Overactive bladder what to do. Overactive bladder: symptoms and signs. Factors in the occurrence of gas-filled earthworms

Do you feel like you always need to be near the toilet, afraid that you won't be able to get there on time? This may mean you have an overactive bladder.

Near 22% of the world's population suffers from this problem to one degree or another. However, according to various reasons many of them are in no hurry to see a doctor, trying to hide the problem not only from others, but also from themselves. Only 4–6% of patients turn to specialists; the rest hush up the problem, thereby exacerbating it.

Those suffering from an overactive bladder develop a unique behavior mechanism. In unfamiliar places, such a person first of all finds out where the toilet is so that he can use it at any time. Many of those who are familiar with this problem often visit the toilet “for future use” and try to empty the bladder at every opportunity, even if it is not yet completely full.

Filling and emptying the bladder is a complex process involving the interaction of kidney function, nervous system and muscles. Dysfunction of one of these links can contribute to the development of an overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

Overactive bladder is a bladder disorder that causes an irresistible urge to urinate.

Symptoms of an overactive bladder

The main symptoms of an overactive bladder are:

urgent need to urinate;
frequent urge to urinate (more than 8 times a day);
visiting the toilet at night (2 times or more per night);
the urge to urinate after a very recent visit to the toilet;
the need to urinate even with a small amount of fluid accumulated in the bladder;
uncontrolled leakage of urine accompanying the urge to urinate.

People with an overactive bladder may have some or all of the above symptoms.

Both men and women suffer from this disease, but women are slightly more likely to suffer from this disease. There is a clear relationship between the frequency of the disease and age. The older a person is, the more often the disease occurs. In people over 75 years of age, one in three people have an overactive bladder.

Causes of overactive bladder

Causes of overactive bladder may include: neurogenic:

diseases of the brain and spinal cord (multiple sclerosis, tumors, dementia, Parkinson's disease, consequences of stroke);
brain and spinal cord injuries;
congenital spinal cord defects;
alcoholic neuropathy;
diabetic neuropathy.

TO not neurogenic reasons include:

age-related changes;
genitourinary diseases;
congenital bladder defects;
hormonal imbalance.

Very often, doctors cannot identify the cause of an overactive bladder.

Of course, in order to receive recommendations for the treatment of this disease, it is necessary to consult a specialist. And don't be shy! Remember that this is a very common problem. Women need to be examined by a gynecologist, men – by a urologist for prostate diseases. In addition, you will have to visit a neurologist.

I will not tell you about drug and surgical methods of treating this disease, since treatment for each person is strictly individual. In this article we will focus on the methods you can use to help yourself at home.

Lifestyle correction

To solve the problem of overactive bladder, you first need to change your lifestyle.

1. Change your diet.

It is necessary to limit the intake of sour, spicy foods and spices, citrus fruits and their juices. Avoid caffeinated drinks and foods (tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, chocolate and others), alcohol, sugar substitutes, watermelon, melon and cucumbers. These foods irritate the bladder wall and stimulate diuresis.

Products containing zinc and vitamin A have a beneficial effect on bladder function. Therefore, preference should be given to seafood, green vegetables, cereals, flax and sunflower seeds.

2. Stop smoking.

3. Control your body weight.

4. Normalize bowel function, avoid constipation.

5. Monitoring of medications.

There are drugs that have a diuretic effect (hypotensive drugs, antidiabetic drugs). The use of these medications should be under the supervision of the attending physician.

6. Limit fluid intake before bed.

If you often wake up at night to go to the toilet, avoid drinking liquids before bed (at least 3 hours before bed). But don’t forget to drink water during the day (the body’s daily physiological need for fluid should be distributed evenly throughout the day).

7. Try to empty your bladder completely.

To do this, try practicing the “double urination” method. When visiting the toilet, empty your bladder as much as possible of accumulated urine, and then, after relaxing for a few seconds, try to empty it again.

8. Use of special means.

Those who are concerned about urinary incontinence should use special pads and diapers for adults. They can be purchased at any pharmacy. They will relieve you from the inconvenience associated with incontinence, and those around you from the unpleasant odor.

Behavioral therapy

Behavioral therapy is an effective monotherapeutic method of treating overactive bladder that has no contraindications and does not require material costs.

This technique can bring relief to every patient with this disease, and from 15 to 20% of patients return to normal life.

Behavioral therapy will help:

teach the bladder to hold more fluid to reduce the number of urinations;
control the desire to go to the toilet, thereby improving the quality of life.

Before treatment, the patient keeps a diary of urination for several days, which shows how often and in what volume they occurred. This diary can replace a urodynamic study if it is difficult for you to carry out one.

Then the training begins, which consists of the fact that the patient in any environment (at home, at work, everywhere) must go to the toilet strictly according to the schedule, even if at the moment he does not want to go to the toilet. This helps restore control over the body. At the same time, it is necessary to wait until the time indicated in the schedule in order to teach the bladder to store more urine and thus gradually increase the intervals between visits to the toilet.

Therapeutic exercises are effectively used to reduce bladder overactivity.

Therapeutic gymnastics using the Kegel technique

The Kegel exercise system involves alternately contracting and relaxing the levator ani muscles.

Regular implementation of a set of these exercises helps with many dysfunctions of the genitourinary organs in men and women (overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, uterine prolapse, prostatitis), regulation of sexual functions and diseases of the rectum (fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids and others).

