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.
See a healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of an overactive bladder. Age-related OAB may develop gradually and slowly worsen over time. If your symptoms develop suddenly and you have heavy leakage, your OAB may be a symptom of another condition, such as an infection or a neurological issue.
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. Wake up more than two times in the night to urinate (nocturia)
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.
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.
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.
There's no cure for OAB, but the good news is that there are effective ways to manage it. These include behavioral treatments, lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes surgery. OAB can happen for several reasons. Sometimes treating the underlying cause of your OAB can help your symptoms.
"Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence worsen with age: New study suggests association between age and menopause status with increased urinary symptoms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 December 2021.
Start by peeing every 2 hours, for example. If the urge comes before then, postpone peeing by doing kegels, Carmel says. If you can't make it to your scheduled time, do kegels and try postponing urination for 5 minutes. Gradually increase the time between pee breaks, which will help retrain your bladder muscles.
Signs and Symptoms of Overactive Bladder
Sudden, urgent need to urinate. Difficulty holding in urine. Frequent urination (often eight times or more within 24 hours) Unintentional loss of urine with urgent need to urinate (urgency incontinence)
In rare cases, an operation known as augmentation cystoplasty may be recommended to treat urge incontinence. This involves making your bladder bigger by adding a piece of tissue from your intestine into the bladder wall.
Overactive bladder may occur in individuals of all ages and has a high prevalence. In Europe and Canada, a population-based survey estimated the prevalence of OAB to be 12.8% in women and 10.8% in men. In a European SIFO study conducted in 6 countries, the prevalence of OAB in women was estimated to be 17.4%.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for overactive bladder (OAB). The pathophysiology of DM-associated OAB is multifactorial and time-dependent. Diabetic bladder dysfunction is highly associated with diabetic complications, mainly including diabetic neuropathy and atherosclerosis.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Urologists work with both men and women to manage the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence. If it is OAB, lifestyle modifications, medications and surgical treatments can help get the symptoms under control.
However, it can take up to 4 to 8 weeks for you to notice any improvements in your symptoms. Usually, treatment with mirabegron is long term. However, if you no longer have bladder problems, your doctor will advise you to stop taking mirabegron.