Did you know that 40% of women in the United States struggle with an overactive bladder?
If you’ve been struggling with the combination of symptoms, such as waking up in the middle of the night to urinate or feeling a frequent urge to urinate, you may be wondering if you have an overactive bladder. There are many causes behind an overactive bladder, but understanding this medical condition is important for you to take the right steps to get treatment.
That’s why today, we’ve created this complete guide to help you understand what overactive bladder is, what symptoms are commonly associated with overactive bladder, and the common causes behind an overactive bladder. Keep reading to learn more!
What Is an Overactive Bladder?
In women that are suffering from an overactive bladder, they feel a sudden urge to urinate. Sometimes, women will have an involuntary loss of urine, which is also commonly referred to as incontinence.
It can be difficult to manage the symptoms of an overactive bladder because many women cannot predict when they’re going to have flare-ups of an overactive bladder. Many people have this condition that ends up limiting the social activities that they participate in. However, if you notice that an overactive bladder impacts the quality of life that you’re living, it’s time for you to seek treatment.
What Are the Symptoms of an Overactive Bladder?
Overactive bladder is a collection of different symptoms. These different symptoms include:
- Frequently urinating
- Urgency when urinating
- Incontinence
- Nocturia
If you’re finding that you’re struggling to be able to postpone your need to urinate, it may almost feel like you have a limited amount of time to get to a bathroom. In women, they may also experience the needed to urinate frequently. This need to urinate is compared to how many times you used to feel like you needed to use the bathroom.
You may also notice that there’s a leakage of urine when you feel the need to use the bathroom. In other women suffering from overactive bladder, they may feel the need to get up to urinate at least two to three times every night.
What Causes Overactive Bladder?
Several factors can contribute to the cause of an overactive bladder. Some of the most commonly contributed factors include:
Nerve Damage
When signals are sent to the brain and the bladder, the body tries to empty the bladder at the wrong time. There are several diseases, as well as types of trauma, that can cause this to happen. Some of the most commonly found causes of nerve damage that cause overactive bladder include:
- Back surgery
- Pelvic surgery
- Radiation
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Herniated disc
The damage caused by medical conditions or types of trauma can cause the nerves in your brain and your bladder to get confused about when to empty the bladder.
Weak Pelvic Floor
If you thought this was only a problem for females you would be wrong. Stress incontinence does indeed
This condition is referred to as weak pelvic muscles or a weak pelvic floor.
As a result, this can cause the bladder to begin to sag and move out of its original position. This can then cause the bladder to have problems with leakage.
Infection
Infections, such as a urinary tract infection, and cause irritation to the nerves surrounding the bladder. As a result, this can cause the bladder to contract without any warning.
Caffeine, Medications, and Alcohol
Alcohol, caffeine, and certain types of medications can cause the nerves to become a dog. As a result, this will impact how signals are sent to the brain.
Medications, such as diuretics and even caffeine, can cause your bladder to fill up quickly. This can make it difficult for you to realize it when you need to use the bathroom, causing the possibility of a leak.
Excess Weight
Having extra weight on your body puts extra weight on your bladder. As a result, this extra pressure can lead to urge incontinence developing.
Is There Any Available Treatment for Overactive Bladder?
There are several available treatment options. If the cause of your overactive bladder because of excessive weight, the best way to treat it is to lose weight. However, if your overactive bladder isn’t the cause of excessive weight, the next step is for you to begin to train at your bladder and pelvic floor.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Just like you workout to strengthen your legs, arms, and abdominal muscles, it’s important for you also to train your pelvic floor. Exercising your pelvic floor muscles will allow you to strengthen the muscles responsible for controlling your urination.
Commonly referred to as Kegels, exercising your pelvic floor will require you to tighten, hold, and relax the muscles that you use to start (and stop) your urination. Devices such as the Yarlap Kegel Exercise Kit and System is a type of medical device that’s been cleared by the FDA to complete these Kegel workouts for you.
The Yarlap Kegel Exercise Kit and System works by toning your pelvic floor muscles for you. Over time, you’ll notice that you aren’t struggling with bladder leakage. Plus, this device is comfortable, simple, and safe to use!
Learning How to Treat Your Overactive Bladder
By understanding the causes of overactive bladder, you can take the necessary steps to treat your condition. You shouldn’t let an overactive bladder affect the relationships that you have with your friends and family. By taking the necessary steps to not let it control your life will help you feel more comfortable and confident again.
Are you interested in learning more about overactive bladder and what you can do for treatment? We’re here to help you. Click here to check out the Yarlap Kegel Exercise Kit and System!
