Skip to main content

Overactive bladder


What is an overactive bladder?

An overactive bladder is a condition that results from sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder. Overactive bladder causes a sudden and unstoppable need to urinate (urinary urgency). Overactive bladder is also referred to as urge incontinence and is a form of urinary incontinence (unintentional loss of urine).

Overactive bladder is especially common in older adults. Overactive bladder affects an estimated one in 11 adults in the United States. Overactive bladder, however, should not be considered a normal part of aging.


What are symptoms of an overactive bladder?

The symptoms of an overactive bladder include frequent urination, urgency of urination, and urge incontinence. Overactive bladder may cause significant social, psychological, occupational, domestic, physical, and sexual problems. Again, these symptoms should not be considered a normal part of aging.



What are treatments for an overactive bladder?

The treatment for overactive bladder depends on the capabilities of the patient. Here are commonly recommended treatments:

Pelvic muscle rehabilitation to improve pelvic muscle tone and prevent leakage

Kegel exercises: Regular, daily exercising of pelvic muscles can improve, and even prevent, urinary incontinence. This is particularly helpful for younger women. These exercises should be performed 30-80 times daily for at least eight weeks.


Biofeedback: Used in conjunction with Kegel exercises, biofeedback helps people gain awareness and control of their pelvic muscles.


Vaginal weight training: Small weights are held within the vagina by tightening the vaginal muscles. These exercises should be performed for 15 minutes, twice daily, for four to six weeks.


Pelvic-floor electrical stimulation: Mild electrical pulses stimulate muscle contractions. This should be done in conjunction with Kegel exercises.
Behavioral therapies to help people regain control of their bladder

Bladder training teaches people to resist the urge to void and gradually expand the intervals between voiding.


Toileting assistance uses routine or scheduled toileting, habit-training schedules, and prompted voiding to empty the bladder regularly to prevent leaking.

What are treatments for the chronically incontinent?

Although many people will improve their continence through medications, pelvic-muscle exercises, and bladder training, some will never achieve complete dryness. Sometimes treatment failures are due to concurrent use of necessary medications, such as diuretics (water pills that increase urination), that actually can cause incontinence. Others may have dementia or other physical impairments that keep them from being able to perform pelvic-muscle exercises or retrain their bladders. Many will be cared for in long-term care facilities or at home. The following recommendations can help keep the chronically incontinent drier and reduce their cost of care:

Scheduled toileting: Take people to the toilet every two to four hours or according to their toilet habits.


Prompted voiding: Check for dryness and encourage use of the toilet.


Improved access to toilets: Use equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and devices that raise the seating level of toilets to make toileting easier.


Managing fluids and diet: Eliminate dietary caffeine (for those with urge incontinence) and encourage adequate fiber in the diet.


Disposable absorbent garments: Use these to keep people dry.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Thyroid - Hypothyroid - Meaning - Causes - Symptoms - Treatment

What is Hypothyroid? Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to "run the body's metabolism," it is understandable that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. Causes About three percent of the general population is hypothyroidic. Factors such as iodine deficiency or exposure to Iodine can increase that risk. There are a number of causes for hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. In iodine-replete individuals hypothyroidism is generally caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or otherwise as a result of either an absent thyroid gland or a deficiency in stimulating hormones from the hypothalamus or pituitary.
Read more

Common diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency

Sunlight is that the body's main supplier of Vitamin D that is critical for sturdy bones and teeth. Vitamin D is in virtually each tissue, therefore, it's vital for the health of the entire body. However, five hundredths of individuals over fifty have low levels of Vitamin D. Studies have shown that an absence of it will result in polygenic disorder, depression, cardiopathy, hip fractures, cramp, and disseminated multiple sclerosis. If we do not get enough Vitamin D our cells will multiply too quick and grow to become malignant tumors increasing a risk of breast, colon, prostate, ovary, gullet and humor cancers. Lack of Vitamin D may also interfere with endocrine secretion therefore it might have an effect on polygenic disorder sufferers it absolutely was found in 'Archives of General Psychiatry' that deficiencies result in depression as a result of it affect the small endocrine glands behind the thyroid and that they become hyperactive...
Read more

Warts - Meaning - Causes - Treatment

A wart is generally a small, rough tumor, typically on hands and feet but often other locations, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. Warts are common, and are caused by a viral infection, specifically by the human papillomavirus and are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects used by an infected person. They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can recur. Cause Warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus or HPV. There are approximately 130 strains of human papilloma viruses. People with week immune system are at the greater risk of this disease. Will warts go away on their own? Often warts disappear on their own, although it may take many months or even years for the warts to go away. But some warts won't go away on their own. Doctors are not sure why some warts disappear and others do not. Treatment Warts can be remov...
Read more