Did you know that over 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder (OAB)? This condition makes people feel a sudden, strong urge to urinate that they can’t control¹. It can really affect someone’s life, causing problems with sleep, social activities, and even relationships. But, there are ways to manage it and improve bladder control.

Overactive bladder, or OAB, is when the bladder can’t store or release urine properly. It leads to a strong urge to urinate that’s hard to stop, often causing involuntary leakage¹. People with OAB might also find themselves needing to go to the bathroom a lot, waking up a lot at night, or having trouble sleeping.

Key Takeaways

• Overactive bladder is a common condition that affects over 33 million Americans.
• Symptoms include sudden urges to urinate, frequent daytime and nighttime bathroom visits, and involuntary leakage.
• Causes can include aging, gender, chronic health conditions, and lifestyle factors like caffeine and alcohol consumption.
• Treatments range from behavioral modifications and pelvic floor exercises to medications, nerve stimulation, and surgery in rare cases.
• Effective management of overactive bladder can improve quality of life and reduce complications like anxiety, depression, and sexual problems.

What is an Overactive Bladder?

Overview of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is a condition where the bladder muscle contracts on its own, causing a strong urge to urinate that’s hard to control¹. This can lead to going to the bathroom a lot, feeling the need to go urgently, and sometimes even losing control of your bladder¹. It’s a common issue that gets more common with age¹.

Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

The main signs of overactive bladder are:

• Sudden, strong urge to urinate that’s hard to control
• Going to the bathroom a lot, more than eight times a day¹
• Waking up often at night to use the bathroom (nocturia)¹
• Involuntary leakage of urine (urgency incontinence)

Causes of Overactive Bladder

Understanding Bladder Function

To understand why some people get overactive bladder, we need to know how the bladder works. The bladder stores urine until it’s time to get rid of it. The muscles around the bladder relax to let urine out¹. But with overactive bladder, the muscles contract too much, causing an uncontrollable urge to urinate¹.

Risk Factors for Overactive Bladder

Some things can make you more likely to get overactive bladder, including:

• Aging: Getting older increases the risk¹.
• Gender: Being a woman makes it more likely¹.
• Chronic health conditions: Issues like an enlarged prostate, diabetes, and nerve problems can contribute¹.
• Lifestyle factors: Too much caffeine or alcohol, and getting older can raise the risk¹.

Complications of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder can really affect someone’s life, leading to problems like:

• Anxiety and emotional distress
• Depression
• Sexual problems
• Sleep issues
• Social isolation and less participation in daily activities¹

Behavioral Treatments for Overactive Bladder

Lifestyle Changes and Bladder Retraining

For many, making lifestyle changes and bladder training can help manage symptoms². These changes might include:

• Reducing caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder²
• Keeping a healthy weight, as extra weight can put pressure on the bladder²
• Stopping smoking, as tobacco products can bother the bladder muscle²
• Doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the bladder¹
• Trying bladder training, like waiting a bit longer before going to the bathroom²

It usually takes about six to eight weeks to see results from bladder training².

Medications for Overactive Bladder

Along with lifestyle changes, medicines can help with overactive bladder. Doctors might prescribe anti-muscarinics or beta-3 agonists to relax the bladder muscles and increase its capacity³. Sometimes, taking both types of medicines together works better for symptoms³. But, these medicines might cause side effects like dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, and blurry vision³.

Botulinum Toxin Injections for Overactive Bladder

Bladder Botox can ease OAB symptoms by relaxing the bladder muscles, reducing urgency, and controlling incontinence³. Botox effects last up to six months, so you might need more treatments³.

Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)

Doctors might suggest nerve stimulation like percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) to fix nerve signals between the bladder and brain³. PTNS uses an electrode near the ankle to send signals to the tibial nerve, which goes to nerves in the lower back³.

Sacral Neuromodulation (SNS)

Sacral neuromodulation (SNS) changes how the sacral nerve works, helping control nerve signals to lessen OAB symptoms³. SNS involves putting an electrical wire under the skin in the lower back to manage nerve signals³.

