The following signs and symptoms indicate the condition of an overactive bladder:<\/strong><\/p>\n Though you may be able to get to a toilet when you need to urinate, an overactive bladder can cause serious disruptions in your daily life.<\/p>\n While overactive bladders are common among older individuals, they are not a normal part of aging. Consider behavioral strategies and other management options if your symptoms are causing you distress.<\/p>\n Some treatments could help you. Discussing your signs and symptoms might not be easy, but it\u2019s necessary\u2014especially if your symptoms are disrupting your life.<\/p>\n When your body functions normally, your kidneys produce urine, draining into your bladder. Then, when you urinate, the urine flows from your bladder through a tube called the urethra. The urethra is just above the vagina in women and at the tip of the penis in men.<\/p>\n As your bladder begins to fill up, nerve signals sent to your brain trigger the urge to urinate. After urination, those same nerve signals help the pelvic floor muscles and the muscles of the urethra relax as the muscles of the bladder contract to push the urine out.<\/p>\n The condition of an overactive bladder occurs when the bladder muscles contract even when the urine volume is low.<\/p>\n This contraction results in the urgent need to urinate. There are several conditions that may contribute to the signs\/symptoms of overactive bladder, including the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n In most cases, an overactive bladder’s specific cause is unclear.<\/p>\n As you get older, your risk of developing an overactive bladder increases. Additionally, you\u2019re at an increased risk of other conditions, such as diabetes and an enlarged prostate, which can contribute to issues with normal bladder function.<\/p>\n Many individuals who have conditions involving cognitive decline also develop overactive bladder, especially with Alzheimer\u2019s or stroke.<\/p>\n Incontinence that is due to situations like this can be managed by scheduling fluid intake and voiding, wearing absorbent garments, and bowel programs.<\/p>\n Some individuals who have the condition of overactive bladder also have issues with controlling bowels, so make sure you inform your physician if this is an issue for you.<\/p>\n Any time you have incontinence, it can have an effect on your overall quality of life. If your condition has resulted in major disruptions in your life, you may also have the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have any of the above, your physician will likely recommend treatment, but it is not clear if treating the associated condition will also help with the urinary symptoms.<\/p>\n Some women will experience a condition that is known as mixed incontinence, where both stress incontinence and urge occur together.<\/p>\n Stress incontinence occurs when you lose urine after exerting physical stress or pressure on your bladder while participating in activities such as jumping or running.<\/p>\n Treatment of this condition is not likely to have an effect on the symptoms of overactive bladder.<\/p>\n Older individuals may also have a combination of bladder storage\/emptying issues. You may experience urgency and incontinence, but it doesn\u2019t always empty very well. A specialist may be required to help you with this combination.<\/p>\n If you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of an overactive bladder, you will need to see your primary physician. After this initial appointment, he\/she will most likely refer you to a urologist or a urogynecologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n Following are some tips to help you prepare for your appointment and what you should expect from your physician.<\/p>\n A few days before your appointment, record when, how much, and the type of fluids you are consuming.<\/p>\n You will also need to record whether or not you feel the need to urinate when you urinate and whether or not you experience incontinence. This could help you understand why you have to get up at night to urinate.<\/p>\n Make sure you inform your physician about how long you have experienced your signs and symptoms and how much of an impact they are having on your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n Take note of any other signs and symptoms you may be experiencing, especially anything related to bowel functioning.<\/p>\n Be sure to inform your physician if you have any other conditions- whether or not you believe they are affecting or related to your overactive bladder. You will also want to let him\/her know if you have had any sort of pelvic surgery.<\/p>\n Make a list of all of your medications\u2014OTC, prescription, herbal, vitamins, supplements, etc. Some of these could actually affect the functioning of your bladder.<\/p>\n Write down questions to ask your physician during the appointment. These days, they are always so rushed during appointments. You want to make the most of the time that you do have with him\/her, and having this list will make things go so much more smoothly.<\/p>\n Some of the most common questions include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Your physician may ask some questions to assess your signs and symptoms, including the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have abnormal urination urges, your physician will test to ensure there is no infection and\/or blood in your urine.<\/p>\n He\/she will also want to test to determine whether you are emptying your bladder completely.<\/p>\n During your appointment, your physician will look for clues indicating certain factors are contributing to your condition. Your work-up will most likely consist of the following:<\/p>\n Your physician may do a simple urodynamic test to assess your bladder’s functioning and its ability to empty completely and steadily. This testing will typically require a referral to a specialist. Testing will include:<\/p>\n Measuring the amount of urine\u00a0<\/strong>left in the bladder:<\/strong> This test is critical if your bladder is not emptying completely when you urinate. If urine remains in the bladder, this could result in symptoms like those of an\u00a0<\/span>overactive bladder.<\/p>\n Your physician may perform an ultrasound of your bladder or pass a catheter into your bladder to drain\/measure the urine left in your bladder after you urinate.<\/p>\n Measuring the flow rate of urine:<\/strong> Your physician may request that you urinate into a uroflowmeter to measure the speed and volume of your urine. This device will then translate that information onto a graph.<\/p>\n Testing bladder pressures:<\/strong> this test, known as cystometry, measures the amount of pressure on your bladder and surrounding areas during the time that your bladder is filling. Your physician will insert a catheter into your bladder and slowly fill it with warm water.<\/p>\n Another catheter will be placed into the vagina if you are a woman or the rectum if you are a man. This procedure will reveal whether you have involuntary muscle contractions or your bladder cannot function under low pressure.<\/p>\n You may also be asked to urinate during this study to measure the pressure used to empty your bladder and to reveal whether or not there is an obstruction due to pelvic organ prolapse in women or an enlarged prostate in men. Both of those will lead to signs and symptoms of overactive bladder.<\/p>\n After testing, your physician will review the results with you and will offer treatment options based on the findings.