Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder, also called OAB, causes sudden urges to urinate that may be hard to control. There might be a need to pass urine many times during the day and night. There also might be loss of urine that isn’t intended, called urgency incontinence.
People with an overactive bladder might feel self-conscious. That can cause them to keep away from others or limit their work and social life. The good news is that it can be treated.
Simple behavior changes might manage symptoms of an overactive bladder. These might include changes in diet, urinating on a certain schedule and using pelvic floor muscles to control the bladder. There also are other treatments to try.
Other urologic Problems
Symptoms
If you have an overactive bladder, you may:
• Feel a sudden urge to urinate that’s hard to control.
• Lose urine without meaning to after an urgent need to urinate, called urgency incontinence.
• Urinate often. This can mean eight or more times in 24 hours.
• Wake up more than twice a night to urinate, called nocturia.
Even if you can get to the toilet in time when you feel an urge to urinate, having to urinate often during day and night can disrupt your life.
When to See a Doctor
Although common among older adults, overactive bladder isn’t a typical part of aging. It might not be easy to talk about your symptoms. But if the symptoms distress you or disrupt your life, talk to your healthcare professional. There are treatments that might help.