Overactive Bladder: Urgent Need to Urinate

Are you getting a sudden urge to use the bathroom? Are you running to the bathroom with a sudden urge concerned you may wet yourself? Are you using the bathroom frequently? Is your sleep being interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom? You may have heard the term over active bladder. But, is this what you are experiencing and if it is what should you be aware of so that you can recover your bladder control?

Here are few questions that may help you figure out the cause of the need to urinate at inconvenient times:

Did you recently have a baby or are you pregnant?
If yes, it may just be weakened pelvis muscles which can be remedied through kegel exercises. Check out this site for more info: http://www.childbirth.org/articles/kegel.html
If you are pregnant that you may be experiencing these symptoms due to excess water in your symptom. Your bladder is holding extra urine these days. It may also be the position of the baby. The baby may be pressing on your bladder. Ask your doctor at your next visit if kegels will work for you.

Have you been diagnosed with any other diseases, viruses or sicknesses?
If yes, it may be a side effect or related.

Have you experienced back pain or even a herniated disk?
Nerve damage can effect the signal sent from the bladder to the brain causing you to feel the urgent need to release your bladder when in reality your bladder is only partially full. Symptoms should leave as the pressure on the nerves is released and as damage to the nerves heals.

Are you a heavy drinker?
Excess use of alcohol can cause an over active bladder.

Are you addicted to caffeine?
You may be over doing the caffeine. Considering lighting up a bit to see if the need to run to the bathroom stops.

Does it burn when you use the bathroom? Do you have discomfort and pressure (a dull pain) in your lower stomach area?
If yes, you may have a urinary tract infection. Drink lots of cranberry juice to flush your system and eat extra yogurt. Your doctor will advice you on whether you need medication or not. Once the infection clears up the need to urinate frequently should leave.

Over active bladder is a medical condition. It involves contraction of the muscle wall of the bladder. It creates a need to urinate immediately. It is also known as urge incontinence (the release of urine involuntarily).

A physician can help determine the exact cause of the over active bladder. Medicine can be prescribed or special exercises. Hopefully you can get rid of these symptoms simply and quickly and begin getting a full nights sleep again and spend less time running to the bathroom.