Do you ever feel like you have to constantly go to the bathroom? Is your bladder just too active? If so, you might be suffering from a condition called overactive bladder (OAB). 

OAB is a common condition that can affect people of all ages. It occurs when the muscles of the bladder become too active and cause an urge to urinate more frequently than normal. Find out more about OAB below.

What is Overactive Bladder (OAB)?

Overactive bladder is a urinary condition marked by frequent and sudden urges to urinate. It affects nearly 17 million adults in the United States and is more common in women than men. People with OAB experience symptoms such as urge incontinence — when a person suddenly feels an urgent need to urinate but doesn’t make it to the bathroom in time — frequent urination (more than 8 times a day), waking up multiple times during the night due to urination, and an inability to control the urge to urinate.

What Causes OAB?

The exact cause of overactive bladder is not known. However, there are several potential culprits that can contribute to OAB. These include urinary infections, nerve damage, and certain medications. Additionally, factors such as obesity, constipation, and even menopause can play a role.

Treatments for OAB

Fortunately, overactive bladder is treatable. There are many different treatment options available, depending on the root cause of your OAB. Common treatments include lifestyle changes, bladder training, medications, pelvic floor muscle exercise, electrical stimulation, and surgery.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms of OAB. Reducing your intake of alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods can help decrease the frequency of your urge to urinate. Additionally, limiting the amount of fluids you consume prior to bedtime and sticking to a bladder-friendly diet can help. Bladder Control Pads and Liquid Absorbent Liners are also great for managing leakage associated with OAB.

Bladder Training

Bladder training is a type of behavioral therapy aimed at managing OAB symptoms. Through this type of treatment, a patient learns techniques to recognize and control the urge to urinate. Bladder training can also help reduce the number of trips to the bathroom per day, as well as improve the ability to delay urination.

Medications

For those who do not respond to lifestyle changes or bladder training, there are medications available to help treat OAB. These medications work by relaxing the bladder muscles while also decreasing the urge to urinate. Common medications used to treat OAB include antimuscarinics, beta-3 agonists, and onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox).

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

Pelvic floor muscle exercises, or Kegel exercises, are another helpful tool in managing OAB. These exercises help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor which can help increase bladder control. Doing Kegel exercises for 10 minutes per day, 3 to 5 days per week, can help ease OAB symptoms over time.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is another treatment option for those who suffer from OAB. During this treatment, small electrical currents are applied to the surface of the skin over the bladder, stimulating the nerve pathways that control the bladder. This can help reduce feelings of urgency and leakage.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat OAB. Surgery is usually aimed at correcting any anatomical abnormalities in the urinary tract. It can also be used to decrease the muscle contractions in the bladder and treat any nerve damage.

Overactive bladder, or OAB, is a common condition that affects millions of people each year. OAB is caused by overly active muscles of the bladder, leading to symptoms such as frequent urge to urinate, urge incontinence, and waking up several times at night to urinate. Fortunately, OAB is treatable with lifestyle changes, bladder training, medication, pelvic floor exercises, electrical stimulation and, in some cases, surgery. Speak with your physician for more information on how to best manage OAB.