Overactive bladder and incontinence part 2

Symptoms of overactive bladder

In all individuals the classic symptoms include of an overactive bladder include:

A very strong urge to urinate. Any delay in going to the bathroom leads to leaking of urine. Once the urine stream starts, it is impossible to stop in the middle. Accidents are common. Because of the fear of accidents, many individuals adopt a lifestyle which is restrictive and confined to the home and work. Whenever the individual ventures out, he/she will first locate the bathrooms

Many individuals urinate anywhere from 8-12 times in 24 hours. Sometimes the urge only leads to a few drops of urine and the urge persists even after emptying of bladder

Most individuals wake up 2-4 times a night to urinate

The most troublesome feature of overactive bladder is that the urge to urinate makes daily living every difficult. One cannot make any plans such as travel, going to movies or attend social functions. When the urge comes, most people need to get to a bathroom right away. Thus, most individuals with this diagnosis always sit close to bathrooms and know locations of all bathrooms where they work.

One of the biggest problems with overflow incontinence is that most people are unwilling to seek medical help for fear of embarrassment. Many individuals today simply avoid proper treatment by wearing undergarments, over flow absorbent pads or wearing plastic diapers. It is important for individuals with this problem to seek help because the cause of overflow can be treated and in some cases it may be an early cancer which can be removed.