Surgical Treatments for Overactive Bladder

In rare cases, surgery might be needed when other treatments don’t work. Options include:

• Augmentation cystoplasty to make the bladder bigger
• Urinary diversion to change how urine flows

Prevention of Overactive Bladder

While some risk factors for overactive bladder can’t be changed, making healthy choices might lower the risk¹. These choices include:

• Keeping a healthy weight
• Staying active
• Limiting caffeine and alcohol
• Managing chronic conditions like diabetes
• Quitting smoking

Overactive Bladder and Quality of Life

Overactive bladder can really affect someone’s life, causing problems with daily activities, social life, and feelings¹. But, with the right treatment, you can manage your symptoms and improve your life quality.

Conclusion

Overactive bladder is a common issue that can be treated. By understanding its symptoms, causes, and treatment options, people with OAB can take steps to manage it and improve their life quality. From making lifestyle changes and doing bladder training to using medicines, nerve stimulation, and surgery in rare cases, there are many ways to deal with overactive bladder and its effects. With the right approach, people with overactive bladder can regain control of their bladder and live a better life.

What is an Overactive Bladder?

An overactive bladder is when the bladder muscles contract on their own. This makes you feel a sudden need to go to the bathroom often⁴. It can cause you to lose control of your bladder, affecting your life a lot⁵. Knowing what an overactive bladder is helps you spot the signs and find the right treatment.

Overview of Overactive Bladder

The bladder stores urine until it’s full, then it contracts to let the urine out⁴. But with an overactive bladder, it contracts too soon, even if it’s not full. This makes you feel a strong urge to go to the bathroom⁴. You might end up going to the bathroom eight or more times a day or two or more times at night⁴. It can also lead to losing control of your bladder⁴.

Things like nerve problems, drinking too much fluid, or eating too much caffeine can cause an overactive bladder⁴. Knowing what causes it helps you manage it better⁶.

“Overactive bladder is a common and treatable condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. By understanding the definition and causes, individuals can take the necessary steps to manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being.”

⁴⁵⁶

Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

If you have an overactive bladder, you might notice some symptoms that can really change your day-to-day life⁷. These symptoms include feeling a sudden, urgent need to go to the bathroom that you can’t control, involuntary leakage of urine after this urgent need, going to the bathroom a lot (eight or more times in 24 hours), and waking up more than twice a night to go to the bathroom⁷. Even if you manage to make it to the bathroom on time, going too often can mess up your routine and lower your quality of life.

Overactive bladder affects a lot of people⁷⁸⁹. In fact, at least 33 million Americans are thought to have Overactive Bladder (OAB)⁷, and it impacts over 34 million U.S. adults⁸. One in 11 people in the United States deal with overactive bladder⁹, mainly those aged 65 and older⁹. Also, about two-thirds of women with OAB have symptoms, with some being “OAB dry” and others “OAB wet,” which is urge incontinence⁷.

The symptoms of overactive bladder can really get in the way, causing more trips to the bathroom, bad sleep, and possibly embarrassing urine leaks⁷⁸⁹. Knowing about these symptoms and how they affect your life is the first step to finding the right treatment and ways to manage them.

If you’re noticing any of the symptoms of overactive bladder, it’s key to talk to your healthcare provider. They can figure out what’s causing it and create a plan just for you to help you take back control of your bladder and improve your life.

Causes of Overactive Bladder

Understanding Bladder Function

The urinary system is key to keeping the bladder healthy. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys filter waste and make urine that goes to the bladder. When it’s time, the bladder muscles contract, and urine goes through the urethra¹⁰.

Overactive bladder happens when the bladder muscles tighten without reason, even with little urine inside. This causes involuntary contractions and an urgent need to go. Many things can cause overactive bladder, like bladder problems, neurological issues, diabetes, and blockages that stop urine from leaving¹⁰.

• Bladder Issues: Problems like inflammation or irritation can affect the bladder and cause overactive bladder symptoms¹⁰.
• Neurological Conditions: Issues like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis can mess up the brain-bladder communication, leading to overactive bladder¹⁰.
• Diabetes: Diabetes can harm the nerves that control the bladder, causing overactive bladder and other urinary issues¹⁰.
• Obstructions: Things like an enlarged prostate or constipation can block urine flow and lead to overactive bladder¹⁰.

