Overactive Bladder
It is a syndrome known as Overactive Bladder (OAB) for short and affects 20% of the population. This syndrome reveals many problems related to the sudden feeling of urination. It often includes wetting accidents along with urine leakage. Therefore, it affects the social life of the person and causes many psychological problems such as feeling insecure. In this article, we took a closer look at what is overactive bladder syndrome, what causes it and how it is treated.
Contents
What is an Overactive Bladder?
The bladder is an organ where the urine produced by the kidneys is stored. The bladder, which consists of a muscular structure, is in the form of a pouch and can store an average of 500 cc of urine. In OAB syndrome, a problem occurs in the contraction of the smooth muscles around the bladder. These muscles contract excessively, causing an increase in bladder internal pressure and a sudden urge to urinate. In an overactive bladder accompanied by urinary incontinence, there is usually an increase in the frequency of urination and an increase in urination at night.
Overactive Bladder Symptoms
Overactive bladder syndrome is caused by overactivity in the muscles responsible for emptying the bladder with an overactive bladder. In this syndrome, even if the bladder is not fully filled, a feeling of urination develops. One of the most common symptoms of the disease is an increased need to urinate during the daytime. Under normal circumstances, it is considered normal to urinate 4 to 8 times a day. In cases of urination more than this, OAB syndrome can be mentioned. The disease is common in the elderly and women. Other symptoms include:
Inability to reach the toilet
Urination at night
Bedwetting (other than a health condition that causes bedwetting known as nocturia)
Sudden and persistent need to urinate
Involuntary urinary incontinence
What Causes Overactive Bladder Syndrome?
There are many potential factors that cause an overactive bladder problem.
Infection of the urethra for various reasons or mucosal irritation caused by bacterial growth in the bladder are among these factors. Urinary tract infections can be effective in the formation of the feeling of urgency.
Reducing fluid consumption to prevent the feeling of squeezing causes an increase in urine density and more irritation of the bladder wall.
This is a situation that increases the complaints of the disease, and also causes additional problems such as constipation. Problems such as bladder stones can also be counted among the causes of this syndrome.
In some cases, drinking too much fluid can also lead to an increased need for urine. Excessive consumption of energy drinks, coffee and caffeine-containing liquids may also be the reason behind the problem.
In such simple cases, OAB syndrome is not mentioned, but if the frequency of urination is high despite low fluid consumption, this syndrome may have developed in the patient. In this case, it is necessary to go to a specialist doctor for correct diagnosis and treatment methods.
Treatment Methods in Overactive Bladder
In the treatment of OAB, it is important to establish the correct diagnosis first. Because the problem may simply be due to excessive fluid consumption. In such cases, reducing fluid consumption to an average level also normalizes the number of urination.
First of all, the patient’s history is listened to in order to talk about the presence of the disease and to distinguish the syndrome from other conditions. Then, physical examination and laboratory examinations are performed. Overactive bladder is a condition that can usually only be identified from the patient’s history.
Patients are advised to keep a 3-day bladder diary. The daily fluid intake and the time at which he goes to the toilet are noted. The amount and type of fluid taken and the amount of urine output are especially noted.
A special test called urodynamics is applied especially in patients who are resistant to treatment and involuntary contractions in the bladder muscles are clearly detected.
There is more than one treatment method for the disease, but the patient is first asked to make changes in lifestyle and develop a habit of pelvic exercise. In addition to these, drug therapy can also be applied. In patients for whom all these treatment methods are ineffective, bladder botox applications and surgical interventions that reduce nerve conduction may be preferred. In some cases, enlargement of the bladder can also be used as an effective treatment method.
Many patients are treated with muscle exercises, improvements in standard of living, and medication. The priority in overweight patients is to reach a healthy weight range.
Therefore, treatment practices support this process. The fact that the disease is not life-threatening makes it possible to be treated by providing healthy living conditions. In order to treat this syndrome, which closely affects social life and causes psychological problems, a specialist doctor should be consulted in case of symptoms. In this way, the disease can be cured.