Exercise 1 – Slow Squeeze

Tighten your muscles the same way you would when stopping urination. Slowly count to three. Relax.

Exercise 2 – Elevator

Smoothly and gradually tense your pelvic floor muscles. First floor - strain a little and hold in this state, second - strain harder and hold again, third - strain even more and hold again. And so on all the way to the “top” - strain your muscles as hard as you can. Then gradually release the muscles, also “lingering” on the floors.

Exercise 3 – Abbreviations

Tighten and relax your pelvic muscles as quickly as you can.

Exercise 4 – Push-ups

Push down as if you want to go to the toilet.

And don't forget to breathe evenly during these exercises.

Each exercise is performed 10 times, after a week 5 repetitions are added to each exercise until you reach 30 repetitions. The entire set of exercises must be performed 5 times a day.

Overactive bladder in women, which requires treatment immediately after the problem is detected, is a dysfunction of urine storage and the emergence of a strong desire to empty the bladder. This need is often acute and leads to the involuntary release of some urine (incontinence).

Traditionally, therapy begins with the use of strategies - doctors recommend drinking water and other drinks strictly on a schedule, going to the toilet every day at a certain time and restraining sudden urges using the pelvic floor muscles. If these measures do not help, there are other methods of treating the pathology.

Symptoms

If you have problems urinating, it is not a fact that they are caused by an overactive bladder. Symptoms in women appear as follows:

a sudden need to visit the toilet, and this need is extremely difficult to control;
that is, its involuntary release immediately after the desire to empty the bladder arises;
usually more than eight times a day;
nocturnal polyuria (nocturia) - a nighttime urge to go to the toilet, repeated more than twice during sleep.

Although many patients manage to get to the toilet as soon as the need arises, almost all sufferers experience the stress of having to empty their bladder many times a day.

Normal organ functioning

The kidneys produce urine, which then drains into the bladder. When you go to the toilet, urine leaves the storage organ through an opening at the bottom and flows out through a tube called the urethra. In women, the opening of the urethra is located directly above the vagina, in men - at the tip of the head of the penis.

As the bladder fills, signals from nerves are sent to the brain, which eventually trigger the need to stool. When urinating, nerve signals coordinate the relaxation of the pelvic floor and urethral muscles (the latter are called the urinary sphincter muscles). The muscles of the organ tense (contract), pushing urine out.

Causes of pathology

When the muscles of the organ suddenly begin to tense up (even if the volume of urine in it is still small), doctors diagnose an overactive bladder. Symptoms in women include, first of all, a sharp onset of need and may be accompanied by signs of diseases that serve as prerequisites for the development of this ailment. However, chronic diseases are not the only cause of the problem. Frequent toileting and incontinence may be caused by:

neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, strokes, multiple sclerosis;
excessive urine production as a result of drinking large amounts of fluid, poor kidney function, or diabetes;
taking medications that speed up urine production or require drinking large amounts of liquid;
acute infectious diseases of the urethra, causing symptoms, similar to the signs of such an ailment as an overactive bladder in women;
organ pathologies (tumors, stones);
factors that interfere with normal urination (in men this may be an enlarged prostate, in women - constipation or past operations to treat other forms of incontinence);
excessive consumption of caffeine or alcoholic beverages;
depression of the cognitive function of the brain due to aging of the body, as a result of which the bladder has difficulty recognizing incoming signals;
difficulty walking, due to which not all patients can get to the restroom in a timely manner;
incomplete emptying of the bladder, which can lead to symptoms of overactivity due to reduced space for new urine coming from the kidneys.

Often, however, even experts cannot say exactly what caused the development of organ hyperactivity syndrome.

Diagnostics

If you suffer from an unbearable need to go to the toilet too often, your doctor will first check your urine for blood or infection. It is also necessary to determine whether you are emptying your bladder completely. A full diagnosis will most likely include the following:

study of medical history;
primary medical examination with special attention on the abdominal and groin organs;
urine tests to check for infections, traces of blood and other signs of pathology;
a focused neurological exam to look for sensory disturbances or reflex problems.

Special studies

First, the doctor will establish an accurate diagnosis and probable prerequisites for the development of such an unpleasant condition as an overactive bladder in women. Treatment will depend on many factors, but primarily on the quality of functioning of the organ. The bladder's ability to empty itself regularly and completely is tested by urodynamic testing, which consists of several different tests.

What is included in the concept of urodynamic analysis

Measurement of residual urine volume. This test is especially important if the organ does not empty completely when you urinate, or if you suffer from incontinence. Residual urine causes symptoms similar to those of hyperactivity. To measure the remaining fluid after a bowel movement, the doctor will order an ultrasound examination of the bladder or insert a special catheter (thin tube) to drain and study the remainder.
Measuring urine flow rate. If it is necessary to assess the volume and speed of urination, the doctor will ask you to empty your bladder into a uroflowmeter - a device that measures these parameters and converts them into a graph of changes in the rate of emptying.
Determination of intravesical pressure. The cystometry method helps measure the pressure in the organ and surrounding tissues when filled with fluid. During this test, the doctor uses a thin tube (catheter) to slowly fill the bladder warm water. Another catheter with a sensor sensitive to changes in pressure is placed in the vagina. This procedure helps to understand why overactive bladder occurs in women. Treatment will depend on what the analysis shows: either involuntary contractions of the walls of the organ will be observed, or its rigidity, as a result of which the bladder becomes unable to store urine at low pressure. You may be asked to have a bowel movement during the test to measure the pressure required to empty the organ and to determine whether there is or may not be a blockage (obstruction). Obstruction caused by pelvic organ prolapse can lead to symptoms similar to the common problem of overactive bladder in women. The causes (treatment, as is known, can only be prescribed by a qualified specialist) in this case almost always include neurological diseases affecting the spinal cord.

