Have an overactive bladder? Here’s how to deal with it
Q: I am in my mid-30s and a mom of twins, and it seems that I recently developed what must be an overactive bladder. It hinders my daily activities and makes me feel embarrassed, as I often must excuse myself abruptly. I wake up multiple times at night, too. Sometimes I also seem to leak urine. Are these conditions common for women my age, and what can I do to make them more manageable?
A: An overactive bladder causes a sudden urge to urinate. The condition is common, affecting over 33 million Americans. It affects both men and women, although women are more susceptible because of pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.
With a healthy bladder, the brain signals that the bladder is getting full. When you get to a bathroom, your bladder muscles contract and force urine out of the bladder. Overactive bladder can result from the nerve signals between the bladder and the brain not functioning properly. People with overactive bladders frequently feel a sudden urge to urinate.
In general, the risk for overactive bladder increases with age. Several conditions can contribute to signs and symptoms of overactive bladder, including:
■ Neurological disorders, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis;
■ Diabetes;
■ Urinary tract infections that can cause symptoms similar to those of an overactive bladder;
■ Hormonal changes during menopause in women; ■ Abnormalities in the bladder, such as tumors or bladder stones; and
■ Sometimes medications, excess caffeine and incomplete bladder emptying can contribute to overactive bladder issues.
The good news is that there are a variety of treatments for managing overactive bladder. Depending on your situation, options can include simple behavioral modifications, physical therapy, oral medications or outpatient procedures. It is important to discuss your situation with your gynecologist who can refer you to a specialist to learn more about treatment options.
The urgency associated with an overactive bladder can be difficult to stop and can lead to episodes of involuntary loss of urine. This is known as urge incontinence, which may be the leaking you are experiencing. Urge incontinence is the most prominent form of incontinence among women in the U.S. Approximately 1 in 4 women over 18 report experiencing episodes of leaking urine involuntary.
Overactive bladder can cause urgency, even when the bladder is not full. The muscles of the bladder start to contract involuntarily, even when the volume of urine in your bladder is low. This creates the urgent sensation to void your bladder.
It is important to note that women who have an overactive bladder also may have a disorder called mixed incontinence, when both urgency and stress incontinence occur. Stress incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine prompted by physical movement or activity that puts pressure on your bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising.
Although overactive bladder and urinary leaking can be disruptive, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and exercise with core strengthening, is important. Also, although it may seem counterintuitive, drinking plenty of water is important, so that your body and muscles function regularly. You also can ease overactive bladder symptoms by limiting consumption of caffeine and alcohol.