If you find yourself restless at night and are experiencing bladder spasms or a sudden urge to urinate, especially if you’ve recently done so, you might have an overactive bladder, also known as OAB. It can be difficult for some to curtail this urge or to stop it once it begins. OAB can lead to feelings of embarrassment and general isolation as well. In addition, you may feel the need to place limitations on both your various social circles and your professional life to hide your symptoms or avoid the issue. This, in turn, can lead to a circle of isolation that doesn’t help any of the problems that come with an overactive bladder.
Now that you know what an overactive bladder entails and what you can do should you be experiencing any signs or symptoms associated with it, you can read in detail the top seven symptoms of an overactive bladder. If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, this guide can help you decide whether you need to seek medical help or advice on the issue.
1. Frequent Urge to Urinate
One of the common signs and symptoms of an overactive bladder is a frequent urge to urinate. This is somewhat different from frequent urination itself, in that you may feel some pressure and the urge to urinate even when you don’t physically need to do so. Despite this, a frequent urge to urinate could be debilitating as you may find yourself running to the restroom as soon as possible, only to discover that while you feel the urge to go, you cannot. It is common to feel a frequent urge to urinate at odd times of the day or night even if you have done so recently. This is not the same as an urge to go when you’ve held it in for a long time. Instead of gradually getting stronger, the urge to urinate can come on without warning and at full strength. If you’re seeing this sign, it may be a symptom of this condition.
2. Bedwetting
In some cases, the urge to urinate is caused by a very real need for urination. If it happens frequently and at inopportune times during the night, it may lead to bedwetting, another symptom of OAB. Under normal circumstances, the muscles in your bladder squeeze and contract when you urinate. With an overactive bladder, those muscles will squeeze too often or at the wrong times, such as during your sleep cycle. When this happens, it might lead to nocturnal incontinence, or bedwetting. It’s important to remember that bedwetting is not your fault and medical help can potentially alleviate the signs.
3. Bladder Spasm
Similar to an urge to urinate, bladder spasms can occur suddenly and are a possible sign of an overactive bladder. During a bladder spasm, you may experience the symptom of a sudden and involuntary squeezing of your bladder muscles. A bladder spasm can cause you to feel as though you must find a way to release urine now. It can also be so strong that urine is forced from the bladder quickly. If you are experiencing a cramping pain in your bladder that may or may not be accompanied by a symptom or feeling of burning, this is one sign of a possible overactive bladder.
4. Frequent Urination
As the name suggests, frequent urination is the feeling that you have to urinate constantly, and it’s one sign of a possible overactive bladder. It is accompanied by other physical signs and symptoms you may experience. For example, your bladder may feel full and uncomfortable, even if you’ve just gone to the bathroom due to frequent urination. Frequent urination can strike suddenly at any time and can lead to other symptoms, such as leaking of urine and general restlessness.
5. Leaking of Urine
One of the most common symptoms of an overactive bladder is leaking of urine. The level of severity can range from the occasional minor leaking of urine when you have to sneeze or cough to an overwhelming urge to urinate, so much that it may be difficult for you to reach the restroom in time. A medical expert can help you plan out the best course of action to deal with leaking of urine and the underlying causes. However, you should know that some lifestyle changes can alleviate this symptom too, and a qualified medical professional will tell you how.
6. Irritable
Because symptoms of an overactive bladder crop up at night just as much as they do during the day, they may interrupt your proper rest cycle. If your sleep patterns are affected by OAB, you may begin to feel more irritable than you normally are. In addition, the interruptions and hassles in your day-to-day social life thanks to the condition can cause you to feel irritable regardless of your sleep habits. So, if you have found yourself in recent weeks feeling more irritable than you usually are, it could be a sign of OAB.
7. Restless
Being restless thanks to an overactive bladder may contribute to being irritable as well. Since OAB often arises at awkward or unusual times, it can affect your sleep habits and patterns. If you find yourself restless and awake at times when you used to sleep soundly, it could be a sign of OAB. Although there may be other connected symptoms to your restless behavior, the frequent urinating and spasming can lead to physical feelings of restlessness, especially at night. A medical expert may be able to prescribe medications or offer behavioral techniques that allow you to deal with the problem.