Behavioral therapy treatment

Behavioral therapy, or acquiring the healthy habits necessary to combat an illness, is the first and most effective measure on the path to recovery. The undoubted advantage of this method is the complete absence side effects. If you have no idea how to treat overactive bladder in women, try the techniques below.

Best troubleshooting methods

Exercises for the pelvic floor muscles. No wonder they have gained worldwide fame and unprecedented popularity: perhaps there is no more natural way to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and urinary sphincter. Stronger muscles can permanently rid you of involuntary contractions of the bladder walls. The doctor will give detailed advice on how to properly perform the famous gymnastics. Follow the recommendations of a professional and be patient: it often takes quite a lot to noticeably improve your well-being. for a long time(six to eight weeks).
Maintaining normal weight. If you are obese, returning to a normal weight can help tame an overactive bladder in women. Treatment (reviews can be found on thematic forums if desired) in this case involves following a diet based on the principles proper nutrition.
Monitoring fluid intake. Your doctor may recommend limiting your liquid intake and help you create a schedule for drinking your favorite drinks.
Double emptying. In order for the bladder to completely empty, you need to wait a couple of minutes after the first void and then try to relieve yourself again.
Scheduled urination. The scheduling method is useful not only in terms of drinking fluids, but also for going to the toilet. If you follow a planned schedule (for example, going to the bathroom every 2-4 hours), your body will get used to the same routine, and you will stop experiencing unnecessary stress from a sudden need.

What else can you do?

Intermittent catheterization. When overactive bladder is diagnosed in women, treatment and feedback on the prescribed therapy largely depend on the individual effectiveness of the prescribed method. However, there is a general universal method alleviate the symptoms of the pathology, which involves periodic use of a catheter to completely empty the organ. Consult your doctor before using this method.
Wearing urological pads. The use of urinary pads or special absorbent underwear will help protect clothing from the effects of incontinence and eliminate the associated psychological stress. Such pads and underwear come in all sizes and have different absorbency rates.
Bladder training. This term refers to the development of one’s own ability to restrain small needs. You need to start with short periods - for example, 30 minutes, after which you can gradually increase the intervals until you go to the toilet only once every three to four hours. Overactive bladder in women (treatment, causes, symptoms discussed above) can be stabilized in this way only if you are able to independently strain (contract) the pelvic floor muscles.

Overactive bladder in women: treatment (medications)

To reduce hyperactivity syndrome, medications are used to help relax the walls of the organ. This:

tolterodine (Detrol);
oxybutynin in the form of a skin (transdermal) patch (Oxytrol);
oxybutynin in;
trospium;
solifenacin;
darifenacin;
fesoterodine.

Be careful

The above medications can cause side effects, including dry mouth and constipation, which can worsen the symptoms of overactive bladder in women. Treatment (tablets and other oral medications) should be prescribed by a doctor, but if you suffer from these side effects, it is better to consult a specialist about replacing tablets with gels and patches.

Signs of overactive bladder (OAB) in women are characterized by frequent urination, sudden urge, and inability to hold back urine. Treatment consists of monitoring the process of urination, performing special exercises, taking medications, and following a diet. The disease most often manifests itself at the age of about 40 years.

Urologists distinguish 2 forms of the disease:

Idiopathic– with unknown causes, occurs in 65% of cases.
Neurogenic– causative factors are pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous system (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, tumors, strokes).

There is also a “wet” form of the disease, when along with hyperactivity there is incontinence, and a “dry” form. With the latter, the woman often visits the toilet, but there are no imperative urges.

Causes of hyperactivity

OAB is based on disruption of the detrusor muscle layer of the bladder. Normally, its work is controlled by the centers of the brain. In the presence of neurological disorders, spontaneous contraction of the detrusor occurs, even with an incomplete bladder. The result is an urgent need to urinate.

It is still not clear exactly why hyperactivity develops. Urologists believe that the roots of the problem should be sought in childhood, when there was a violation of the brain's control over urination. Some patients had suffered from enuresis in the past. The diagnosis of “idiopathic OAB” is made in cases where no other abnormalities are identified.

Main causes of OAB:

heredity;
urinary incontinence in childhood;
inflammatory diseases of the urinary organs;
the presence of mechanical obstacles to the outflow of urine (stones, tumors);
impaired blood supply to the bladder.

Causal factors in women

In addition to general factors, gynecological pathology can provoke hyperactivity in women:

weakness of the pelvic floor muscles;
prolapse and prolapse of the uterus;
pregnancy and postpartum condition;
hormonal disorders during menopause.

Predisposing factors are:

taking diuretics;
elderly age;
presence of diabetes mellitus;
constipation;
congenital anomalies of the urinary organs;
poisoning with potent drugs;
destruction of nerve fiber sheaths;
brain diseases (stroke, tumor, traumatic injury);
incontinence in drinking alcohol, excessive coffee consumption;
obesity, as the fat layer puts pressure on the lower abdomen, which leads to compression of the bladder;
diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia).

