What to Do for an Overactive Bladder
Parents usually put quite a bit of effort into toilet training their toddlers, and it doesn’t usually take too long for their little ones to get the understanding of what needs to happen when it’s time to go. A measure of control over those bodily functions comes along with this too, and that’s an equally good thing. In most instances if a person is going to develop an overactive bladder it will be later in life, and it’s quite common in men who have BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). It’s not the worst health scenario for someone, but losing that control you’ve had for most of your life is troubling. So what to do for an overactive bladder?
You’ll need to speak to a medical professional if the problem is so severe that you have fears of having an embarrassing incident where you can’t get to a washroom quickly enough. This is urinary incontinence, and it can be a situation where if a person’s OAB isn’t treated then they progress into being incontinent. Sudden onset urinary urges are the biggest problem for most people with OAB syndrome, and it actually affects women more often than men. The first piece of advice around what to do for an overactive bladder is to have that medical professional get you started on a medication like Sanctura.
It is one of the best ones for treating OAB, and like most of these types of medications it works by forcing the muscles around the bladder to relax. This gives the person more control over when and where they’ll be relieving themselves, and it is something that most people will be especially thankful for. But there is more to how to help an overactive bladder, and the individuals who get the best relief from it and more control over urinary urges are the ones who make additional changes and don’t rely on the medication alone.
Training Helps, Scheduling Too
One of the things that is very beneficial for treating an overactive bladder is to actually schedule washroom visits when you’re at home or at work, or any other time when you know you’ll have a washroom available to you. The reason this is part of what to do for overactive bladder is that by emptying your bladder at the same time each day – even if you don’t feel any urges to do so – works to establish a connection along neural pathways between the brain and bladder about when this is supposed to happen.
It does take some time to see the beneficial affects of it, but it is something you should try if you have an overactive bladder that is getting worse. Bladder training for OAB is also recommended, and what this is forcing yourself to delay your urination in small increments and gradually increasing that time. You would start at something like a 30-minute delay, and try to slowly work your way up to urinating only every 3 to 4 hours. Is it difficult? Sure, it is but one thing you can do to increase your control and be able to resist is to do Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor. As an added bonus many people find that doing Kegels has sexual health benefits too.
Another consideration for people looking at what to do for overactive bladder is to start moving towards a healthier body weight. Slimming down isn’t easy for most people, and that’s especially true when you’re older and your metabolism isn’t what it used to be. Most people experiencing an overactive bladder are going to be in that same age range where it is easier to gain weight because of a slowed metabolism, but if you can lose weight it can make OAB less severe.
Other Treatment Approaches
We’ve gone over the most standard approaches for what to do for overactive bladder, but for some people they may not be getting the relief from OAB that they need when taking OAB treatment medication and scheduling, training with Kegels, and slimming down. For these individuals it may be necessary to look at treatment alternatives so that they’re not constantly fretting about urinary urges that are heard to control. You should always consult with a doctor when considering taking on the problem from a different angle, but there are other options out there.
One of them is Botox injections for OAB, as proteins in the botulin bacteria force the muscles to relax in much the same way the Sanctura medication will. PTNS nerve stimulation for OAB is a possibility too, and this involves electrical stimulation being sent along the tibial nerve to connect with nerves controlling the bladder. All of this is good information for what to do for overactive bladder.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
