Tips to help with an overactive bladder

The most common symptoms of an overactive bladder:

·         Sudden urge to urinate. Even if you’ve have little or nothing to drink for hours, if you’ve already emptied your bladder, and regardless of the time of day. Intense urgency may even cause you to leak on the way to the bathroom.

·         Nocturia. Waking up more than two times a night to urinate. This condition becomes more common with age, although it should not affect your sleep habits as it does with an overactive bladder.

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·         Frequent urination. Urinating more than eight times a day.

·         Accidental leaking. Even just a few drops is an indication that you may have an overactive bladder.

·         Disrupted lifestyle. If you’re making changes to your lifestyle to accommodate for your bladder problems, you should seek help. Living with OAB can cause emotional distress, embarrassment, social isolation, and even depression.

Having an overactive bladder is one of the most common problems in many men and women, often of older age. It is estimated that there are about 33 million people who suffer from an overactive bladder in the United States. About thirty percent of men are currently living with an overactive bladder. It is likely that there are many more men living with this condition because many men don’t seek help for this problem, let alone any medical condition. Living with an overactive bladder can interfere with your daily routine including work, sleep, exercise, relationships and social life.

If you’re suffering from symptoms of an overactive bladder, see your urologist. There are many options for treatment including medications, behavioral therapy, devices, and even surgery. In the meantime, here are some tips to help cope with the symptoms of an overactive bladder:

·         Wear protective pads or panties to avoid worrying about having an accident throughout the day or at bedtime.

·         Eliminate caffeine from your diet to avoid frequent trips to the bathroom.

·         Empty your bladder or drink less before being intimate with your partner to avoid interruptions during intercourse.

·         Limit alcohol consumption as drinking alcohol can make symptoms worse.

·         If medications like diuretics are causing you to urinate more, try taking them in the morning instead of at night time. Talk with your doctor about this.

·         Don't drink fluids after 6 pm, or at least two hours before bedtime, to reduce trips to the bathroom during the night.