Overactive bladder is condition of the bladder in the urinary tract in which there is a pressing, and/or rapid and urgent sensation of needing to urinate. This feeling of urgency may or may not occur frequently and can be difficult to control, resulting in urinary incontinence (the involuntary loss of control of the urine). Serious problems with overactive bladder leading to frequent "accidents" can negatively affect a person's self esteem and ability to work, attend school, socialize, travel or complete other normal activities of daily living. A constant fear of incontinence can also lead to not drinking enough fluids resulting in serious dehydration, especially in older adults. Overactive bladder resulting in urinary incontinence is often erroneously thought of as a normal part of the aging process or an expected result of childbearing. Because of this, overactive bladder is underreported, under diagnosed, and undertreated. Although the condition is most common in older adults and women, people with symptoms of overactive bladder should not simply accept it and only address the problem with the use of incontinence products, such as pads. With modern treatments that address a variety of causes of overactive bladder and incontinence, symptoms can be successfully managed so that it is possible to live a normal, active life. About 25 million adult Americans experience transient or ongoing urinary incontinence and 75-80% of them are women. In addition, one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily, according to the National Association for Continence.
The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that expands like a balloon to store liquid waste products in the form of urine. Urine comes from the kidneys, which are connected to the bladder by two long tubes, called ureters. The kidneys' job is to filter waste products out of the bloodstream. In healthy people who do not have kidney disease, the kidneys continuously filter the bloodstream and create a constant flow of urine into the bladder. The "storage" capability of the bladder allows people to eliminate urine waste when it is generally convenient and not to have to deal with a continuous dripping of urine from their bodies. When the bladder does empty, urine flows from the body through the urethra. Normally, urine is released from the body "on command". This happens when nerve signals in the brain tell the muscles around the bladder and the urethra to relax to allow urine to flow. There are many factors that can disrupt the intricate and interconnected processes of the organs, muscles, and nerves that is necessary to maintain urinary continence (voluntary flow of urine).
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Interstitial cystitis an under-diagnosed bladder condition: The medical condition of interstitial cystitic is a bladder condition that can be misdiagnosed as various conditions such as overactive bladder or other causes of pelvic pain. This condition can cause chronic pelvic pain or symptoms of urinary incontinence, similar to overactive bladder. Millions of patients may be misdiagnosed - an estimated third of the 9 million women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) or 4.5 million of the 17 million women with overactive bladder syndrome do not respond well to treatment, and may have interstitial cystitis rather than their given diagnosis. In other words, about 6 million US women may have misdiagnosed interstitial cystitis. See interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder, or incontinence....read more »
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Urgency to URINATION, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and NOCTURIA. - (Source - Diseases Database)
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