<\/p>\n Since there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for this condition, your physician will most likely recommend a combination of strategies to help with symptom relief.<\/p>\n The very first choice in managing an overactive bladder is behavioral interventions. These are often very effective and have no side effects. Behavioral interventions include the following:<\/p>\n Exercising the pelvic floor muscles:<\/strong> Kegel exercises can strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor and urinary sphincter. With stronger muscles, you can stop your bladder’s involuntary contractions.<\/p>\n Your physician or a physical therapist can teach you how to properly perform Kegel exercises. It may take 6 to 8 weeks before you are able to see a difference in your symptoms.<\/p>\n Maintain a healthy weight:<\/strong> if you are overweight or obese, losing weight could help to relieve your symptoms. In addition, losing weight can help correct stress urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n Consume less fluids:<\/strong> You may need to cap the amount of fluids you consume after a certain amount or even only consume them during appropriate times- cutting off after a certain time of day so that you\u2019re not up several times during the night.<\/p>\n Double Voiding:<\/strong> in order to completely empty your bladder, you may need to wait a few minutes after urinating to try to empty your bladder again.<\/p>\n Schedule your Toilet Trips:<\/strong> Creating a toilet schedule every two to four hours or so will help you urinate at the same times each day instead of waiting until you feel the urge.<\/p>\n Catheterization:<\/strong> Periodically, using a catheter to empty your bladder will help it perform as it should.<\/p>\n Wearing absorbent pads\/undergarments:<\/strong> Wearing these will help protect your clothes and avoid being embarrassed by accidents, meaning you won\u2019t be forced to limit your activities.<\/p>\n Training your bladder:<\/strong> this treatment method involves training yourself to delay urinating when you feel the urge.<\/p>\n You should begin with short delays- no more than 30 minutes- and slowly work up to where you urinate every three to four hours. Of course, remember that this is only possible if you can contract your pelvic floor muscles.<\/p>\n Medications that relax your bladder are helpful for relieving the symptoms of an overactive bladder and reducing urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n Some of the common side effects of these medications include dry eyes and mouth- however, drinking water to quench your thirst can actually aggravate your symptoms.<\/p>\n Another potential side effect is constipation- which can also aggravate the symptoms of overactive bladder.<\/p>\n Using extended-release forms, such as gels or patches, can result in fewer side effects. If a medication is working to relieve your symptoms, it\u2019s best to treat the side effects rather than stop taking the medication.<\/p>\n Bladder medications are not likely to prevent you from having to get up during the night to urinate because this is typically not related to a bladder issue but to the way your heart and kidneys manage bodily fluids.<\/p>\n As you age, you are likely to make just as much, if not more, urine at night than during the day.<\/p>\n Botox can be used in small doses to partially paralyze the muscles of the bladder. Research reveals that this is often effective for treating severe cases of incontinence. However, it has not been approved by the FDA for those individuals who do not have a neurological disorder. The effects of this are temporary, lasting 6 to 9 months.<\/p>\n This medication brings along a risk of causing more issues with emptying the bladder in older individuals as well as those who have other health issues. If you are considering this treatment, you must be willing to catheterize yourself if retention occurs.<\/p>\n In one procedure, a thin wire will be placed near your sacral nerve near your tailbone. These are the nerves that carry the signals to your bladder.<\/p>\n This is a surgical procedure, typically done with a temporary wire placed on a trial basis or a permanent electrode implanted as an advanced procedure.<\/p>\n Your physician will then connect a device to the wire that sends electrical impulses to your bladder. This is very similar to what a pacemaker will do to the heart.<\/p>\n This treatment option is used only in severe cases of overactive bladder where other treatments have been ineffective. The primary goal is to improve the storage ability of the bladder as well as reduce pressure.<\/p>\n However, this will not relieve the pain associated with overactive bladder. Surgical interventions include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Surgery to increase the bladder capacity:<\/strong> in this procedure, pieces from your bowel will be used to replace a portion of your bladder.<\/span><\/p>\n This is only used in severe cases of urge incontinence where other treatment measures have not worked. If you do have this surgery, you will most likely need to use a catheter sometimes to empty your bladder for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n Removal of Bladder:<\/strong> this treatment is a last resort. It involves surgically removing the bladder and constructing a replacement or creating an opening in the body to attach a urine collection bag.<\/p>\n Overactive bladder is a common condition- especially as an individual ages. However, it is treatable and often responds well to self-care treatments.<\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/overactive-bladder\/basics\/definition\/con-20027632<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/overactive_bladder\/article.htm<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.urologyhealth.org\/urologic-conditions\/overactive-bladder-(oab)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Overactive bladder is a common condition characterized by bladder storage malfunctioning, resulting in sudden urges to urinate. These urges are often very difficult to stop, and the condition of an overactive bladder could lead to incontinence or the involuntary loss of urine. If you have this condition, chances are that you may limit your work…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diseases-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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<\/p>\nWhen Should You Seek Medical Attention?<\/h3>\n
Causes of Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Risk Factors for Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
Complications From Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Getting Ready to See Your Physician<\/span><\/h2>\n
Things for You to Do<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat You Should Expect from Your Physician<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Testing and Diagnosing Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Special Testing for Overactive Bladder<\/h3>\n
Treating Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
Behavioral Interventions<\/h3>\n
Medications for Treating Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
Bladder Injections for Treating Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
Nerve Stimulation for Treating Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.thefibrowarriors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/overactive-bladder-symptoms-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSurgery for Treating Overactive Bladder<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n