When you have an overactive bladder (OAB), seemingly benign situations can become much more daunting. For example, you might be worried about going to the movies because you know that you will have to go to the bathroom multiple times.
Fortunately, you can avoid many of these upsetting episodes with a technique called bladder training. For 10 percent of overactive bladder patients, bladder training cures all their urination urge problems. But even if some residual difficulties remain, bladder training can go a long way in mitigating your OAB symptoms.
Here are 4 tips to get your overactive bladder under control:
- Write it down: Note any times that holding an urge was particularly difficult. You may start to notice patterns that can help you plan in the future.
- Set a goal: Try to set a goal for time spent between voiding the bladder. This goal can depend on your needs, but a reasonable objective is three- to four-hours. Start with shorter periods of time and work your way up, if necessary.
- Stick to schedule: Setting a schedule can be very helpful. Resolve to go to the bathroom every 90 minutes, even if you don’t feel the urge. Moreover, if you cannot hold it and experience some leakage, that is okay. Just make sure to stick to schedule.
- Exercise your pelvic muscles: Kegels and other pelvic workouts can help you manage your overactive bladder urges. These exercise often focus on flexing the muscles necessary to halt urination.
Do you have an overactive bladder? See if you qualify for Segal Institute’s clinical research study on overactive bladder today!
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/incontinence/bladder-training-for-urge-incontinence.aspx
