| An overactive bladder is a condition that results | | | | night |
| from sudden, involuntary contraction of the | | | | - Urinating more than eight times in a 24 hour |
| muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder. | | | | period |
| Overactive bladder causes a sudden and | | | | - Feel an overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to |
| unstoppable need to urinate (urinary urgency). | | | | urinate |
| Overactive bladder is also referred to as urge | | | | - Urinary incontinence, control problems, leaking |
| incontinence and is a form of urinary incontinence | | | | If you have too, plan your trips and excursions |
| (unintentional loss of urine). | | | | around the bathrooms. Knowing where they are |
| Overactive bladder, sometimes called an irritable | | | | and how many are there and experiencing |
| bladder, affects about one in six men and women | | | | anxiety about having to use them, then you may |
| in the United States. Most men with overactive | | | | be suffering from OAB. Also if you are using adult |
| bladder are 65 and older. But women tend to be | | | | incontinence devices, such as adult diapers or |
| affected earlier - the prevalence rate begins to | | | | mattress protection liners, these are also sign that |
| climb among women when they reach their | | | | you are suffering from OAB. |
| mid-40s. | | | | The symptoms of OAB do not appear suddenly |
| If you have overactive bladder, you may feel | | | | and all at once. This affliction comes on gradually |
| embarrassed, isolate yourself or limit your work | | | | so you may find yourself adjusting your lifestyle |
| and social life. A combination of treatments may | | | | little by little. The anxiety of OAB my be limiting |
| greatly alleviate symptoms of overactive bladder | | | | your lifestyle and you might be unwittingly |
| and help you manage their impact on your daily | | | | accepting the limitations imposed on your day to |
| life. | | | | day ability to do the things you would like to be |
| Who gets overactive bladder? | | | | doing. |
| The brief answer - lots of people! One estimate is | | | | Medications help relax the bladder and provide |
| that at least 2.9 million Canadians have an | | | | relief from symptoms. They can be used alone or |
| overactive bladder or suffer from incontinence. | | | | in combination with behavioral treatments. Since |
| An overactive bladder is more common in | | | | they are prescription drugs, they must be used |
| women, and in older adults, but can be found in | | | | under the supervision of a health care provider. |
| younger folks and in men. Unfortunately, many | | | | Medications do not cure incontinence but can help |
| people who have symptoms of an overactive | | | | reduce or eliminate problems of bladder control. |
| bladder suffer silently and needlessly because they | | | | Herbal Support |
| do not seek medical help. | | | | Soothing urinary tract tonics may help heal the |
| How common is overactive bladder syndrome? | | | | bladder and related nervous irritation. Also drink 2 |
| In two large studies it was found that about 1 in | | | | - 3 quarts of water daily. |
| 6 adults reported some symptoms of an | | | | Herbs to use as tea: |
| overactive bladder. Symptoms vary in their | | | | * Cleavers (Galium aparine) - traditional urinary |
| severity. About 1 in 3 people with an overactive | | | | tonic |
| bladder have episodes of urge incontinence. | | | | * Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) - soothing |
| Do you frequently experience the following? | | | | demulcent properties, best in "cold infusion" (Soak |
| - Get up to urinate two or more times in a single | | | | herb in cold water several hours; strain and drink. |