Overactive bladder starts with a muscle contraction in the bladder wall. The result is a need to urinate (urinary urgency), which is also called urge incontinence or irritable bladder. While overactive bladder is most common in older adults, the condition is not a normal result of aging.
An overactive bladder or OAB is where a person regularly gets a sudden and compelling need or desire to pass urine. This sensation is difficult to put off (defer) and this can happen at any time during the day or night, often without any warning.
Overactive bladder is caused by a malfunction of the detrusor muscle, which in turn can be cased by: Nerve damage caused by abdominal trauma, pelvic trauma or surgery. Bladder stones. Drug side effects.
Water is the best option for the bladder and for general health. Diluted cordial / squash drinks. Diluted fruit juice. Many fruit and herbal teas.
If your bladder symptoms are due to your eating and drinking, a strict diet that gets rid of the products listed can give you relief in 10 days. Once your symptoms get better, you can add things back in.
Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a bladder infection. It's a common type of urinary tract infection (UTI), particularly in women, and is usually more of a nuisance than a cause for serious concern. Mild cases will often get better by themselves within a few days.
In other people with a painful bladder, the production of a more concentrated urine may be irritating to the bladder. In these patients, drinking more water can help incontinence due to decrease in the frequency of voiding and the amount of leakage.
Cystitis is a problem in which pain, pressure, or burning in the bladder is present. Most often, this problem is caused by germs such as bacteria. Cystitis may also be present when there is no infection.
The three most common causes of bladder pain are interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infection, and bladder cancer.
Dr. John explains that some people who suffer from anxiety “may notice a change in urinary symptoms; namely an increase in the number of occasions where they experience urinary urgency (a sudden urge to void that cannot be deferred), perhaps accompanied by incontinence.”
Magnesium. Magnesium is important for proper muscle and nerve function. Some doctors believe better magnesium levels can reduce bladder spasms, a common cause of incontinence. Magnesium levels can be checked through a blood test at your next doctor's visit.
If you have an overactive bladder, you may: Feel a sudden urge to urinate that's difficult to control. Experience unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate (urgency incontinence) Urinate frequently, usually eight or more times in 24 hours.
Red-flag symptoms/signs
Suspected/known neurological disease. Urethral/bladder pain. Recurrent urinary tract infection. Difficulty with bladder emptying.
InterStim™ therapy
During InterStim for OAB: Your doctor implants a small device in the lower back that acts like a pacemaker for the bladder. The device delivers gentle electrical pulses to the sacral nerves, which are located near the tailbone. These nerves control the bladder, pelvic floor and bowel.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic condition that does not go away by itself. OAB may worsen without treatment and negatively affect a person's quality of life. However, there are many treatment options to help manage OAB.
Every woman goes on her own schedule, but generally, peeing 6-8 times in 24 hours is considered normal for someone who is healthy, and isn't pregnant. If you're going more often than that, you may be experiencing frequent urination. Frequent urination can happen on its own and isn't always a sign of a health problem.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends sleeping on your side if you have an overactive bladder so that there's no pressure on your bladder. You can also elevate your legs during the night to keep the need to urinate at bay.
Interstitial cystitis (in-tur-STISH-ul sis-TIE-tis) is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain. The condition is a part of a spectrum of diseases known as painful bladder syndrome.