Do you find yourself looking for a toilet every half an hour? When you are traveling, is the availability of toilets the first thing you ascertain? Even in the middle of a meeting, do you find it unable to concentrate due to the urge to pee?
All of the above are some of the varied ways in which an Overactive Bladder can present.
It is defined as the frequent need to urinate which negatively affects one’s daily routine.This may or may not be associated with urinary leak ( incontinence).
How to prevent embarrassing urine leaks?
Frequent urination can/cannot be associated with urinary leaks. Here are some of the lifestyle measures that can help :
Be mindful of the quantity of fluids you consume in a day. Sometimes, excess fluid intake leads to frequent toilet visits. 2.5 - 3 litres of fluids (including juices, soups, milk, coffee, tea apart from water itself ) in 24 hours is adequate hydration for a person with a moderately active lifestyle.
Avoid excessive tea, coffee and other caffeinated beverages which are proven to irritate the bladder and cause overactivity.
Bladder retraining: This refers to intentionally distracting yourself and slowly increasing the interval between toilet visits by 5 mins every few days, gradually increasing the interval between toilet visits to 90 - 120 minutes.
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Pelvic floor exercises: These set of exercises aim to retrain the pelvic floor muscles by periodic contraction and relaxation which if done correctly and consistently, will go a long way in strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.
The main reason for failure with these exercises is due to incorrect identification of the requisite muscles and inconsistent exercise.
Increased body weight can precipitate urine leaks due to increased pressure on the urinary bladder. Maintaining an ideal body weight helps in not just regaining bladder control but also in keeping other lifestyle diseases like diabetes, and hypertension at bay.
Other factors that lead to urine leaks due to increased pressure on the urinary bladder include chronic cough and constipation. A high-fibre diet with adequate water intake helps in relieving constipation. Identifying triggers for cough and treating it in the initial stages can relieve this trigger.
Most of the time, the above measures themselves help in controlling overactive bladder. If the symptoms persist in spite of lifestyle modifications, consult your urogynecologist who will evaluate you for associated issues and prescribe medications or interventions as needed.
Author: Dr Rubina Shanawaz Z, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Uro Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Richmond Road, Bangalore
