It seems like as we age, the number of health issues that we may face grows greater, more complicated, and harder to distinguish from one another. Pain at the hip can mean arthritis or a pinched nerve. Headaches can be a sign of stress or a tumor. Fatigue could be a sign of depression or diabetes. We have to look at our symptoms with the help of healthcare professionals to discern what exactly is causing that symptom or symptoms. This also applies to light bladder leaks and urinary health. Even though the end result is an involuntary leak, there may be different reasons this leak occurred. One of the most common incontinence problems that people, especially women, face is called Overactive Bladder (OAB).
What is OAB?According to the Urology Care Foundation, OAB is “the name for a group of urinary symptoms. It is not a disease. The most common symptom is a sudden, uncontrolled need or urge to urinate. Some people will leak urine when they feel this urge. Another symptom is the need to pass urine many times during the day and night. OAB is basically the feeling that you’ve ‘gotta’ go’ to the bathroom urgently and too much.” In the same article, the UC Foundation also suggests that as many as 30% of men and up to 40% of women have OAB symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Feeling a sudden urge to urinate that's difficult to control.
- Experiencing urge incontinence — the involuntary loss of urine immediately following an urgent need to urinate.
- Urinate frequently, usually eight or more times in 24 hours.
- Awaken two or more times in the night to urinate (nocturia).
CausesSo what causes OAB? There are two big reasons that someone might develop this problem, one being neurological and one being physical. Neurologically, it’s basically a miscommunication between your brain and your urinary tract, specifically your bladder. With a normally functioning bladder, the brain sends a signal to you to let you know that your bladder is either full or almost full so you’re aware and can prepare to find and use a restroom. With OAB, your brain may signal you to empty your bladder, regardless of if the bladder is full or if you have found a place to relieve yourself. Physically, your bladder may truly be “overactive” in the sense that the muscles themselves are too active and contract to pass urine even if it’s not full. This causes a strong, sudden need to urinate. In both cases, light bladder leaks may occur. There are risk factors for developing OAB, these include:
- Neurologic disorders or damage to the signals between your brain and bladder
- Post-menopausal women
- High BMI
- Pelvic muscle weakness or spasms
- Previous surgeries (POP surgery, urinary incontinence procedures)
- Developing a Urinary Tract Infection