Home - Health - 4 Effective Ways To Manage An Overactive Bladder
4 effective ways to manage an overactive bladder

4 effective ways to manage an overactive bladder

Nearly 33 million people in the country suffer from an overactive bladder condition (OAB). Patients often struggle with a sudden urge to urinate and may experience long-term incontinence. Several risk factors are linked to OAB symptoms, including neurological disorders, diabetes, urinary tract infections, hormonal changes, and even an enlarged prostate. But, it is possible to manage the condition via changes in food habits, lifestyle modifications, the correct prescriptions and treatment methods.

Prescriptions to overcome an overactive bladder
Mild to moderate overactive symptoms can be managed with prescriptions including Gemtesa®, Myrbetriq®, and Toviaz®. Here is more on the options typically prescribed for OAB treatment:

Gemtesa®
It belongs to a class of beta 3 adrenergic agonists that help activate beta-3 receptors in the bladder muscles. This allows muscles to relax and hold more urine efficiently. 

Myrbetriq®
This prescription works in a similar fashion to Gemtesa® by relaxing the detrusor muscles in the bladder, allowing the organ to hold more urine and help overcome problems linked to incontinence. 

Toviaz®
It is an alternate prescription that belongs to a class of urinary antispasmodics used to control the urge to urinate. It helps block certain receptor signals in the bladder to relax the muscle walls and allows better control over spasms that could trigger incontinence.

Best foods to manage an overactive bladder
Change in daily meals to include more nutritious foods and eliminate food triggers can also help overcome an overactive bladder.

Eat non-acidic fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables that don’t cause bladder irritation are safe to eat to manage overactive bladder symptoms better. Bananas, grapes, watermelon, strawberries, blackberries, apples, and coconuts are great fruits to eat regularly. You can add vitamin-rich vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cucumber, kale, carrots, celery, lettuce, and peppers to meals.

Eat foods rich in fiber
Lentils, beans, bran, barley, artichoke, oats, and raspberries are excellent fiber-rich foods that promote better digestion. They help relieve discomforts linked to constipation that puts excess pressure on the bladder and the urinary tract. Also, almonds, pistachios, and pecans are excellent nuts to eat to overcome problems linked to constipation.

Eat foods rich in proteins
Protein is necessary for muscle growth and tissue repair in damaged cells. In an overactive bladder, the organ loses its ability to control and hold fluids, resulting in incontinence. Consuming more lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs can help improve damaged muscle and overcome muscle control issues.

Foods to avoid
Overactive bladder symptoms can worsen over time due to several trigger foods. These range from acidic fruits and vegetables to even sweetened and carbonated beverages. Avoid limes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, tomatoes, and even tomato products that are rich in natural citric acid. Spicy foods, foods containing added preservatives, additives, flavorings, sugar, and sugar substitutes will also worsen the symptoms. Also, avoid consuming sports drinks, carbonated beverages, and caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee, and energy drinks to control the symptoms of an overactive bladder.

Lifestyle changes to help overcome overactive bladder symptoms
Changes in daily nutrition can also be supplemented with effective lifestyle habits and a routine that improves control over urge and incontinence.

Pay attention to your fluid intake
Drinking too much water or other liquids can increase the urge and frequency to urinate with an already overactive bladder. Drinking more fluids during the day and avoiding hydrating at night is recommended. The body can also absorb liquids from daily foods, so pay attention to your fluid intake by keeping track of what you eat.

Explore bladder training exercises
Bladder training can also help train the muscles to gain more control. The first step is identifying a pattern of urge, frequency, and need for daily urination. Maintaining these details in a diary will help identify the problem and severity of the symptoms. Once the patterns are identified, it is possible to devise an interval plan to space out the urge to urinate. Over time, your mind and body will get used to the new routine, and with practice, it may be possible to overcome an overactive bladder condition.

Doctors also suggest pelvic floor exercises, including Kegel exercises, biofeedback sensor training, and vaginal weight training to control pelvic floor muscles better and manage incontinence. Daily physical exercise, maintaining a healthy body mass index, and avoiding stimulating substances will be beneficial in the long run.

Other treatment options to overcome an overactive bladder

Botox injections
Botox injections can be injected into the bladder tissue to help the muscles relax. It will, thus, help the bladder hold urine for longer These injection doses usually last for six months before it is time to take a follow-up shot.

Nerve stimulation techniques
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) is a non-surgical option where electricity is conducted carefully to stimulate the tibial nerve, helping prevent muscle spasms that could lead to incontinence.

Surgery
Surgery is the only viable option for patients with severe overactive bladder symptoms. It is done to improve the bladder’s capacity to store more urine. However, the procedure could also lead to permanent catheter use. In extremely severe cases, bladder removal is the only option. In this type of surgery, the organ is replaced with an artificial system to collect urine outside of the body.

