Overactive bladder is a condition in which the urge to urinate is sudden and uncontrollable. People with an overactive bladder might have increased visits to the bathroom during the day as well as the night. Also, they can experience incontinence. Here are the main causes and signs of overactive bladder that you should learn about.

Causes of an overactive bladder
Knowing about the causes and signs of overactive bladder can play a crucial role in managing the condition. There can be multiple causes of an overactive bladder. Some common causes of an overactive bladder include:

Weakened pelvic muscles: Pelvic muscles are the tissues and muscles responsible for supporting organs present in the lower abdomen. These muscles can get stretched and weakened due to multiple reasons, such as childbirth and pregnancy. The stretching and weakening of these muscles can lead to sagging of the bladder and displace it from its normal position. All these together can lead to incontinence.

Damage to the nerves: Due to nerve damage, the signal that is sent to the brain to pass urine from the bladder can be sent at the wrong time. This damage can be caused due to diseases and trauma such as:

• Herniated disc
• Surgery done on the back or the pelvis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Radiation
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis

Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and certain kinds of medicines: Intake of these products can make the nerves dull. This can interfere with the signals sent to the brain and can eventually result in overflowing of the bladder.

Signs and symptoms of an overactive bladder
When incontinence takes place occasionally, it does not necessarily have to indicate an overactive bladder. There can be other reasons, such as hard laughter, for the leakage too. Leaking urine can also take place when you have a strong urge to urinate, but you have been controlling for a long duration.

To diagnose an overactive bladder, the frequency and urgency of urinating are taken into consideration. The symptoms of the condition can include:

• Feeling the urge to urinate, which cannot be controlled
• Loss of urine, which is involuntary
• Increase in the frequency of urination, which can go up to as many as eight times in 24 hours
• Having the urge to urinate more than just once at night

The symptoms of the condition can change over time and can differ from individual to individual. Therefore, to diagnose the condition, it is important to consult a doctor. Identifying the symptoms and then diagnosing the condition can help you get more effective treatment. Doing this at an early stage can help you manage the condition in a better manner.