If there is no urinary tract infection or other medical condition, but it is accompanied by symptoms such as urgency, which is an unbearable urge to urinate when you want to urinate, and frequent urination, which is more than 8 times a day, it is called "overactive bladder." An overactive bladder can interfere with daily life in a variety of ways, including frequent urination and lack of sleep, which can significantly reduce quality of life, and can lead to depression and shame mentally.
The cause of overactive bladder is not clearly understood, but it is believed to be caused by excessive fluid intake, adverse drug reactions, hormone deficiencies, constipation, and diabetes.
This type of overactive bladder is often confused with cystitis because its symptoms are similar. However, cystitis differs from an overactive bladder in that the bladder becomes inflamed due to a bacterial infection. Therefore, overactive bladder is diagnosed through urinalysis to check for urinary tract infection, and if there is no urinary tract infection, urinary diary and urinary dynamics test that measures urination volume and urinary flow velocity.
If you are diagnosed with an overactive bladder, behavioral therapy and medication are the first treatment. First, behavioral therapy involves doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, or intentionally holding urine before going to the bathroom. Medication most often involves anticholinergics, which inhibit the action of the parasympathetic nervous system, and also injects drugs directly into the bladder.
If the patient does not respond to behavioral therapy and medication, surgical treatment may be considered, such as sacral nerve modulation, which provides electrical stimulation to the urethral nerve, which controls the bladder, and bladder volume augmentation, which increases bladder capacity.
In fact, there is no specific way to prevent overactive bladder, but lifestyle changes can reduce the risk. For example, avoiding alcohol, coffee, soda, and other beverages that irritate the bladder or cause diuresis in daily life can help prevent overactive bladder.
People with an overactive bladder may also benefit from reducing fluid intake after dinner and eating foods that have been shown to support bladder health, such as pumpkin seeds and beans.
Today, we introduced what overactive bladder is, its causes, and treatments. Bladder diseases can be resolved through constant management by urology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and family medicine, so it is most important to visit the hospital as soon as possible if you have any related symptoms.
That concludes this week's Demand Clinic. I appreciate it.
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