How To Control An Overactive Bladder

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An overactive bladder is very common as you age. Just like the rest of the muscles in the body, the muscles of the pelvic floor begin to lose tone over time. Is it time for medication to control the problem? Try these solutions before you get that prescription filled.

Strengthen pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises

The pelvic floor muscles control the flow of urine as it exits the body. To identify the muscles of the pelvic floor, stop the flow of urine when going to the bathroom. Later, remember the feeling, and attempt to squeeze those same muscles. Perhaps pretending to prevent passing gas is also helpful. Do exercises in repetitions of 10 three times a day, or morning, noon and night.

Do Kegel exercises consistently, 10 repetitions three times a day: morning, noon and night. Do not stop doing the exercises after achieving results.

Urinate on a schedule

Train the bladder to void when it is convenient. Going to the toilet before the urge is overwhelming minimizes accidents and also retrains the body. Start going to the bathroom every hour, then later add 15 minutes to your time. As the body unlearns the habit of holding urine until the bladder is absolutely full, it is going to have much more control over when it voids urine.

Double void

What is double void? This is when someone urinates and then waits a minute or two and tries to go again to be sure [his] bladder is completely empty," says Dr.Tomas Griebling, MD, vice chair of the Department of Urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. During the second attempt to void, very little more urine is likely to trickle out.

Delayed voiding

When feeling the urge to go to the bathroom, wait a minute. Says Griebling, "If you stop everything you're doing and focus on what you're feeling in your bladder and do several pelvic floor contractions, it will help the sensation go away or lessen it and give you more time to get to the bathroom."

Finally, do not fear visiting a doctor if these strategies do not work. Let the physician know which exercises were tried and the outcomes of each; he or she can provide more accurate treatment when given more information.

Going to the toilet before the urge is overwhelming minimizes accidents