipation should talk with a doctor to learn more about other ways to help manage their constipation more effectively, such as by taking medications or trying physical therapy.

    What Are The Complications Of Urinary Retention

    Overactive Bladder Doesn

    Urinary Tract Infection

    Urine is normally sterile, and the normal flow of urine usually prevents bacteria from growing in the urinary tract. When urine stays in the bladder, however, bacteria have a chance to grow and infect the urinary tract.

    Bladder Damage

    If the bladder becomes stretched too far or for long periods, the muscle may be permanently damaged and lose its ability to contract.

    Chronic Kidney Disease

    If urine backs up into the kidneys, permanent kidney damage can lead to reduced kidney function and chronic kidney disease. If you lose too much of your kidney function, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

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    Solutions For A Leaky Bladder

    Research has found that at least half of people with urinary incontinence dont discuss the condition with a health care provider. But theres no need to feel embarrassed. If you have a leaky bladder, youre definitely not alone. Bladder leakage, or urinary incontinence, affects women and men of all ages, though it becomes more common later in life.

    And its definitely worth discussing, because of the many ways it can interfere with enjoying daily lifefrom exercise and travel to social outings and romance, says E. James Wright, M.D., director of urology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

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    How Is Urinary Retention Diagnosed

    Your doctor will order a number of tests to diagnose your condition.

    History of Complaints and Physical Examination

    A physician will suspect urinary retention by your symptoms and will attempt to confirm the diagnosis with a physical examination of the lower abdomen. The physician may be able to feel the distended bladder by lightly tapping on your lower belly. Tapping or striking for diagnostic purposes is called percussing.

    Urine Sample

    A urine sample will be examined for signs of infection, which may be a cause or a result of urinary retention.

    Bladder Scan

    A bladder scan uses a portable ultrasound device that can determine how much urine is in your bladder. You will be asked to urinate, and then your doctor or nurse will use the bladder scan to determine the post-void residual . The word residual refers to the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination. If you typically have a PVR of 100 milliliters or more, you are considered to have chronic urinary retention.

    Cystoscopy

    Your doctor may use a cystoscope to see inside your bladder and urethra. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract.

    X Ray and Computerized Tomography Scan

    Blood Test for Prostate-specific Antigen

    Prostate Fluid Sample

    Urodynamic Tests

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    Treatment Of Urinary Incontinence

    Treatment usually begins with bladder training and Kegel exercises. Avoiding physical stresses that cause loss of urine and losing weight may help control incontinence. Pseudoephedrine may be useful in women with bladder outlet incompetence. Imipramine may be used for mixed stress and urge incontinence Urge incontinence Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine. Incontinence can occur in both men and women at any age, but it is more common among women and older people, affecting about 30% of older women read more or for either separately. Duloxetine is also used for stress incontinence. If stress incontinence is caused by atrophic urethritis or vaginitis, estrogen cream is often effective. For people with stress incontinence, urinating frequently to avoid a full bladder is often helpful.

    For stress incontinence that is not relieved with drugs and behavioral measures, surgery or devices such as pessaries may be helpful. The vaginal sling procedure creates a hammock of support to help prevent the urethra from opening during coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Most commonly, a sling is created from synthetic mesh. Mesh implants are effective, but a few people with mesh implants have serious complications. Alternatively, doctors can create a sling using tissue from the abdominal wall or leg. In men with stress incontinence, a mesh sling or an artificial urinary sphincter implant may be placed around the urethra to prevent leakage of urine.

    Signs And Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder

    Health Problems : Overactive Bladder Symptoms

    Symptoms of overactive bladder vary from person to person, and may include:

    • Sudden, urgent need to urinate
    • Difficulty holding in urine
    • Frequent urination
    • Unintentional loss of urine with urgent need to urinate
    • Waking up more than once or twice at night to urinate

    The defining symptom of overactive bladder is sudden, strong urges to urinate. You may fear that youll leak urine on the way to the bathroom.

    Even if you dont actually leak urine, OAB can disrupt your life and may cause significant distress.

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    Causes Of Overactive Bladder In Men

    About two-thirds of overactive bladder cases in men are due to benign prostatic hyperplasia , also called an enlarged prostate. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through from the bladder out of the body.

    Although an enlarged prostate does not account for all cases of OAB in men, many who are treated for the symptoms are assumed to have an obstruction in the bladder caused by an enlarged prostate.

    Age increases a mans risk of getting OAB. Age also increases a mans risk for BPH, which can lead to OAB.

    An infection in the bladder, bladder stones and bladder cancer can cause symptoms that lead to OAB. Neurological conditions, such as a stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinsons disease, cause nerve damage that results in sending the incorrect signals to the bladder that causes OAB. Temporary factors, such as drinking a lot of caffeinated or alcoholic fluids, taking medications that increase urine output or having constipation, might increase the need to urinate.

    What Steps Can I Take At Home To Treat Urinary Incontinence

    Your doctor or nurse may suggest some things you can do at home to help treat urinary incontinence. Some people do not think that such simple actions can treat urinary incontinence. But for many women, these steps make urinary incontinence go away entirely, or help leak less urine. These steps may include:

    You can also buy pads or protective underwear while you take other steps to treat urinary incontinence. These are sold in many stores that also sell feminine hygiene products like tampons and pads.

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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.

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