Smoking and drinking caffeine and alcohol can also increase the risk of overactive bladder¹⁰. Having had urinary tract infections or lower urinary tract symptoms can also lead to overactive bladder¹⁰.

“Gender affects the risk of overactive bladder, with women at higher risk due to hormonal changes and weakened muscles after pregnancy and childbirth. Men are also at risk, especially those with prostate issues.”¹¹

Overactive bladder is a complex issue with many possible causes. Knowing what causes it is key to finding the right treatment. By addressing these causes, people can manage their symptoms and improve their life quality¹².

Risk Factors for Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common issue that can greatly affect someone’s life. Many factors can make it more likely to get OAB¹³.

Getting older is a big risk for OAB¹⁴. Being a woman is also a big risk, as about 40% of women have OAB symptoms, compared to 30% of men¹³. This difference is because of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause affecting hormones and pelvic muscles in women¹⁴.

Some health conditions increase the risk of OAB. An enlarged prostate, common in older men, can press on the bladder and cause OAB¹³. Diabetes can also raise the risk by affecting the nerves and blood flow to the bladder, leading to poor bladder function¹³. Conditions like stroke or Alzheimer’s disease can make OAB worse by affecting the brain’s control over the bladder¹³.

Lifestyle choices can also lead to OAB. Being overweight can put more pressure on the bladder and affect blood flow and nerve activity¹⁴. Eating acidic foods, drinking alcohol, or having caffeinated drinks can also cause OAB symptoms¹⁴.

Knowing the risks of OAB helps people take steps to manage it and live better. These steps might include staying at a healthy weight, changing what you eat, and getting medical help when needed¹⁴.

Risk Factor	Prevalence
Aging	OAB can occur at any age, but the risk increases as individuals get older14.
Gender	Approximately 40% of women experience OAB symptoms, compared to 30% of men13.
Enlarged Prostate	An enlarged prostate can put pressure on the bladder and contribute to OAB13.
Diabetes	Diabetes can affect the nerves and blood flow to the bladder, leading to impaired bladder function13.
Neurological Conditions	Strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological conditions can increase the risk of OAB by affecting the brain’s ability to control bladder function13.
Obesity	Excess weight puts pressure on the bladder and can lead to conditions affecting blood flow and nerve activity in the bladder14.
Dietary Factors	Consuming acidic foods, alcohol, or caffeinated beverages can trigger OAB symptoms14.

Understanding and tackling these risk factors helps people manage their overactive bladder and live better¹⁴.

“Identifying the causes and risk factors for OAB can assist in managing the condition effectively.”¹⁴

Complications of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) can greatly affect a person’s life. If not treated, symptoms like frequent urination and nighttime disruptions can lead to many problems. These issues can affect daily life, emotional health, and overall health¹⁵.

OAB can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). These infections can even cause kidney damage or sepsis if not treated¹⁵. Drinking less to manage OAB can make symptoms worse and raise the risk of bladder and kidney damage, constipation, and UTIs¹⁵.

For older adults, OAB can make them more likely to fall and break bones. This is because they rush to the bathroom and are more prone to falling¹⁵. It can also affect sexual life, causing fear of leaking and discomfort during sex, affecting both men and women¹⁵.

OAB can cause problems sleeping, leading to fatigue and a lack of energy¹⁵. It can also make people less active because they fear leaking during certain activities. This can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity¹⁵.

OAB can also affect work and daily routines, leading to frequent bathroom breaks and disrupted sleep¹⁵. It can make socializing hard, causing people to avoid social events. This can lead to feeling isolated, which can make health worse and increase mental health issues¹⁵.

