Overactive bladder, also called OAB, causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control. You may feel like you need to pass urine many times during the day and night, and may also experience unintentional loss of urine (urgency incontinence).
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.
Urinalysis. Taking a urine sample allows your doctor to check for conditions that can cause overactive bladder. A urinalysis looks for the presence of these substances in the urine: Bacteria or white blood cells, which could indicate a urinary tract infection or inflammation.
You may have overactive bladder if you have two or more of these symptoms: You urinate eight or more times a day or two or more times at night. You have the sudden, strong need to urinate immediately. You leak urine after a sudden, strong urge to urinate.
Overactive bladder affects performance of daily activities and social function such as work, traveling, physical exercise, sleep and sexual function. If this condition is left untreated, it leads to impaired quality of life accompanied by emotional distress and depression.
Not only does OAB not go away on it's own, but the condition will likely get worse if left untreated. Over time, our muscles get weaker and the tissues of our pelvic floor grow thinner. If OAB is left untreated, it can become harder to control the urges, and leaks may be more frequent.
Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is a chronic medical condition which has a tremendous impact on the quality of life in both men and women [1]. OAB affects performance of daily activities and social function such as work, traveling, physical exercise, sleep, and sexual function.
Because the bladder can only hold so much fluid volume, increasing water intake will increase the frequency of urination, and may make people with an overactive bladder more likely to leak. If you have overactive bladder (OAB), more fluid intake typically equals more trips to the bathroom.
Our urologists treat patients with OAB with combinations of behavioral therapy, medication, and in severe cases, a therapy called Interstim, to treat overactive bladder. Another option is the injection of Botox into the bladder to relax and paralyze the overactive muscle.
Vitamin C found in foods.
A study done on vitamin c intake in 2060 women, aged 30-79 years of age found that high-dose intake of vitamin c and calcium were positively associated with urinary storage or incontinence, whereas vitamin C from foods and beverages were associated with decreased urinary urgency.
Prior research has linked anxiety and OAB: up to 40% of women and 30% of men with OAB also have generalized anxiety disorder. The link between stress and OAB is less studied. In animals, experimental stress can cause OAB-like symptoms and behaviors as well as bladder and somatic hypersensitivity.
FIRST-LINE TREATMENTS
Behavioral therapies (e.g., bladder training, bladder-control strategies, pelvic floor muscle training, fluid management) should be offered as first-line therapy to all patients with overactive bladder. Antimuscarinic agents may be used in combination with behavioral strategies.
The caffeine in coffee and tea beverages can increase bladder activity and exacerbate OAB symptoms. One might find themselves with a higher urgency to urinate, more frequent urge to urinate, and increased incontinence after a caffeinated beverage.
The best OAB medications available are anticholinergics and beta-3 adrenergic agonists. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider if it's safe to take them with your other potential medications and health conditions.
Overactive bladder and IC can present with similar symptoms, such as urinary urgency, frequency, and nocturia. Urge urinary incontinence is a common feature of OAB, whereas pelvic pain is typically associated with IC.
Pharmacologic agents including oral estrogens, alpha-blockers, sedative-hypnotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, ACE inhibitors, loop diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and calcium channel blockers have been implicated to some degree in the onset or exacerbation of urinary incontinence.
Talk to your doctor if you're experiencing any of the following symptoms: strong, sudden urges to urinate. urinating more than 8 times in 24 hours or waking more than 2 times at night to urinate. not making it to the bathroom in time.
OAB: What to Drink and When
First, make water your preferred beverage. Added ingredients in sodas and energy drinks, and caffeine in coffee, may aggravate an overactive bladder. Staying hydrated is important to overall health.
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.