Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of OAB

The need to urinate every now and then is normal. The intake of liquids in a large amount would automatically make one make more trips to the bathroom and even that makes sense. But, when this every now and then becomes too frequent, it means that you are suffering from urinary incontinence. This condition makes one want to go to the bathroom even when the bladder is not full. It is a very embarrassing condition and is known to affect more women than men.

How would you know you are suffering from an overactive bladder?

• When you experience an intense, urgent urge to urinate and it is difficult for you to control the urge to go to the bathroom.
• When you urinate more than 7 times within a span of 24 hours.
• When you wake up more than twice in the middle of the night to relieve yourself.
• When you have leaking accidents while making it to the bathroom.
• When you have an overwhelming urge to urinate, but you can only manage a few drops of urine.

What are the causes of OAB?

The organs of the urinary tract are the kidneys and bladder which is responsible for producing, storing and passing the urine. The bladder is held in place with the help of muscles.  The bladder relaxes when you do not have the urge to urinate and, when the brain sends signals that the bladder is full, you feel the urge to urinate. The urine is then pushed out of the urethra by the squeezing of the bladder muscles. The condition of OAB is caused when the brain sends signals to the bladder even when the bladder isn’t full.

 Apart from this, OAB can also be caused due to certain medications, medical conditions that affect the nervous system and interrupt the signals between the bladder and the brain, urinary tract infection, loosening of the muscles holding the bladder in place, and so on.

Treatment of OAB

• Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Indulge in kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and maintain a bathroom routine.
• Intake of prescribed medicines will help to relax the bladder muscles.
• Neuromodulation therapies which sends electrical impulses to the nerves to help change their working.
• Botox injections can help bladder muscles from contracting too often.

If you think you are suffering from OAB, then visit a doctor today and get your condition checked out before it gets worse.