If you laugh or sneeze and it results in urine leak, then perhaps you may be suffering from an overactive bladder (OAB). An overactive bladder can have a drastic impact on every aspect of a person’s life and can cause people to limit their social life considerably. According to research, 33 million Americans suffer with an overactive bladder. Similar research has shown that more than 40% of women and about 30% of men in the United States live with symptoms of OAB.
These numbers could likely be much higher as many people abstain from discussing about OAB problems. Some of them do not even ask for help as they find it embarrassing to discuss their problems with anyone.
Symptoms Of An Overactive Bladder
- Frequent urination You pass urine more frequently than others do when you have the urge to urinate very frequently in a day.
- Urge Incontinence Having a sudden urge to urinate and not being able to control it, this might even lead to leaking of urine. You might experience bed wetting as well.
- Urgency of urination A normal person can hold urine for some time until they find a washroom or get out of a meeting. If you are unable to hold your urine for even a minute, then you might suffer from an overactive bladder. OAB refers to the failure to be able to postpone the need to urinate.
- Suffer from Nocturia Nocturia is a condition in which you wake up frequently during the night because you have to urinate urgently.
Causes Of Overactive Bladder
OAB is known to be the result of spasms caused by the detrusor muscle. The detrusor muscle is smooth muscle found in the wall of the urinary bladder.
- The weakening of Pelvic Muscles Pregnancy and childbirth can lead to the weakening of pelvic floor muscles, which in turn makes the bladder sag from its position and stretch the opening of the urethra, causing urine to leak.
- Urinary Infection Urinary tract infection may lead to irritation of the nerves of the urinary bladder and can cause the bladder to contract without warning.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and others The consumption of these products can dull the nerves delaying the transmission of signal to the brain and might result in bladder overflow. They can cause a rapid filling of the bladder and may lead to urine leakage as well.
- Being Overweight Being overweight can lead to the buildup of pressure in the abdomen and bladder. This factor contributes to urine incontinence.
- Nerve Damages Nerves carry signals from the urinary bladder to the brain as the bladder gets full. However, nerve damage can cause these nerves to send the wrong signals to the brain, triggering the bladder to empty itself at the wrong time. Diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke can cause nerve damage. Pelvic or back surgery, herniated discs, and radiation can also cause nerve damage.
Treatment Of Overactive Bladder
Treatments such as pelvic floor muscle exercises, using a disposable adult diapers, medication and stimulation of specific nerve, can reduce or eliminate symptoms of OAB. Below are the treatment-
1. Self-Care
- Bladder Training This is one of the most common methods to treat OAB, as it does not involve medication. This helps you control the urge to urinate as you are supposed to urinate only at set times of the day. Initially, you are supposed to control your urge for a few minutes and then gradually increase it to an hour or two. This is called scheduled voiding.
- Double Voiding This technique assists the bladder to empty itself more effectively. It involves sitting in an ideal position to pass urine and then waiting for about thirty seconds after you feel you are done, to pass any excess urine that remains.
- Disposable adult diaper You can use absorbent products to control and catch urine leaks that might happen. Adult diapers that can be disposed of easily are available. They last up to 8 hours and require minimum changes.
- Scheduled Toileting Planning an orderly schedule, so that you pass urine at designated times through the day can help you avoid leakage of urine.
2. Therapies
- Pelvic Floor Exercises Kegel exercises are the most common type of pelvic floor exercises. This involves the repetition of voluntary contracting, holding the contraction for two seconds, and then relaxing of the muscles in your pelvis that you use to start and stop urination. Slowly start holding the contraction for 3, then 5 seconds and then 10 seconds at a time. Do three sets of 10 repetitions each day.
- Biofeedback It involves controlling the body’s heartbeat, brainwaves, breathing and blood pressure by monitoring with sensors.
3. Medications
Medication is also available to treat an overactive bladder. Medications that relax the bladder can be helpful for relieving symptoms of an overactive bladder and can reduce chances of urge incontinence.
PREVENTION
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Exercising on a daily basis
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Quit smoking
- Avoid drinking fluids especially before going to bed
How are Adult Diapers Useful To A Person Suffering From OAB?
Adult diapers are the best solutions for dealing with an overactive bladder. If treatments do not work for this problem, then you must choose to wear adult diapers to boost your confidence and enjoy comfort. However, you need to take care of a few things while using them:
- Change Diapers Regularly: In order to stay comfortable and odor-free, you need to change your diaper not very frequently but before it starts leaking. If you feel it is full to capacity and you cannot bear its weight, then change it as soon as possible.
- Use a barrier ointment: Good quality diapers do not cause any rashes or skin infections. However, you can use preventive measures and apply a barrier ointment to avoid skin changes that can occur due to regular exposure to urine.
- Always wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes: Wearing loose-fitting clothes will make your diaper less visible. No one would notice that you are wearing a diaper underneath.
- Wear dark clothes while going out: When you are going out, always choose darker clothes as dark clothes hide any leaks that occur.
It is true that adult diapers provide a quick and easy solution for those suffering from an Overactive Bladder. So many reputable brands offer adult diapers in different sizes and materials. Many of them sell their products online as well. These adult diapers serve their purpose well and are available at highly affordable rates.