Damage to the nerves coming from the spinal cord also affects the bladder. With their help, impulses are transmitted to the muscles and internal organs. This factor plays a leading role in older people.

It has been observed that overactive bladder occurs more often in people with psychological and social problems.

Interesting fact: Women suffer from hyperactivity more often than men. There is an opinion that this is due to a reduced level of the hormone serotonin in the brain. If a woman additionally has hormonal disorders, the disease progresses rapidly.

Symptoms of hyperactivity

Signs of the disease can bother the patient either constantly or occasionally.

You should consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

Increased urination– visiting the restroom more than 8 times a day.
Urgency- a sudden desire to go to the toilet. The existing problem forces a person to interrupt important negotiations and avoid public places - theaters, cinemas. Even the usual journey home creates certain difficulties. In advanced forms of the disease, the sound of pouring water provokes an unbearable desire to urinate.
Urgent incontinence. It appears if the patient could not restrain the urgent urge.
Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
Urinary incontinence with slight straining, during coughing, laughter, physical stress (more common in girls).
Night trips to the toilet(nocturia) - more than twice.

The main manifestation is frequent urination; urgency and incontinence are less common. In some patients, symptoms either disappear without any treatment or reappear. This course of the disease gives people reason to postpone visiting a doctor in the hope of independent recovery.

An overactive bladder significantly affects a woman's quality of life. She is ashamed of her problem, avoids meeting with friends and going on visits. The nervous system suffers from regular disruption of night rest; over time, fatigue accumulates, headaches occur, and attention and memory decrease.

Complications and consequences

The disease tends to progress gradually. Some people are even forced to leave work to be near a toilet.

If treatment is not timely, the following develops:

mental disorders (depression, nervousness, sleep disturbance);
social maladaptation - the inability to adapt to the conditions of social life;
constant anxiety, which affects concentration;
the possibility of congenital pathology in the baby if the mother suffered from hyperactivity during pregnancy.

Diagnostics

Urologists believe that the disease occurs in 20% of people, but only a small proportion of them see a doctor. Many people are ashamed of their shortcomings and prefer to deal with it on their own.

At your first visit, the doctor will definitely find out the following:

when signs of illness appeared;
Do relatives have similar problems?
frequency of urination during the day;
whether there is pain and discomfort when visiting the toilet.

Overactive bladder in women, treatment of which begins with scheduling toilet visits, requires daily monitoring of urination.

number of urinations per day;
volume of urine;
whether there are urgent urges or not;
how much fluid you drink during the day.

These records are used to determine the severity of the disease and further treatment tactics. It is advisable to come to a consultation with a doctor with a diary already filled out. To identify the cause of OAB, a woman will need to additionally visit a gynecologist, endocrinologist and neurologist. The urologist must determine the number of previous pregnancies and births.

Additional research is being carried out: general analysis urine, culture for microflora; Ultrasound of the genitourinary system. A neurologist may require a CT scan of the brain, as well as a study of evoked potentials of peripheral nerves.

If the causative factors cannot be identified, they resort to a complex urodynamic study (CUDI). It includes a number of procedures: cystometry, urofluometry, electromyography. To perform CUDI, sensors are placed in the urethra and bladder to record pressure.

Fluid is given through a catheter. Since the procedure is invasive, it is used in difficult cases.

Fortunately, urodynamic testing is rarely required. Usually, an analysis of the diary, ultrasound and laboratory tests are sufficient to make a diagnosis. An overactive bladder is differentiated from other diseases: urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, tumor lesions.

The differences between OAB and bacterial cystitis are visible in the table:

Diagnostic options	Urinary tract infection	Overactive Bladder
Signs of inflammation in urine analysis	Available	None
Bacteriuria on urine culture	Available	No
Cystoscopic examination	Inflammation	Without changes
Urodynamic study	More often – normal	There are deviations
The effect of taking antibiotics	Positive	The clinical picture remains
The effect of taking anticholinergic drugs	Absent	Pronounced positive

What medications are used to treat hyperactivity?

Overactive bladder in women, which is treated by a urologist, involves taking medications.

For OAB, the following remedies can be used:

The first group drug in the treatment of OAB is Driptan (oxybutynin hydrochloride). The drug relaxes the detrusor muscle, which reduces urgency. Bladder capacity increases and the frequency of trips to the toilet decreases.

However, the drug has significant side effects:

dryness of the oral mucosa and skin;
digestive disorders (constipation, diarrhea, nausea);
nervous system disorder in the form of headache, dizziness, decreased visual acuity.

Long-term use of the drug causes certain disorders, so many patients refuse to use it. In addition, Driptan is contraindicated if the outflow of urine from the bladder is impaired, as well as if there is a tendency to form stones. In order to reduce sensitivity to oxybutynin, its intravesical administration is used.

Today, new means have appeared that do not cause such unpleasant consequences. Among them, Solifenacin, an inhibitor of muscarinic receptors, should be highlighted. The drug has an antispasmodic effect and relaxes the detrusor. Solifenacin is designed for long-term use, and its effectiveness does not decrease within 1 year.

Surgical intervention

Overactive bladder in women, the treatment of which is not always successfully corrected by therapeutic methods, requires surgical intervention.

The following operation options are used:

Psychological assistance and behavioral therapy

Overactive bladder in women, treatment of which is aimed at reducing the frequency of urges, requires careful compliance with all prescriptions. One of the key points is behavioral therapy. The bladder should be treated as small child, that is, “educate” him.

