Over Active Bladder (OAB) is often confused with incontinence. Its main symptom is a sudden, uncomfortable need to urinate. Incontinence, on the other hand, is the body’s ability to control the urination. They can occur together, but don’t always. Over active bladder affects approximately 33 million Americans or 17% of the adult population.

Moreover, Over Active Bladder has been shown to impact patients negatively: physically, emotionally and socially. A study put together by Kobelt-Nguyen (et. al.) showed only depression had a more negative impact on a person’s quality of life.
Overactive Bladder Symptoms
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a urological condition defined by a set of symptoms: “urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia.” Frequency is usually defined as urinating more than 8 times a day. The International Continence Society(ICS) is responsible for this definition.

The most common and typical symptoms of Over Active Bladder are:
*frequent urination (which is defines as more than 8 times per day)
*urgent urination (the sudden need or pressing desire to urinate)
*urge incontinence (inability to control urine flow after a sudden urge)
*night urination (waking up more than 2 times per night to urinate)
These symptoms often overlap with those shared by incontinence patients, and in fact urge incontinence and mixed incontinence are hybrids of OAB.

There are several bladder treatment options, normally prescribed by a doctor or therapist. These include:
* medications (aka )
* pelvic floor therapy (also known as bladder control therapy)
* invasive surgical options and procedures
. . .of which normally one is prescribed.

Within the confines of today’s medicine, clinicians tend to treat urinary incontinence or overactive bladder with monotherapy. If a patient does not respond well to a particular therapy, another one is tried. This approach is time-consuming and frustrating for both the health care provider and the patient. A more comprehensive approach to conservative therapy would therefore provide the best patient outcomes and satisfaction.
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Learn more about Over Active Bladder. Stop by Angela Sapiana’s site where you can find out all about bladder control training and what it can do for you.