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What is an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder or OAB is a medical condition that can occur among men, women, and children, irrespective of age. However, more women than men have been seen with OAB, and the condition increases with age. OAB can be caused by spinal cord injury, cognitive decline, weak pelvic floor muscles after childbirth, menopause, and stroke. 

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What are overactive bladder symptoms?

The symptoms diagnostic of OAB, in the absence of a urinary tract infection, are

• Urinary urgency (sudden need to urinate even if you have not had any liquid for hours)
• Higher frequency of passing urine (eight times a day and more)
• Nocturia (waking up twice or thrice to urinate)
• Urge incontinence (passing urine before reaching the bathroom)

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How is overactive bladder diagnosed?

If you have symptoms resembling an overactive bladder, you should book an appointment with a urologist. The urologist shall take your history, examine you and do some tests to diagnose the condition accurately. The diagnostic tests for an overactive bladder include:

• Bladder diary
• Urine test
• Cystoscopy
• Bladder scan
• Cystometrogram

At Aashray Urology Institute, Vadodara, the urologists shall give you clear information about managing OAB. 

The good news is that you don’t have to bear with an overactive bladder. There are ways to get relief from an overactive bladder. 

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5 tips for dealing with an overactive bladder

Below are a few tips for OAB relief, as advised by Dr. Ashit Shah at Aashray Urology Institute, Vadodara:

1.  Avoid dietary irritants like caffeine and nicotine

First, you need to reduce your coffee intake. Caffeine has a diuretic action that causes involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles, and contributes to urge incontinence. Therefore, more than 3-4 cups of brewed coffee are considered an excessive intake. 

Other bladder-irritating foods you should avoid are tea, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, acidic fruits and fruit juices, and alcohol. 

If you smoke often, try cutting down or stopping entirely. The nicotine in cigarettes irritates the bladder causing bladder spasms. In addition, urinary leakage may be caused by coughing spasms induced by smoking. 

2. Be more active

Physical inactivity can aggravate bladder control problems. Similarly, being overweight puts more pressure on the bladder and causes urine leakage. Do get into an exercise routine and manage your weight. Regular physical activity like exercising, walking, and swimming help in better bladder control. In addition, special pelvic floor exercises called Kegels strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which control urination with the bladder valve. 

3. Avoid stress

Stress in any form, whether physical or mental, can aggravate overactive bladder problems. 

Mental stress and anxiety can make the pelvic floor and bladder muscles contract leading to an urge for urination. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing and yoga. 

Constipation and coughing bouts are examples of physical stress leading to stress incontinence, involuntary urinary leakage, or urge to urinate. Treating constipation and cough helps overactive bladder control. 

4. Try “double voiding” and “delayed voiding”

Dr. Ashit Shah, an experienced urologist at Aashray Urology Institute, Vadodara, strongly recommends double voiding and delayed voiding techniques for controlling an overactive bladder.

Double voiding involves urinating twice within a gap of a few minutes. First, you shall be advised to use the bathroom and empty your bladder fully, followed by urinating again after a few minutes. The second time, you will be able to empty your bladder more fully as the first voiding will help relax the muscles of your bladder and reduce tension. Although it may require some extra effort, this technique can be very effective in managing an overactive bladder. 

Delayed voiding means waiting longer and longer intervals between trips to the bathroom. This technique can help teach your bladder muscles to contract more slowly and for a shorter duration, allowing you to go for longer periods of time without needing to use the restroom.

5. Visit a urologist

You need to know that you do not have to let an overactive bladder negatively affect the quality of your life. If you are having trouble managing your symptoms, it is important to visit a urologist. A urologist can diagnose and treat an overactive bladder using various methods such as medications, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, or even surgery. 

You may seek a consultation appointment with Dr. Ashit Shah, the chief urologist at Aashray Urology Institute, Vadodara, to learn how to relieve OAB symptoms. Dr. Ashit Shah is the chief urologist in Vadodara with several years of experience and proven expertise in successfully treating all urological conditions with the most advanced and tested methods.