Women are advised to go to the restroom strictly on schedule, even if they don’t want to. At the same time, you need to restrain your urges so as not to fall behind schedule. Provided that all principles of behavioral therapy are followed, 20% of patients can achieve good results without taking medications.

At the beginning of treatment, a short period of time between visits to the restroom is established - 1 hour, then gradually the intervals are extended to 3-4 hours. Only one trip to the toilet is allowed per night. Over time, a woman learns to control the process of urination, and the capacity of the bladder increases. A trained detrusor becomes able to hold more fluid.

The following activities help reduce the number of urges:

Some medications (hypotensive, hypoglycemic) have diuretic side effects, this is important to consider when treating OAB.

A conversation in a psychologist's office will help eliminate negative emotions. Psychosomatics believes that an overactive bladder in women develops when restraining negative emotions During a long time. For example, long stressful situations, resentment, unmet expectations, inflated demands and disappointments lead to impaired bladder emptying.

A psychologist will help you understand the problem, stop being ashamed of it, and overcome depression. The specialist will also conduct sessions to help relieve nervous tension.

Therapeutic gymnastics and Kegel exercises

In the treatment of overactive bladder in women, Kegel exercises are used, which help maintain tone of the pelvic muscles.

The complex consists of several tasks:

Slow tension and relaxation. Muscles contract as if holding urine. Count to 3 and relax.
"Elevator". You need to squeeze the intimate muscles - “first floor”, strain even more - “second floor”, add effort on the third approach, etc. Relaxation is carried out gradually according to the same principle.
Abbreviations. Intimate muscles tense and relax at a fast pace.
Pushing out. They perform movements as during childbirth, as if they are pushing an object out.

The complex is performed 3-5 times a day, with each exercise repeated at least 10 times. The goal of the training is to achieve 30 repetitions. When performing the complex, it is important to breathe evenly. In the future, the task is expected to become more complicated: the intimate muscles are compressed not only in a relaxing position, but also during movement - when walking, running, or jumping.

Sometimes a doctor advises using a special device for control - a perineometer - a Kegel exerciser. It is a system consisting of a can with a pressure gauge attached to it. The simulator is treated with lubricant and inserted into the vagina. A pressure gauge is used to monitor voltage.

In addition to the Kegel complex, you need to perform exercises aimed at strengthening the abdominal muscles and lower back. This is a “bicycle”, raising and lowering the legs, “scissors”, holding the limbs in a suspended state.

Nutrition correction

To reduce the symptoms of the disorder, a diet is prescribed.

Its main principles:

avoidance of foods that irritate the bladder (hot, spicy and smoked foods, canned food, marinades, sour fruits);
to prevent thirst, you should not add too much salt to your food;
limiting strong tea and coffee, avoiding alcohol (these drinks increase diuresis);
stopping the use of products with a diuretic effect (melons, cucumbers);
Consumption of chocolate and carbonated drinks is not recommended.

Patients will benefit greatly from lemon balm tea, as the plant has soothing and antispasmodic properties. In women, lemon grass normalizes hormonal balance.

It is important to establish regular bowel movements.

To prevent constipation, cereals, vegetables and fruits containing dietary fiber are recommended. Meals are provided 5-6 times a day. In between main meals, make a snack, during which you eat a handful of dried fruits or nuts.

Treatment of hyperactivity with folk remedies

Traditional methods on their own are unlikely to relieve the symptoms of OAB, but they can be used as an addition to other treatment methods.

From St. John's wort. 40 g of dried herb is poured with 4 cups of boiling water and left to brew. Drink during the day instead of tea.
From plantain. Prepare like this: 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured into 200 ml hot water, wrap up. You can use a thermos for infusion. Drink 1 tbsp. spoon after meals 3-4 times a day.
Dill seeds. 1 tbsp. l. pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Drink in 1 dose.
Lingonberry water. 2 tbsp. l. leaves are poured with 1 liter of boiling water and left to brew. Drink during the day instead of tea.

Honey has pronounced sedative properties. It is taken at night, 1 spoon. Products high in zinc and retinol have a positive effect on the functioning of the genitourinary system.

For this reason, the menu includes:

seafood;
flax seeds;
whole wheat bread;
cereals.

During pregnancy

Bladder dysfunction is associated with hormonal and physiological changes that accompany a woman during the gestational period. Most often, the pathology disappears on its own after childbirth. In any case, consultation with a gynecologist and urologist is required.

Treatment during pregnancy is carried out using gentle methods - traditional methods and with the help of corrective measures. If dysfunction persists after the birth of the baby, traditional therapy is used.

During menopause

Urogenital disorders with the onset of menopause are associated primarily with a lack of estrogen.

Due to hormonal imbalances, changes occur:

the ligamentous apparatus in the small pelvis is weakened;
the number of sensory receptors in the bladder decreases;
volume is reduced muscle tissue detrusor.

These reasons lead to the appearance of symptoms of hyperactivity in women over 55 years of age. Treatment of OAB during menopause is carried out using hormonal agents. Both oral and local medications (Ovestin suppositories) are used.

For multiple sclerosis

Urinary dysfunction in multiple sclerosis occurs in 50% of patients and is associated with damage to the brain structures that control bladder emptying. The disease is treated by a neurologist, since hyperactivity is one of the main signs of multiple sclerosis.

