An overactive bladder (OAB) causes a sudden urge to urinate. It can also trigger involuntary loss of urine, known as incontinence It can be difficult to manage symptoms because an overactive bladder may be unpredictable. This can cause some people with the condition to limit their social activities, which can affect the quality of your life. It can also trigger isolation and emotional distress. But there are several treatments available that can help you manage your symptoms. Treating overactive bladder can also improve your outlook and reduce incidence of incontinence.
Experiencing occasional incontinence doesn’t mean you have an overactive bladder. Urine leakage can happen for other reasons, like if you’re laughing too hard. You may also experience loss of urine if you’ve been fighting the urge to urinate for an extended period of time.
An overactive bladder is determined by the frequency and urgency of urination. Symptoms include::
- an urgent and uncontrollable need to urinate
- frequent involuntary loss of urine
- frequent urination (more than eight times in a 24-hour period)
- waking up more than once a night to use the bathroom
Overactive bladder causes
Your kidneys produce urine and that urine travels to your bladder. Then, your brain sends signals that tell your body to urinate. Your pelvic floor muscles relax and allow urine to exit your body. An overactive bladder causes your bladder muscles to contract involuntarily. This gives the sensation of needing to urinate frequently even if your bladder isn’t full.
Different conditions and factors can cause symptoms of OAB:
- Drinking too much fluid.
- Taking medications that increase urine production.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or other bladder irritants.
- Failure to completely empty the bladder.
- Bladder abnormalities, such as bladder stones.
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