Overactive Bladder Treatment in Pune – Urinary Urgency, Frequency & Solutions
When nature calls, we listen, but what if it calls too frequently, or too urgently? Urinary urgency and frequency are two common yet often mistaken signs that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. These symptoms may be linked to a condition known as Overactive Bladder (OAB), a clinical syndrome that affects millions globally and is particularly prevalent among adults over the age of 40. At Leela Superspeciality Hospital, Dr. Akhil S Mane offers expert evaluation and treatment for urinary problems like OAB with cutting-edge diagnostics and patient-centric care. In this blog, we’ll explore what urinary urgency and frequency mean, how they relate to overactive bladder, and what steps you can take for effective diagnosis and treatment.
What Is Urinary Urgency and Frequency?
Before diving into an Overactive Bladder, it’s important to understand the symptoms that define it:
- Urinary Urgency: A sudden, intense need to urinate that is challenging to delay.
- Urinary Frequency: The necessity to urinate more often than normal—commonly more than 8 times in a 24-hour period.
- Nocturia: Awakening up more than once during the night to urinate.
When these signs occur together and persist, they often point toward an underlying bladder control issue.
What Is Overactive Bladder (OAB)?
Overactive Bladder is a condition characterized by a malfunction in the normal signaling between the bladder muscles & the brain. In a healthy bladder, muscles remain relaxed while the bladder fills & contracts only when it’s time to urinate. In OAB, these muscles may tighten involuntarily, causing the sudden urge to urinate—even when the bladder isn’t full.
Common Symptoms of Overactive Bladder:
- Urgency: A compelling need to urinate immediately.
- Frequency: Urinating more than 8–10 times a day.
- Urge Incontinence: Leaking urine following a strong urge.
- Nocturia: Disturbed sleep due to frequent nighttime urination.
If you regularly experience two or more of these symptoms, it’s time to consult a urologist in Pune for a comprehensive evaluation.
Causes and Risk Factors of OAB:
The exact cause of OAB can be multifactorial. It often results from overactivity of the detrusor muscle (the muscle that controls bladder contractions). Here are some common contributing factors:
- Aging: Age-related changes in bladder function
- Neurological disorders: Such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis
- Bladder outlet obstruction: Often due to enlarged prostate in men
- Pelvic floor weakness: Common after childbirth in women
- Diabetes: May affect bladder nerves
- Certain medications: Diuretics or antidepressants can irritate the bladder
Understanding these causes can help patients and doctors create more effective treatment plans.
When to Suspect Overactive Bladder?
If you are experiencing frequent bathroom visits, an urgent need to rush to the toilet, or involuntary leakage of urine, you might be dealing with an Overactive Bladder.
Some red flags include:
- Going to the washroom more than 8 times a day
- Waking up more than once at nighttime to urinate
- Inability to control the sudden urge to urinate
- Anxiety or embarrassment due to fear of leakage
If these symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, it is important to consult with a urology specialist in Pune like Dr. Akhil S Mane for proper diagnosis and care.
How Is Overactive Bladder Diagnosed?
At Leela Superspeciality Hospital, Dr. Akhil S Mane takes a comprehensive approach to diagnosing OAB:
- Medical History Review: Including symptom frequency, fluid intake, medications, and any neurological conditions.
- Physical Examination: To rule out physical abnormalities or infections.
- Urinalysis and Urine Culture: To exclude infections or blood in the urine.
- Bladder Diary: A 2-3 day log of voiding patterns, urgency episodes, and fluid intake.
- Post-Void Residual Measurement (PVR): To see how much urine remains after urination.
- Urodynamic Studies: These advanced tests help evaluate bladder pressure and muscle function.
These evaluations help tailor the most effective treatment plan for each individual patient.
Treatment Options for Overactive Bladder:
Overactive Bladder is manageable with the right combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes advanced procedures. Dr. Akhil S Mane offers the following treatment strategies:
Lifestyle and Behavioral Modifications:
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol
- Managing fluid intake
- Avoiding bladder irritants
- Weight loss in overweight individuals
- Bladder training (delaying urination for gradually increasing intervals)
Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels):
- Strengthening the pelvic muscles can help improve bladder control, especially in women post-pregnancy.
Medications:
- Antimuscarinics: Help relax bladder muscles (e.g., oxybutynin, tolterodine)
- Beta-3 agonists: Such as mirabegron, improve bladder capacity
- Medications may be combined with lifestyle changes for better results.
Botox Injections:
- Botox can be injected into the bladder wall to relieve muscle overactivity, especially in patients unresponsive to oral medications.
Neuromodulation Therapy:
- This involves mild electrical stimulation of the nerves that influence bladder control, using instruments like a sacral nerve stimulator.
Surgical Options:
- Rarely required but may be considered for severe, unmanageable cases. Options include bladder augmentation or diversion.
Conclusion:
Urinary urgency and frequency are not just inconvenient—they can disrupt your work, social life, and emotional well-being. Fortunately, Overactive Bladder is treatable, and early diagnosis makes a significant difference in outcomes. If you or a loved one are facing troubling urinary symptoms, don’t wait. Seek expert advice from Dr. Akhil S Mane at Leela Superspeciality Hospital to regain control and restore comfort in your daily life.
