Overactive Bladder

Do you or someone you love suffer from an overactive bladder and end up finding yourself getting caught in embarrassing situations?  Well, you’re not the only one.  Overactive bladder is a problem many people experience at some point in their life, and although aging is inevitable…having an overactive bladder is not a normal part of aging.  Overactive bladder is a problem with bladder-storage function that causes you to have a sudden urge to urinate, and now!  The urge may be hard to stop, causing an overactive bladder to lead to an involuntary loss of urine (incontinence), where you are unable to make it to the bathroom in time.

If you have an overactive bladder you may feel embarrassed or begin to limit yourself from working or your social life.  The good news in all this is that seeking attention from your provider and undergoing a brief examination can determine whether or not there is a specific cause for your overactive bladder symptoms.  Generally there is no one certain specific cause, but rather more than one that could is most likely causing your issues.  Another good thing is that management of this condition begins with you and the things in your daily routine you can modify to help improve your symptoms! 

Overactive bladder occurs because the muscles located in the bladder begin to contract involuntarily even when there isn’t much urine in your bladder.  The involuntary contraction is what signals an urgent need to urinate whether you’re close to the bathroom or not!  Total Home Health has a program that is right for your needs and concerns related to your diagnosis of an overactive bladder.  We believe that management of this condition begins with things as simple as these first-line strategies which may include:

-  Fluid Schedules.  This could be something as simple as limiting or stopping your fluid intake after 6:00 p.m. in the evening, or limiting fluids when you are planning a day out.

-  Timed Voiding.  As an example, this strategy could be as simple as making sure you visit the bathroom at least every 2 hours in order to empty your bladder and reduce urges.

-  Bladder-holding Techniques.  This can be done by voluntarily contracting your pelvic floor muscles; it will help to tone the sphincters where your urine exits in order to reduce incontinence episodes.

If those first-line efforts are ineffective and there is no improvement in your overactive bladder symptoms, don’t worry because there are more treatments available for you!  The symptoms you have will depend on the severity of your overactive bladder condition itself.  These symptoms may include:

-  A sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control.

-  Experiencing urge incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine immediately following an urge to urinate.

-  Frequent urination, which would be considered 8 or more times in a 24-hour period.

-  Awakening two or more times during the night to urinate (nocturia).

You will probably find this private information to be hard to discuss with your provider.  However, if you experience any of the symptoms above, it would be advised to seek medical attention because it could make a difference in your life…especially if having an overactive bladder has disrupted it. 

There are several conditions that may contribute to signs and symptoms of an overactive bladder, they may include:

-  Neurological disorders.  This includes diagnoses including Parkinson’s disease, history of a stroke, and/or multiple sclerosis.

-  High urine production.  This could occur from high fluid intake, poor kidney functioning, or diabetes.

-  Medications.  Some medications may cause a rapid increase in urine production, such as Lasix…or some may require that you take them with increased fluids.

-  Infections.  Acute urinary tract infections can cause symptoms similar to an overactive bladder.

-  Obstructions.  An enlarged prostate or constipation could cause an obstruction of your urine flow.

-  Drinking.  Excess consumption of caffeine and/or alcohol could lead to overactive bladder symptoms.

-  Cognitive function.  A decline in your cognitive functioning due to aging, for example, could make it more difficult for your bladder to understand the signals it receives from your brain, resulting in incontinence.

-  Difficulty walking.  This could lead to bladder urgency if you’re unable to get to the bathroom right away.

With Total Home Health we know that any type of incontinence can affect your overall quality of life.  Our professional team wants to see to it that you can maintain the most optimal quality of life.  We will all work together to find ways for you to cope with your overactive bladder, while also learning to accept that parts of your routine may have to be slightly altered in order for you to lead your most satisfying way of life.  Be proud of your age and of the life you have lived, do not let something we can help you to control cause you to lose your motivation now.  Enroll with Total Home Health today and you’ll be on the right path for a better tomorrow!