It is always advisable to consult with medical professionals to understand the impact of changes in daily foods, treatment options, and lifestyle remedies to manage an overactive bladder. If the symptoms flare up, seek immediate medical attention at any point before or during treatment to avoid permanent damage to the organ.

Latest Articles

4 hair styling tools that give a salon-like look
Beauty

4 hair styling tools that give a salon-like look

If you like to style your hair frequently without having to spend money at salons, you can invest in some basic hair styling tools. These tools can create beach waves or curls or even straighten them out. There are many hair styling tools that are versatile, easy to use, and do little or no damage to your hair. If you want to invest in hair styling tools, here are a few tools to check out: Hair straightener and curler Combining a hair straightener and curler that is suitable for all hair types allows you the freedom to try out trending hairstyles. Look for a professional straightener or curler with a ceramic or copper flat iron. Choose a flat iron that allows you to control the temperature so that you don’t damage your hair. Experts claim that setting the straightener or curler to temperatures as high as 455 degrees can help straighten the most challenging and rigid curls. The copper ceramic tools also ensure that the hair doesn’t break while you are straightening, leaving your hair straight and smooth once you are done. You can also choose regular and smart Bluetooth straighteners to help you choose the best temperature and care settings every time you use the tool. Hot air brush Hot air brushes combine a hairbrush with a flat iron and blow dryer. Choose the desired heat setting and gently brush your damp hair. It is essential to remember a hot air brush cannot be used on wet hair or right after your shower; your hair needs to be dry by at least 80%. It works well with mildly damp hair. The bristles in the hairbrush guide your hair, and the heated plates smooth and polish it. You no longer need to use a hair dryer to dry your hair after a shower and then use a straightener.
8 effective remedies for nasal polyps
Health

8 effective remedies for nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are tiny tear-shaped growths in the nose and sinuses, usually brought on by asthma, infection, allergies, or other kinds of inflammation. These polyps are usually painless and non-cancerous, however, they can be big enough to cause itchiness, breathing difficulties, sneezing, and running nose. Doctors usually prescribe nasal sprays that can relieve the symptoms and get rid of the polyps. However, one can also try a few natural remedies to deal with the condition: Neti pot (or nasal irrigation) Neti pot is a popular and convenient nasal irrigation device. All one has to do is fill this container with saline solution or add 1–2 tsp salt to distilled water or boiled (and then cooled) tap water. Then, one would have to lean over a washbasin or a sink and tilt their head sideways so that the liquid does not flow back into the mouth. One would have to breathe through the mouth, insert the spout into the upper nostril and allow the fluid to drain from the lower nostril. Then the nostrils will have to be cleaned by blowing the nose to remove mucus and dirt. This process should be repeated through the other nostril. The goal is to loosen and clear the mucus and debris like dust or pollen from the nasal cavity. Using a neti pot twice a day can help improve symptoms of nasal polyps. The container and hands have to be clean and dry to prevent infection. Steam inhalation In the absence of a nasal irrigation device, one can use steam to relieve nasal congestion, headaches, and other symptoms. People can boil some water in a pot or dish, place it on a counter or the dining table right in front of them as they sit in a comfortable position, and inhale the steam for a while.
4 foods that are surprisingly bad foods for diabetics
Health

4 foods that are surprisingly bad foods for diabetics

Many foods are portrayed to be the best for diabetics, but it would be surprising to know that even wholesome foods could cause a spike in sugar levels if the portion size is not moderated. Food choices truly matter when a person has diabetes. Under normal circumstances, one would think that these foods aid in better health and maintain sugar levels, but they don’t. Here are four surprisingly bad foods for those with diabetes: Brown rice While brown rice certainly has more fiber than white rice, a single cup of brown rice contains nearly 50 grams of carbohydrates. This can easily be broken into glucose which could spike the sugar levels. The alternative would be to cut down on rice and add more green leafy vegetables. Fresh fruit juice It does not matter if one opts for seasonal juice or those that claim that they have no extra sugar added. If we take an orange as fruit and look at its nutrient content, it has about 15 grams of carbohydrates, vitamins, and fiber. An orange juice, on the contrary, has 45 grams of carbohydrates and less of other nutrients. Therefore, drinking juice is not the same thing as eating fruit.   Dried fruits If one thinks having a raisin is healthier than a chocolate cookie, think again. Raisins contain 1 gram of carb more than what is available in a chocolate cookie. That said, they are undoubtedly wholesome compared to a cookie. However, both of them would result in a spike in blood sugar. The same holds good for cranberries and apricots. Yogurt Yogurt offers a plethora of health benefits, including probiotics for gut health. However, they are heavily processed and contain a wallop of 30 grams of sugar, even in the best of the brands. Ensure to read the ingredient before buying one.