M-anticholinergics, centrally acting muscle relaxants, and antispasmodics are prescribed. In most cases, the pathology is successfully corrected with medications. Surgical intervention is used only in extreme cases.

Prevention

If you have an overactive bladder, you should visit a urologist twice a year to adjust treatment; women should see a gynecologist at least 2 times a year. If you have alarming symptoms, you should not rely on traditional methods or hope for a miraculous healing. It is important to contact a specialist in time and tell about the existing problem.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about overactive bladder in women

Treatment options for overactive bladder:

About 16 percent of men suffer from overactive bladder. This disease is characterized by a sudden contraction of the bladder muscles, which causes the urge to urinate. In this case, it does not matter how full the bubble is, which causes discomfort to the patient.

GAMP (an acronym accepted in the medical community) has two forms:

idiopathic - when it is impossible to identify the cause of the disease;
neurogenic - manifests itself when the central nervous system is disrupted.

For people who do not suffer from this disease, the norm for emptying is 6 times a day. If the amount increases, then this is considered a signal and you should consult a specialist for advice.

OAB symptoms

The main symptom of the disease in question is a sudden urge to go to the toilet, regardless of time, the urge often occurs at night.

There are other symptoms:

a small amount of urine during bowel movements, as well as frequent urges. If they exceed the amount 8-9 times, this is not the norm;
involuntary urination - possibly either partial or complete;
double excretion of urine - means that after the bladder has been completely emptied, the patient continues to excrete urine.

It is possible that the patient may experience these symptoms simultaneously, or several of them.

Reasons for occurrence

An overactive bladder in men is a consequence of pathology in the body. Treatment without consultation is impossible, because the causes of this condition must be determined.

In neurogenic cases, the following causes are identified:

damage to the central nervous system caused by trauma, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases;
disruption of the spinal cord or brain (consequences after injury, cancer or surgery);
in connection with hernias and surgery, problems with the central canal arise;
insufficient blood supply to the brain.

Bladder overactivity in men also occurs for non-neurogenic reasons:

the elasticity of the bladder walls is lost;
BPH;
abnormal features of the male bladder;
disruptions in the hormonal activity of the body;
changes in the patient’s mental state: work stress, aggression;
manifestation of inflammation in neighboring organs: prostatitis, orchitis;
formation of kidney stones;
depends on the age of the patient, most often found in men over 60 years of age.

Household origin of GIMP:

drinking liquid in large quantities. With daily consumption of more than two liters, MP loses its elasticity;
alcohol abuse, especially beer;
difficult defecation.

A timely visit to a urologist helps to diagnose the disease in question and return the patient to his usual lifestyle.

Diagnostics

Before making a diagnosis, a specialist must conduct an examination and rule out other diseases of the urinary system.

To make a correct diagnosis, the following studies are carried out:

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
urine and blood analysis;
bacterial culture of urine;
cytoscopy;
urodynamic study.

Treatment of OAB

The process of treating overactive bladder in men is quite long, because it is not always possible to immediately determine the source of its occurrence. Only after diagnosis can a specialist prescribe a course of treatment.

A medicinal method is possible, or a complex one, including physical activity and a change in diet.

If possible, the doctor refuses the drugs, offering the patient the following therapeutic treatments:

proper nutrition and identifying the appropriate amount of fluid to drink;
special exercises;
neuromodulation.

Building proper nutrition helps improve the patient's condition. Foods and dishes that irritate the walls of the bladder should be excluded from the diet.

Most often, the list of prohibited foods includes:

sour and spicy foods;
products containing caffeine;
mineral water.

Prohibited:

watermelons;
melons;
cucumbers;
alcohol.

Eating protein above normal puts a strain on the kidneys, which is a source of increased urine production. The patient is asked to reduce the amount of protein and give preference to foods containing fiber.

Reducing the amount of fluid consumed is also included this method. The patient is advised to reduce the amount of fluid consumed from soups, juices and give preference to clean water. You should be careful with tea and coffee, they can have a diuretic effect.

A suitable menu is part of the treatment; experts offer another method - one that increases the elasticity of the bladder muscles. In addition to the MP, it involves the muscles of the prostate and penis.

Doctors also advise not to immediately visit the restroom as soon as the urge appears, but to try to delay going there. Developing a schedule for going to the toilet is also considered an effective way to combat the disease.

In pharmacies you can buy diapers for adults, which help avoid inconvenience.

The last method, neuromodulation, is not a surgical intervention. Its action lies in the fact that with the help of electrical impulses the spinal nerves are affected.

Drugs

However, the traditional method of treating OAB is the use of drugs from the M-anticholinergic group.

Popular ones are:

Oxybutynin;
Tolterodine;
Vesicare.

Drug treatment does not completely eliminate the problem of bladder overactivity, helping only in the 6-8th month. After this, the signs of OAB return, and you have to take the course again.

Drugs in this group may have side effects:

dry mouth;
changes in blood pressure (increase or decrease);
memory deteriorates, the patient becomes absent-minded;
obstipation;
poor vision progresses.

Surgery is performed in extreme cases and is undesirable. The doctor suggests operating only if other methods have failed.

Folk remedies

Before starting treatment at home, you should visit a doctor and consult about the safety of this method.

In treatment folk remedies includes taking tinctures of various herbs, which help improve the functioning of the MP and restore its functions.

