Overactive Bladder Symptoms

These are symptoms of urine storage. Storage symptoms are as follows:

• Sudden need to urinate and the inability to postpone it

• Involuntary urinary incontinence

• The need to urinate more frequently than normal

• Waking up at night with the need to urinate

OAB symptoms and it often affects men. 10-20% of people suffer from such complaints to varying degrees at some point in their lives.

What causes overactive bladder symptoms?

OAB symptoms occur for various reasons. :

• Some people experience sudden and spontaneous contractions in their bladder

• Some people feel the bladder filling more sensitively

• In some cases, the kidneys produce more urine at night. This causes nocturia. This may be related to older age and certain medical conditions

• Some people have smaller bladders and fill more quickly. This condition is not very common

Terms your doctor may use

• Sudden urge to urinate cannot be postponed: urination The need causes fear of urinary incontinence. OAB is the most important symptom.

• Sudden incontinence: leaking urine as a result of not being able to reach the toilet

• Frequency of urination: the feeling of urinating at more frequent intervals. usually more than 8 times a day a

• Nocturia: waking up 1-2 times a night with the need to urinate

• LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms): urinary tract It is a term used for all the symptoms affecting the system.

OAB diagnosis

The doctor performs a number of tests to understand the causes of your symptoms; This process is called diagnostics. OAB symptoms may indicate different conditions. For example; urinary infection or diabetes.

First, the doctor or nurse will take your medical history about your disease and perform a physical examination. He may perform other tests if necessary.

OAB patient compliance

Overactive bladder symptoms are quite distressing, but they do not threaten your life. OAB symptoms can persist for a long time and there is no simple cure. Different treatment options are used. In many cases, patient compliance is the first step of treatment, often different treatment options can be tried to understand the most appropriate treatment for your situation. You can discuss this situation with your doctor.

You can actively deal with your symptoms. The following items will help ensure patient compliance:

• You can determine how much and when of which liquid to take by talking to your doctor

• If you have a problem with urinary incontinence. Your doctor may recommend that you use a pad to prevent your clothes from getting wet.

• If your doctor recommends it, try to hold your urine for longer when you feel sudden urge to urinate. This helps train your bladder and gradually increases the interval between going to the toilet

• Pelvic muscles weaken with aging. Kegel exercises, performed by squeezing the pelvic muscles, help you suppress the urge to urinate and help your muscles regain their strength

Lifestyle recommendations

In addition, general lifestyle changes help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

• Drink at least 1-1.5 liters of fluid every day, talk to your doctor if you can drink more

• If you live in a hot climate or do a lot of physical exercise d Drink more fluid

• Drink less fluid before and during long trips

• To avoid waking up at night with the urge to urinate, drink less fluid in the evening. drink fluids

• Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake because they increase urine output and stimulate the bladder

• Some foods increase OAB symptoms by stimulating the bladder . From the foods consumed; artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, caffeine, citrus fruits and their fruit juices and carbonated drinks should be restricted

• Weight control (body mass index 18-25 kg/m2) weight reduction improves urinary incontinence symptoms

OAB drug treatment

In 1/3 of the patients, the measures taken with patient compliance are insufficient. When precautions are insufficient, your doctor may recommend medication. This section describes the different groups of drugs. You and your doctor can decide which one is best.

Factors affecting the treatment decision:

• Your symptoms

• Medical your story

• Other medicines you use

• Drugs available in your country

• Your your personal preferences and values

This section contains general information about drug treatment for OAB symptoms. Some conditions may differ from country to country.

Living with OAB

Although OAB symptoms are not life-threatening, they negatively affect your quality of life. Different people deal with the symptoms and side effects of treatment differently. Quality of life includes physical and physiological health together. It is important not only to feel healthy but also to be free from the psychological pressure of OAB symptoms. Symptoms such as sudden urge to urinate or frequent urination have a negative impact on quality of life. People with OAB symptoms feel the need to identify toilet locations before leaving the house and may avoid public activities. At the same time, as he is sleep deprived due to the need to urinate at night, his energy level decreases and he has difficulty in performing daily activities. Attacks of sudden urge to urinate that end with urinary incontinence are embarrassing and reduce your self-confidence. r.

These problems may affect your partner. For example, your partner may wake up during the night when you get up to go to the toilet. You may avoid social activities due to your OAB symptoms, and this may affect your partner's social life and hinder you and your partner's joy of life, causing a feeling of loneliness.

There are various ways to keep the symptoms under control. These symptoms should not prevent you from being happy in your relationships and participating in the social, cultural and economic life of your community. If your symptoms bother you, seek help and consult your family doctor or urologist.

Seeking help

OAB symptoms become more common with advancing age. But it should not be seen as a normal part of aging or an untreatable problem. If you have bothersome symptoms, it is important that you go to your doctor and do not be ashamed to talk about your situation.

Questions to ask your doctor

Although the European Association of Urology patient information form is suitable for many patients with OAB symptoms, the individual You may have questions specific to your situation. Your doctor is the person who will answer these questions. It may be helpful for you to prepare a list of questions before going to your doctor. Examples of questions you want to ask:

• Why did I have this problem?

• If I choose not to do any treatment, in the coming months and years What happens?

• What will happen in the coming months and years if I choose to receive treatment?

• Which treatment option do you recommend for me?

• What can I expect from treatment?

• What are the possible side effects and risks of this treatment?

• How long will my treatment last?
  
  'Quoted from the patient information section of the European Association of Urology.'

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