Overactive Bladder Complications	Impact
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)	138% more UTIs in the last year compared to those without OAB16 Estimated cost of UTIs associated with OAB was $1.37 billion in 200016
Falls and Fractures	Over twice the odds of being injured in a fall compared to individuals without OAB16 Cost of falls without bone fractures due to OAB was $55 million16 Cost of falls resulting in bone fractures was approximately $386 million16
Sexual Problems	Fears of leakage, discomfort during intercourse, and hindered sexual satisfaction15
Sleep Disturbances	Nocturia (nighttime urgency) can occur one or more times per night in around 50% of people with daytime urgency17 Chronic fatigue and lack of energy, increasing the risk of injuries from getting up at night to urinate15
Mixed Incontinence	Around 67% of adults with OAB will experience “dry OAB,” while 33% will experience “wet OAB” with urinary incontinence17 Women with functional constipation are three times more likely to experience OAB with urinary incontinence compared to women without functional constipation17
Mental Health Issues	Around 30% of people with OAB meet the clinical definition of depression and have a higher likelihood of experiencing severe incontinence17 People with OAB may experience a deterioration of executive function, taking longer to complete cognitive tests17

OAB can have a big impact on a person’s life, health, and feelings. Getting the right treatment is key to avoiding these problems and improving health and life quality¹⁵.

Behavioral Treatments for Overactive Bladder

Lifestyle Changes and Bladder Retraining

Overactive bladder affects about 20% of people in the U.S¹⁸.. A study showed that 87% of people have symptoms and find it hard to manage them¹⁸. Luckily, simple changes can help ease symptoms and improve life quality.

Keeping a bladder diary is a key step. It helps track drinking, eating, urination, and leakage patterns. This info is crucial for treatment planning. Also, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol can help¹⁹. Staying regular with bowel movements, managing weight, and quitting smoking also helps¹⁹.

Bladder retraining is another helpful treatment. It trains the bladder muscles to wait longer before needing to go. By doing this, people learn to delay urination and reduce incontinence incidents. This method takes about 6-8 weeks to show results¹⁹.

Behavioral therapies like bladder training and pelvic floor exercises are often the first choice for overactive bladder¹⁹. They are safe and work well. These methods can greatly improve life quality for those with the condition¹⁸.

“Behavioral therapy has been increasingly applied to various diseases in addition to psychological disorders, demonstrating its versatility and potential benefits.”¹⁹

By making these lifestyle changes and practicing bladder retraining, people with overactive bladder can better manage their symptoms. This leads to a better quality of life.

Medications for Overactive Bladder

If lifestyle changes don’t work, medications can help manage overactive bladder. Overactive bladder medications like oxybutynin and tolterodine help control muscle spasms in the bladder. Beta-3 adrenergic agonists such as mirabegron relax the bladder muscles, letting it hold more urine²⁰.

At times, using combination therapy with anticholinergics and beta-3 adrenergic agonists works better than one drug alone²⁰. These drugs may take weeks to months to fully work, so be patient and keep taking them²¹.

Medication Type	Examples	Mechanism of Action
Anticholinergics	Oxybutynin, Tolterodine, Darifenacin, Solifenacin, Trospium, Fesoterodine	Help regulate muscle spasms in the bladder
Beta-3 Adrenergic Agonists	Mirabegron	Cause the bladder muscles to relax, allowing more urine storage
Combination Therapy	Anticholinergic + Beta-3 Adrenergic Agonist	Can be more effective than using a single medication

Side effects of these drugs include dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, nausea, and changes in blood pressure²⁰. Using behavioral treatments with medications can improve bladder control even more²⁰.

“Medications for urinary problems may take several weeks to months to show their full effect.”²¹

Other ways to treat overactive bladder include Botox injections and nerve stimulation. These options can help people who don’t get better with just medications²².

Botulinum Toxin Injections for Overactive Bladder

For people with an overactive bladder (OAB) who don’t get better with lifestyle changes or drugs, botulinum toxin (Botox) injections might help²³. This easy procedure uses a cystoscope to put small amounts of botulinum toxin into the bladder wall²³. The toxin relaxes the bladder muscle, reducing urgency and urge incontinence²³.