Below are a few recipes:

infusion of St. John's wort. It is taken as a tea; to do this, pour 1 liter of boiling water over 40 g of herb and leave to infuse for several hours;
Centaury is also added to St. John's wort. The recipe is similar to the first, however, the amount of St. John's wort is reduced to 20 g and 20 g of centaury is added, all this is poured with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, and taken 1-2 glasses per day;
For 1 cup of boiling water you will need 1 tbsp. l. plantain, the decoction should be left for 1 hour and taken 2-3 tbsp. l. a day before meals;
instead of tea, you can drink infused lingonberry leaves, which also have a beneficial effect on MP;
boil dill seeds in 200 ml water for 3 minutes, then cool and drink;
for treatment you will need honey, onion and apple. Turn these products into a paste and consume an hour before lunch.

St. John's wort

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a set of symptoms that includes frequent urination, urinary incontinence, and frequent urination at night. Associated with involuntary contractions of the muscle layer of the organ. In half of the cases, OAB becomes a manifestation of an underlying disease that is not directly related to urea. Diagnostics involves laboratory tests, urography, ultrasound of the urinary tract and bladder.

Prevalence of the problem

OAB is a disease caused by involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles. According to statistics, it occurs in 17% of the European population. It is more often found in women after 40-45 years. In men it is diagnosed mainly after 60 years.

In terms of frequency of occurrence, OAB is not inferior to hypertension, bronchial asthma, myocarditis and chronic bronchitis.

Involuntary contraction of the bladder is not an age-related norm. Hyperactivity indicates a malfunction of the nervous or urinary systems.

Causes of overactive bladder syndrome

Increased contractile activity of the urinary muscles is the main cause of the disease. In urology, there are 2 forms of OAB:

idiopathic - the causes of changes in tone and spontaneous contraction of the bladder cannot be determined;
neurogenic - hyperactivity of the detrusor (muscle layer) is caused by pathologies of the nervous system.

Normally, the bladder muscles relax and contract under the control of the centers of the nervous system.

In patients with OAB, nervous system control over the functioning of the organ is weakened, as a result of which the muscular lining of the bladder begins to shrink spontaneously. Then the desire to urinate is not suppressed by volitional effort, which is why imperative (urgent) urges to go to the toilet arise.

Factors leading to OAB

Violation of the contractile activity of the urea is caused by external and internal factors:

abuse of diuretics;
abnormal structure of the urea;
injuries of the groin area;
prolapse of the vaginal walls;
pregnancy;
urinary infections;
narrowing of the urinary ducts;
hormonal imbalance;
tumors in the bladder.

Hyperactivity of the bladder provokes the use of medications. OAB occurs especially often with the abuse of diuretics and antiallergic drugs. Disturbances that occur at different levels of urinary regulation lead to one of the forms of OAB.

Neurogenic overactive bladder occurs in 77% of cases due to damage to the spinal cord or brain.

What diseases can it be associated with?

OAB often occurs against the background of pathologies of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and other systems. Failures in the functioning of the detrusor provoke:

diabetes;
ischemic stroke;
intervertebral hernia;
Parkinson's disease;
brain tumors;
BPH;
spine fracture;
encephalitis.

The female body is more susceptible to OAB, which is due to the anatomical features of the structure of the genitourinary system. A short and wide urethra becomes an entry point for infection, which provokes inflammatory and degenerative changes in the bladder.

Women with chronic cystitis, urethritis, cervicitis, as well as those who have gone through difficult childbirth are more susceptible to OAB.

Symptoms

Depending on the cause, signs of OAB appear constantly or occasionally. Detrusor hypertonicity increases the pressure inside the bladder, which is why the urge to go to the toilet occurs when even a small amount of urine accumulates. Typical symptoms of involuntary detrusor contraction are:

involuntary leakage of urine;
the need to urinate repeatedly;
an irresistible urge to urinate;
uncontrolled urination during the period from falling asleep to waking up.

With a stable increase in intravesical pressure, the tone of the bladder sphincter decreases. There is a desire to urinate so strong that patients cannot even make it to the toilet.

OAB is characterized by spastic contraction of the detrusor. The urge to go to the toilet occurs when no more than 250-300 ml of urine accumulates. If the disease occurs against the background of an infectious disease, the clinical picture is supplemented with the following symptoms:

increased sweating;
feverish condition;
muscle weakness;
elevated temperature;
cloudy urine.

If foci of inflammation are localized in the urinary tract, a burning sensation occurs when the bladder is emptied. At the end of urination, a small amount of blood may be released.

Possible complications

The inability to independently control urination becomes the cause of psychological discomfort and social maladjustment. The main complications of OAB include:

depression;
insomnia;
constant anxiety;
mental disorders;
decreased quality of life.

People with OAB often do not tell even close relatives about the problem. Delayed treatment leads to worsening of the disease.

Which doctor should I contact?

A urologist diagnoses and treats OAB. If the cause of the change in bladder tone is a malfunction of the kidneys or nervous system, you will need to consult a nephrologist and neurologist.

In 40% of women, OAB occurs due to gynecological pathologies. Therefore, the treatment regimen for the underlying disease - cervicitis, vaginosis, colpitis - is prescribed by a gynecologist. Diagnosis and treatment of OAB in men after 60-65 years is carried out by a urologist-andrologist. If you suspect tumors in the urinary tract, you should be examined by an oncologist.

Treatment of overactive bladder

To understand how to treat bladder pathology, the urologist conducts a comprehensive examination:

Ultrasound of the bladder;
excretory urography;
MRI of the urinary tract;
laboratory analysis of blood and urine;
Zimnitsky's test.

