Did you know that up to 27 percent of men and 43 percent of women have overactive bladders?
Although an overactive bladder isn’t a specific disease or condition, it is a combination of symptoms that cause you to urinate more often than normal or with more urgency. And, some people with overactive bladders experience incontinence or wake up several times during the night to use the bathroom.
Are you trying to find out whether an overactive bladder is the cause of your discomfort? If so, keep reading as we cover the most frequent overactive bladder symptoms, causes, and treatments in detail!
Signs of an Overactive Bladder
As mentioned at the outset, an overactive bladder is often a combination of symptoms that cause discomfort.
However, one of the most common signs of an overactive bladder is urinary urgency, meaning that you get the sudden urge to urinate and feel you can’t wait to do so.
Another common sign of an overactive bladder is frequent urination. If you experience this symptom, you’ll need to urinate more often than usual, even multiple times an hour. However, you may not have much urine to expel even when you get the urge to pee.
In some cases, people with an overactive bladder leak urine, known as incontinence. Some people experience it when they sneeze, laugh, lift heavy items, or exercise.
Nocturia is the final sign of an overactive bladder. It causes individuals to wake up at least twice during the middle of the night to urinate, disrupting their sleep quality.
What Causes Overactive Bladder?
Naturally, if you have any of these signs, you’ll want to minimize them as much as possible. But, before you can do so, you’ll need to discover your overactive bladder causes. Here are some of the most common:
- Weak pelvic muscles
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Caffeine or alcohol intake
- Obesity
- Menopause
To pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms, you’ll likely need to visit the doctor and do some tests.
Overactive Bladder Treatment
Since the causes of an overactive bladder vary, there are many different ways to treat the symptoms.
For example, some doctors will recommend lifestyle changes like weight loss, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, or getting more exercise. Patients may also need to manage conditions that contribute to their symptoms, such as diabetes.
Another treatment for an overactive bladder is kegel exercises, strengthening the pelvic muscles, improving vaginal laxity, and preventing incontinence.
Of course, if none of these treatments work, your doctor will likely use overactive bladder medication, which controls muscle spasms in the bladder.
Get Help Treating Your Overactive Bladder!
Having an overactive bladder is uncomfortable and even embarrassing at times. Thankfully, there are plenty of treatments that eliminate these frustrating symptoms. So, don’t wait any longer, and schedule an appointment with your doctor so you can get proper treatment for your overactive bladder!
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