About 70–75% of patients see a big drop in symptoms and feel better in their daily life after getting Bladder Botox²³. Botox in the bladder usually lasts around 7.5 months, but many need more shots every 6–12 months to keep feeling good²³.

The FDA approved Botox for overactive bladder in January 2013, even though doctors have used it for over 20 years to help with these symptoms²³. Doctors usually give between 100 to 200 units of Botox for this treatment²³. In some cases, about 6% of patients might have more urine left after going to the bathroom, which could mean needing a catheter for a while²³.

Many studies show that botulinum toxin injections work well for treating overactive bladder and a condition called neurogenic detrusor overactivity²⁴. These studies found big improvements in incontinence, bladder function, and life quality for those who got the treatment²⁴.

Even though botulinum toxin injections are a great option for OAB, they’re not advised for men with a big prostate risk or history because of the chance of urine retention²⁵. Around 17% of women and 3% to 11% of men will experience urge incontinence at some point, which can really affect their life²⁵.

In conclusion, botulinum toxin injections can be a big help for people with an overactive bladder. By relaxing the bladder muscle, Botox can quickly ease symptoms and make life better for many. The effects last about six months, but the treatment can be repeated as needed to keep feeling good²⁵.

Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder

For those with overactive bladder (OAB), nerve stimulation is a hopeful treatment. It helps improve communication between the brain and bladder. This can lead to better bladder function. There are two main types: Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) and Sacral Neuromodulation (SNS).

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)

PTNS is a simple procedure. It uses a small electrode near the ankle to send electrical signals to the tibial nerve. This nerve controls the bladder. Studies show PTNS can help 50% to 80% of people with OAB.²⁶ The treatment starts with 12 weekly visits, then monthly ones to keep up the good results²⁶. Most people see better bladder control in 5-7 weeks²⁶. Side effects are rare, like skin irritation or ankle pain²⁶. PTNS works as well as some medications but has fewer side effects²⁶. It’s also less invasive than other treatments like Botox or sacral nerve stimulation.

Sacral Neuromodulation (SNS)

Sacral neuromodulation, or SNS, means putting in a device that helps the sacral nerve talk better with the bladder. But, about 2/3 of people might need another surgery in 5 years to fix the implant or change the battery.²⁷ SNS can help with overactive bladder, but it’s not a long-term fix like PTNS²⁶.

Both PTNS and SNS can help with overactive bladder. Research shows electrical stimulation works better than placebos or Kegel exercises, but it’s not clear which one is best.²⁷ Choosing between them depends on the patient’s needs and what their doctor suggests.

Surgical Treatments for Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects about 33 million people in the U.S²⁸. Surgery is only an option for the most severe cases, after trying other treatments. There are two main surgeries for OAB: augmentation cystoplasty and urinary diversion.

Augmentation cystoplasty makes the bladder bigger when other treatments don’t work²⁸. This surgery has big risks like needing a catheter forever, getting urinary tract infections, and other problems. It’s for patients with OAB symptoms that really affect their life.

Urinary diversion changes how urine flows by skipping the bladder²⁸. It lets patients live normally and manage their OAB better. But, this surgery also has risks like infections and needing to care for an ostomy bag.

In extreme cases, removing the bladder is considered last²⁸. This is a big surgery with many risks. It’s only looked at when nothing else works.

Surgery for OAB is not often done and is only suggested when all else fails²⁸. Patients should talk fully with their doctor about the risks and benefits of surgery before deciding.

Surgery for overactive bladder is for the most severe cases²⁸. Patients should talk with their healthcare team about other treatments before thinking about surgery. This way, they can understand the risks and complications of OAB surgery²⁸.

Prevention of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder affects millions of Americans²⁹. It’s not always preventable, but some lifestyle changes can lower the risk. By making smart choices, people can improve their bladder health and avoid the problems of overactive bladder.

Strengthen the Pelvic Floor

Doing pelvic floor exercises, or Kegels, can strengthen the muscles around the bladder³⁰. These exercises are easy to do anytime and can help control bladder issues over time.