To reduce the tone of the muscular lining of the organ, diet therapy, medications, physiotherapeutic and surgical techniques are used. During therapy, patients should keep a toilet diary. These records are used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Diet

To reduce the load on the bladder and prevent irritation of the mucous membrane, avoid spices, spicy foods, sour and diuretic foods:

watermelons;
caffeinated drinks;
tomatoes;
canned vegetables;
alcohol;
cucumbers;
chocolate.

cereals;
seafood;
sunflower seeds;
olive oil;
green vegetables.

During treatment, constipation should be avoided, which only increases intravesical pressure. To normalize stool, the menu includes foods with fiber - bananas, pumpkin, oats, legumes, broccoli, pears.

Physical exercise

Physical education is aimed at strengthening the pelvic muscles and restoring the contractile activity of the bladder. Treatment for men and women is no different. To regain control over urination, you need to regularly perform Kegel exercises every day:

Compression. Slowly tighten the pelvic muscles, which are involved in stopping urination. The strength of their contraction is gradually increased, and then relaxed.
Fast compression. They sharply tense and relax the pelvic floor muscles. Repeat the exercise at least 20 times.
Pushing out. Imitating the process of defecation, strain the corresponding muscles for 10-15 seconds. Repeat the exercise up to 30 times.

With regular performance of the gymnastic complex, control over muscle function is restored. Exercise therapy is indicated for people with OAB who suffer from uterine prolapse, rectal pathologies, and prostate adenoma.

Surgery

To normalize the functioning of the bladder, the following surgical techniques are used:

denervation of the ureter - reducing the hypertonicity of the bladder due to the removal of the nerves that innervate it;
hydrobougation - the introduction of a sterile liquid into an organ, which leads to disruption of blood microcirculation and death of nerves;
enterocystoplasty – replacement of part of the urea with intestinal tissue;
Detrusor myectomy is a partial excision of the muscle layer of the bladder.

Excision of the detrusor, enlargement of the bladder and other types of surgical intervention are indicated when medication and physiotherapeutic methods are ineffective, and in case of purulent complications.

Drugs

To treat an overactive bladder, medications are used that reduce detrusor tone, improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs and prevent tissue oxygen starvation:

tricyclic antidepressants (Azafen, Imipramine) - eliminate anxiety, insomnia, and depression;
alpha-blockers (Phenoxybenzamine, Dibenilin) - lower blood pressure, improve blood microcirculation in the bladder;
anticholinergic drugs (Spaztil, Pantelin, Hyoscine) - relieve spasms of the bladder and urinary ducts;
calcium antagonists (Adalat, Phenigidine) - reduce the tone of smooth muscle muscles, reducing intravesical pressure.

Tablets are prescribed exclusively by a doctor, taking into account the degree of impairment of the contractile activity of the detrusor. For the neurogenic form, injections of butulinum toxin into the wall of the bladder are recommended.

Folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies is carried out only as an addition to the main therapy:

Infusion. Yarrow and St. John's wort are mixed in equal quantities. 20 g of raw materials are steamed with 1.5 liters of boiling water. Leave in a thermos for up to 7 hours, then filter. Drink 150-200 ml of infusion three times a day.
Decoction. 3 tbsp. l. Boil lingonberry leaves in 1 liter of water for 7 minutes. Take instead of coffee and tea for 1 month.

It is undesirable to resort to folk remedies for hypersensitivity to herbs and severe kidney failure.

Other methods

Physiotherapeutic procedures are used to combat OAB:

electrical stimulation of the anogenital zone;
heat treatment of the bladder;
intravesical electrical stimulation.

Treatment of overactive bladder in women involves the following procedures:

diadynamic therapy – exposure of affected organs to low frequency currents;
hyperbaric oxygenation therapy atmospheric masses high oxygen content;
laser therapy - exposure to low-intensity laser beams.

To reduce intravesical pressure and normalize the functioning of the bladder sphincter, a suprapubic catheter is installed to remove urine.

Features of treatment during pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the factors that provoke OAB. Treatment is carried out by a urologist under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, therapy is symptomatic. The use of many medications - alpha-blockers, anticholinergics, antidepressants - is fraught with complications:

spontaneous abortion;
defects in fetal development;
fetoplacental insufficiency.

Surgical and physiotherapeutic methods are resorted to after childbirth.

Diagnosis of OAB in children

OAB in children is caused by acquired and congenital diseases:

abnormal structure of the bladder;
birth injuries;
congenital diseases of the central nervous system;
urogenital infections.

In 6 out of 10 children, urinary incontinence occurs due to insufficient extensibility of the bladder walls.

A decrease in bladder volume leads to an increase in pressure due to fluid accumulation. Subsequently, the work of the sphincter is disrupted, so children have an acute urge to go to the toilet.

Is the disease completely curable?

The likelihood of complete relief from OAB depends on the cause of detrusor hypertonicity. With adequate and timely treatment of underlying diseases, up to 80% of patients are cured. The rest take symptomatic medications throughout their lives that reduce the tone of the muscle layer of the bladder.

If drug therapy does not help, surgical endoscopic intervention is performed. To prevent relapses of OAB, all provoking factors must be eliminated.

How to live with urinary hyperactivity

To reduce bladder tone you should:

to refuse from bad habits;
exercise;
Do Kegel exercises regularly;