When the bladder is full, it gathers urine from the kidneys and expels it. When a person’s bladder is hyperactive, he or she loses control over when and how often they urinate during the day.
When a person’s bladder squeezes repeatedly or without notice, they have this condition. As a result, individuals may need to go to the bathroom more frequently, or urine may leak.
The problem is usually caused by a breakdown in communication between the brain and the bladder. The bladder receives a signal from the brain that it is time to contract and empty, yet it is not full. The bladder begins to constrict as a result. This results in a strong desire to urinate.
Even though the condition is common, it does not indicate that a person must live with its symptoms. There are a variety of treatments available to help patients manage their symptoms.
Symptoms
An overactive bladder can result in a variety of symptoms, all of which can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life.
These are some examples of symptoms:
- Urination frequency: A person will urinate at least eight times per day.
- Nocturia is a condition in which a person cannot sleep through the night without getting up one or two times to urinate.
- Urinary urgency: A person will feel compelled to urinate suddenly and uncontrollably.
- Urge incontinence: A person will leak urine when they experience the urge to urinate.
An overactive bladder sufferer may frequently feel as if they are unable to entirely empty their bladder. They may use the restroom and then feel compelled to use it again within a short period of time.
Based on the symptoms, doctors split overactive bladder into two categories. Dry overactive bladder is the first type. Two-thirds of persons with overactive bladder have the dry type, according to Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
Wet hyperactive bladder is the second type. A person suffering from this illness has a leaking bladder. Those who have a dry overactive bladder do not have leakage symptoms.
Risk factors
Some individuals may dismiss their symptoms of overactive bladder as a normal part of growing older. However, aging isn’t the only thing that might make a person’s chance of developing an overactive bladder higher.
The following are some other risk factors:
- surgery-related nerve injury
- Injuries to the upper body or pelvis that cause bladder damage
- having normal pressure hydrocephalus, which is a cause of dementia.
- being infected with a urinary tract infection
- cancer of the bladder or prostate in the past
- bladder stones in the past
- Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke are all illnesses that influence neurological function.
- Menopause is a stage in women’s lives when they have reached the age of
- consuming a diet high in foods that cause the bladder to become “irritable” or overactive
- Caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods are examples of foods that can cause the bladder to become overactive.
A doctor might some times not be able to tell you why you have overactive bladder symptoms because Symptoms may appear to appear out of nowhere.
When should you see a doctor?
Although overactive bladder is not considered a life-threatening condition, it can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. There are numerous therapies available to alleviate symptoms.
When a person experiences the following symptoms, he or she should seek therapy for an overactive bladder:
- A person cannot sleep all night without getting up to use the restroom.
- a person who goes to the bathroom more than eight times a day
- a person has regular desires to urinate but only goes to the restroom once in a while
- Urine leaking is a common occurrence in a person’s life.
It’s possible that a person will suffer these symptoms but not understand how severe they are. However, if a person is concerned about bladder problems, they should always consult their doctor.
Lifestyle remedies
Bladder discomfort has been linked to certain diets and beverages. As a result, changing one’s lifestyle can assist to lessen the likelihood of developing overactive bladder symptoms.
Steps to take include the following:
- Caffeine and alcohol, both of which can stimulate the bladder, should be avoided.
- Keeping a healthy body weight. Excess weight can put an undue amount of strain on a person’s bladder.
- Increasing fiber intake, which can help to prevent constipation and overactivity of the bladder.
- Changing one’s fluid consumption such that they don’t drink as much in the evening. This reduces the chances of them needing to urinate in the middle of the night.
- Smoking should be avoided since it irritates the bladder.
Medical treatment
Medications, dietary modifications, and physical therapy are just a few of the therapies for overactive bladder that a specialist can offer. A doctor may, on rare occasions, propose more invasive treatments to treat the illness.
To treat an overactive bladder, doctors might prescribe a variety of drugs. Antispasmodics and anticholinergics are the terms used to describe these drugs. They lessen the occurrence of muscular spasms, such as bladder spasms.
The following are some examples of these medications:
- oxybutynin (Ditropan)
- solfienacin (Vesicare)
- tolterodine (Detrol)
- trospium (Sanctura)
Dry mouth and constipation are two common side effects of these drugs. Potential adverse effects should always be discussed with a doctor.
Therapy treatments
Overactive bladder can be treated with a variety of therapies. Bladder training is one example. This is a technique for strengthening the bladder muscles by postponing voiding. Bladder training should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.
Strengthening the bladder muscles can also be accomplished by pelvic floor exercises and vaginal weight training. Pelvic floor therapists are experts who can guide you through these exercises.
More invasive approaches
Botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injections are being used by doctors to treat bladder muscular spasms. However, once the poison wears off after a few months, you may need more injections.
A doctor may prescribe surgery if a person’s overactive bladder does not respond to drugs, therapy, or other non-invasive therapies.
The insertion of a sacral nerve stimulator is one example. This stimulator can assist modulate nerve impulses to the bladder, reducing overactivity in the muscles.
A treatment termed as augmentation cytoplasty is another option. Parts of a person’s bladder are replaced with intestinal tissue in this procedure. As a result, a person’s bladder can handle a higher volume of urine.