Stay Active and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being active and keeping a healthy weight can help prevent overactive bladder²⁹. Being overweight can put pressure on the bladder, causing more frequent bathroom trips. Regular exercise helps manage weight and supports bladder health.

Manage Chronic Conditions

Health issues like diabetes can lead to overactive bladder²⁹. Managing these conditions with medicine, lifestyle changes, and doctor visits can lower the risk of overactive bladder.

Quit Smoking

Smoking raises the risk of overactive bladder²⁹. Quitting smoking boosts overall health and may reduce the chance of getting this condition.

Limit Bladder Irritants

Staying away from bladder irritants like caffeine and alcohol helps prevent overactive bladder³¹. These substances can make symptoms worse.

By following these steps, people can fight the causes of overactive bladder and avoid its symptoms²⁹³⁰³¹.

Overactive Bladder and Quality of Life

Overactive bladder can deeply affect a person’s life. It brings sudden urges to go to the bathroom and may cause incontinence. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress³². It also affects social life, work, and relationships³².

Overactive bladder can ruin sleep too. Frequent trips to the bathroom at night can disrupt sleep patterns. This leads to feeling tired during the day and lowers overall well-being³². In fact, it has the lowest health-related quality of life score, similar to stroke and Alzheimer’s disease³³.

Getting the right treatment is key to improving life with overactive bladder. Behavioral changes and lifestyle tweaks are often the first step. They can lessen symptoms without the downsides of medicines³². Medicines and nerve procedures can also help a lot³²³⁴.

By tackling the physical and emotional sides of overactive bladder, people can take back control of their lives. This leads to a better quality of life³²³³.

“Overactive bladder can deeply affect a person’s life, causing emotional distress, social issues, and sleep problems. Getting the right treatment is key to feeling better.”

Condition	Health-Related Quality of Life Score
Overactive Bladder	0.70
Stroke	0.70
Alzheimer’s Disease	0.70

The table shows how overactive bladder greatly affects a person’s life and health. It’s as bad as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease³³³²³⁴.

Conclusion

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects many people and can really change their life. Studies show that between 16.6% in Europe and 16.9% in the U.S. women, and 16.0% in U.S. men have OAB symptoms³⁵. The main symptoms are needing to go often, feeling urgent, and losing control when you try to hold it in. These problems get worse as people get older³⁵.

There are many ways to help manage OAB and feel better. Changing your lifestyle, like drinking less, losing weight, and training your bladder, can really help³⁶. If needed, there are also medicines, nerve treatments, and surgery for more severe cases³⁶. Working with a doctor, you can find the best treatment plan to manage OAB and improve your life.

OAB can be tough, affecting both your body and mind, and costing a lot of money³⁷³⁶. But, there are many treatment options available. By getting the right care and support, many people can take back control of their bladder. With the right help, those with OAB can live happier, more complete lives.

FAQ

What is an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder, or OAB, makes you feel the need to urinate suddenly and urgently. You might find yourself needing to go to the bathroom many times during the day and night. Sometimes, you might even lose urine without meaning to, known as urgency incontinence.

What are the symptoms of an overactive bladder?

Signs of an overactive bladder include feeling an urgent need to urinate that’s hard to control. You might lose urine without wanting to, urinate often, and wake up more than twice a night to go to the bathroom.

What causes an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder occurs when the bladder muscles tighten on their own, even when there’s little urine inside. This leads to involuntary contractions and an urgent need to urinate. Conditions like bladder problems, neurological disorders, diabetes, and issues that block urine flow can contribute to it.

What are the risk factors for developing an overactive bladder?

Being older, female, or having an enlarged prostate increases the risk of overactive bladder. Diabetes, neurological disorders, and cognitive decline from stroke or Alzheimer’s disease also raise the chances.

What are the complications of an overactive bladder?

Overactive bladder can make life harder, leading to anxiety, emotional issues, depression, sexual problems, and sleep issues. For those assigned female at birth, it can also cause mixed incontinence, which is a mix of urgency and stress incontinence.

How can an overactive bladder be treated?

