What Are My Treatment Options For An Overactive Bladder?
Overactive bladder is a medical problem that can cause a significant loss of quality of life for those who experience it. There are many different approaches to treating an overactive bladder that your health care provider may recommend.
Pelvic Floor Strengthening
Pelvic floor strengthening is something you can work on on your own or with a health care provider. The pelvic floor muscles are what ultimately helps you hold in or eliminate urine. Often, an overactive bladder is complicated by weak pelvic floor muscles. Ask your care provider about Kegel exercises and related options to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Bladder Training
You can enlist overactive bladder services to help you train your bladder. A provider will help you set a schedule for emptying your bladder at set times per day, rather than whenever you feel the urge. The overactive bladder services provider works with you to provide support and understand when you can increase the length of time between each scheduled voiding of the bladder. Over time, your bladder muscles can adapt and stop putting as much pressure on your body to eliminate urine.
Behavioral Changes
A frequent need to urinate could relate to your lifestyle choices as well. If you frequently drink a lot of fluids all at once, or right before bed, you could end up with an uncomfortable urinary situation. Coffee is a culprit in many patients, since coffee contains a diuretic that makes you urinate more often. Ask your overactive bladder services provider about steps you can take to rearrange your fluid intake schedule to provide a more balanced situation throughout the day.
Medicine
And finally, some doctors will prescribe medications if the condition is affecting your daily life significantly. The type of drugs most commonly prescribed are called anticholinergics; they work by suppressing the nerve signals that lead to bladder contraction. As with any new medication, your current medical routine will have to be evaluated before a doctor can place you on this routine medication.
Any or all of these methods can be effective, but it really depends on the individual patient and the amount of responsibility and effort you want to put towards controlling an overactive bladder. Some patients prefer the natural approach, while others enjoy the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals in treating this condition. In any case, the advice of an overactive bladder services consultant is the first step to take towards finding a fix.
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