How does the bladder work?
The bladder is like a reservoir that gets filled with urine produced by the kidneys. When the bladder becomes full, a signal is sent to the brain, and we feel the urge to urinate.
There are receptors in the bladder wall that send signals to the brain when action is needed. The brain then sends a message to the bladder muscle, instructing it to either expand (to store urine) or contract (to empty the urine).
What is Overactive Bladder?
Overactive Bladder (OAB), also known as hyperactive bladder, is a clinical syndrome characterized by involuntary muscle contractions of the bladder that cause a sudden and uncontrollable urge to urinate in some individuals. This bladder dysfunction can occur at any time during the day.
Symptoms
Overactive bladder is defined by the presence of urinary urgency, usually associated with one or more of the following symptoms (in the absence of urinary tract infection or other disease):
Urgency
You may have a sudden or irresistible urge to urinate, associated with an inability to hold urine or regulate it.
Urgency incontinence
You feel an urgent need to urinate and you experience leakage episodes or difficulty retaining before reaching the toilet.
Frequency
You experience the need to urinate so frequently that it becomes a major burden on your life (generally 8 or more times a day).
Nocturia
You get up more than once a night to urinate.
Urinary incontinence is more common than you may think
It affects approximately:
Although its prevalence increases with age2, urinary incontinence is not confined to the elderly. It affects both men and women.
Urinary incontinence can put patients in distress, and considerably alter their quality of life3.
Diagnosis
- Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.
- Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms.
- Incontinence may be treatable, you don’t have to face it alone.
- Explore the following sections to find out more about overactive bladder and existing solutions.
References:
- Continence Health Australia. (n.d.). Bladder Health. Retrieved from https://www.continence.org.au/continence-health/bladder
- Milsom I et al. “How widespread are the symptoms of an overactive bladder and how are they managed? “ A population-based prevalence study. BJU Int. 2 001 Jun; 87(9):760-6.
- Kinsey, D., Pretorius, S., Glover, L. & Alexander, T. The psychological impact of overactive bladder: a systematic review. J. Health Psychol. 21, 69–81 (2016).