Treating overactive bladder includes simple steps like keeping a bladder diary, changing your diet, and doing bladder retraining. Medicines like anticholinergics and beta-3 adrenergic agonists can also help. For more severe cases, botulinum toxin injections, nerve stimulation therapy, and surgery are options.

Can overactive bladder be prevented?

Yes, you can lower your risk of getting an overactive bladder by staying active, keeping a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and quitting smoking. Also, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol can help.

Source Links

1. Overactive bladder – Symptoms and causes – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355715
2. Overactive Bladder (OAB): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14248-overactive-bladder
3. Overactive Bladder (OAB): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment – https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/o/overactive-bladder-(oab)
4. Overactive Bladder | Polyuria | MedlinePlus – https://medlineplus.gov/overactivebladder.html
5. Overactive Bladder Syndrome: Evaluation and Management – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5903463/
6. Practice Essentials, Background, Anatomy and Physiology – https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/459340-overview
7. OAB — Helping an Overactive Bladder – https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/ss/slideshow-overactive-bladder
8. Help for overactive bladder – https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/what-can-you-do-for-an-overactive-bladder
9. Overactive Bladder | Cedars-Sinai – https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/o/overactive-bladder.html
10. What Causes Overactive Bladder? 5 Risk Factors for OAB – https://www.renalandurologynews.com/news/what-causes-overactive-bladder-5-risk-factors/
11. Overactive Bladder: Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms – https://www.everydayhealth.com/overactive-bladder/causes/
12. What Is Overactive Bladder (OAB)? – National Association For Continence – https://nafc.org/overactive-bladder/
13. Overactive Bladder Causes & Treatments | CU Urogynecology | Denver – https://urogyn.coloradowomenshealth.com/conditions/bladder/overactive-bladder.html
14. What Can Cause an Overactive Bladder? – https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder-causes
15. Overactive Bladder (OAB) Complications and How to Treat Them – https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder-complications
16. Health-related consequences of overactive bladder – PubMed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12516954/
17. How to Tell If You Have Overactive Bladder – https://www.verywellhealth.com/overactive-bladder-symptoms-5114619
18. Approach Considerations, Behavioral Therapy, Pharmacologic Therapy – https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/459340-treatment
19. Cognitive behavioral therapy for overactive bladder in women: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial – BMC Urology – https://bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12894-020-00697-0
20. 6 medications that can help relieve bladder control problems – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/in-depth/bladder-control-problems/art-20044220
21. Overactive bladder – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355721
22. Treatment Options for Overactive Bladder – https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/overactive-bladder-treatment-finding-best-options
23. Botox for Overactive Bladder – Pelvic Health – https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/womens-pelvic-health/diagnostic-testing-office-services/botox-overactive-bladder
24. The use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649594/
25. How do bladder Botox injections work? – https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/how-do-bladder-botox-injections-work
26. Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) | CU Urogynecology CO – https://urogyn.coloradowomenshealth.com/treatments/ptns.html
27. Electrical Stimulation for Overactive Bladder: How It Works – https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/overactive-bladder-electrical-stimulation
28. What Are the Surgery Options for OAB? – https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder-surgery
29. Feel Like You’re Running to the Bathroom Too Much? It Could Be Overactive Bladder. – https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder
30. Overactive Bladder Prevention and Lifestyle Measures – https://www.everydayhealth.com/overactive-bladder/prevention-lifestyle-measures/
31. Overactive Bladder at Night: Treatment and Prevention – https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder/overactive-bladder-night
32. Do not let your life be disturbed. Stop worrying about overactive bladder! | Bangkok Hospital – https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/content/overactive-bladder-disturb-the-quality-of-life
33. Impact on Quality of Life of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Literature Review – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090429509025151
34. The AUA/SUFU Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Overactive Bladder – https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/idiopathic-overactive-bladder
35. Clinical Impact of Overactive Bladder – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476019/
36. Urology & Continence Care Today – Article: Overactive bladder syndrome: what nurses should know – https://www.ucc-today.com/journals/issue/launch-edition/article/overactive-bladder-syndrome-what-nurses-should-know
37. Overactive bladder: A review and update – https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2021.10879