Overactive bladder syndrome - causes, symptoms and treatment

Botox doesn't just treat wrinkles alone, it can also help control the frequent urge for urination as well.

Imagine if you are overwhelmed with an uncontrollable urge to urinate at regular intervals without the power to control your bladder even for a few minutes before you reach the washroom, how would it feel? Downright disgusting, frustrating and irritating, to say the least. That is exactly how it feels for people who suffer from the otherwise harmless but yet a frustrating medical condition overactive bladder syndrome.

What is overactive bladder syndrome?

Overactive bladder syndrome signifies an uncontrolled urge to urinate without any control over the bladder. The urgency to visit the washroom strikes when the bladder is not full and has very little urine in it. In simple words, overactive bladder syndrome refers to gross urgency or incontinence of urine where one loses the power to control the urge. However, despite the feeling of urgency one might just urinate miniscule amounts of urine at the time, says Dr Sanjay Pandey, consultant surgeon urologist, andrologist and gender reassignment surgeries, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

What causes the bladder to go into overdrive?

The exact cause for this syndrome is not totally understood. People who suffer from this syndrome, usually have bladder muscles that seem to become overactive and contract when there isn t a need for it. In general, the bladder muscles or detrusor remains relaxed as the bladder gradually fills up. When the bladder stretches there is a message sent to the brain that the bladder needs to be emptied. This usually happens when the bladder is about half filled. Sometimes people can hold on to the urge till a convenient time. Here are eight causes of urinary incontinence you ought to know.

However, with people suffering from the syndrome, the bladder may feel fuller much before actually being filled and sends a wrong messages to the brain. Hence, the bladder contracts too early even when it is not very full which leads to the person visiting the restroom more often than necessary. Due to poor bladder control it can also lead to leakage in some people, says Dr Pandey.

In some rare cases, an overactive bladder can also develop due to a complication of the nerve or a brain related disease such as stroke, Parkinson s disease, multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury. Sometimes similar symptoms can also occur due to an infection or stone in the bladder, which doesn t classify as an overactive bladder syndrome as it has a known cause. Here are more six reasons why you are urinating more frequently than needed.

What are the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome?

Some of the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome are as follows.

A sudden urge or desire to pass urine without the capability to control it even for a few seconds.

Waking up in the middle of the night more than once to pass urine.

Leaking of urine in cases where a person cannot relieve themselves immediately.

How can one get treated for an overactive bladder syndrome?

There are various ways in which one can treat overactive bladder syndrome. Some of them are as follows.

Lifestyle changes

Some lifestyle changes can help one deal with overactive bladder syndrome in a better manner though it can t cure it. Here is what you can do to control overactive bladder syndrome:

Cut down on caffeine intake: Diuretics like tea, coffee, colas and some medications can increase the urge for urination and make the symptoms worse. It is wise to get a grip on your caffeine habit in case you suffer from overactive bladder syndrome.

Use the restroom when in need:To avoid embarrassment and use the restroom as soon as you get the urge and to relieve yourself.

Don t limit your fluid intake: Never limit your daily fluid intake to avoid incontinence. Remember it will only worsen the symptoms and make it more painful while urinating. Instead stick to consuming adequate amount of liquid throughout the day.

Medications

In some cases, medications can also help get some relief from the symptoms. However, not everyone can benefit from medication. It depends on the severity of the condition too. Prescribed antimuscarinics blocks certain nerve impulses to the bladder thereby increasing the bladder capacity, relaxing the bladder muscles. For people with mild symptoms of overactive bladder, medications can reduce the urgency, leakage and frequent trips to the restroom. But the flipside is that these drugs come with their set of limitations and side-effects. The symptoms can return with a vengeance when medications are stopped. On the other hand, prolonged use of these drugs can aggravate the side-effects like dry eyes, dry mouth, and constipation to name a few.

Surgery

Going under the knife to treat an overactive bladder isn t common, but if medications and lifestyle changes fail to provide relief, surgery remains the last resort. There are various types of procedures that can treat overactive bladder syndrome. Some procedures could also imply that one might need a catheter to pass urine later. Surgery is only advised if the syndrome is degrading one s quality of life to a great extent.

Pelvic floor exercises

In many cases doing pelvic floor exercises help strengthen the muscles in the area and deal with stress incontinence. In case stress incontinence is an outcome of an overactive bladder, these exercises could be of help. However, only exercise cannot reverse or cure the condition completely, but a combination of exercise and medication can promise adequate relief. Read: Does your penis needs strength training?

Treatment with botulinum toxin

Till date, botox has only been thought of as a magical treatment to banish signs of ageing, but now it has also proved its efficiency in treating conditions like an overactive bladder syndrome. However, one should only opt for the treatment when other forms of treatment have failed to provide adequate relief. One should keep in mind that Botox is not the first line of treatment for overactive bladder syndrome, informs Dr Pandey. Botox gives temporary relief from the symptoms improving one s quality of life for the time being. In this form of treatment, an injection of diluted botulinum toxin is injected in the bladder that makes the muscle of the bladder relax and helps control contractions of the bladder. The effect of one injection might last for around six to nine months. One might have to take the shot again once its effect wears out, says Dr Pandey. This is an alternative treatment to surgery if other treatments including lifestyle modifications and medication have not helped to control the symptoms.

Image courtesy: Getty images

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