Older women experience UI more often than younger women. But incontinence is not inevitable with age. As with any health concern, there are myths about OAB that too often get mixed up with the facts. Understanding both gives you the knowledge you need to make smart decisions about the issues affecting you.

OAB is a medical problem. Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence (UI). Some women may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing. Others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Women at large experience both symptoms which are slightly bothersome or totally debilitating. For some women, the risk of public embarrassment keeps them from enjoying many activities with their family and friends. Urine loss can also occur during sexual activity and cause tremendous emotional distress.

Here are some common myths and facts about Overactive Bladder (OAB):

• Myth: OAB just steps in life and nothing can be done about it.

• Fact: OAB usually sets in third or fourth decade of life and it is a medical condition caused by frequent, involuntary contractions of the muscle that empties the bladder. It can be treated with prescription medicine and pelvic muscle strengthening exercise. Practically there is lot more one can do to treat OAB and lead a normal life.

   

• Myth: OAB is not a problem many people face.

• Fact: Generally OAB is not openly discussed but this problem is frequently encountered in clinical practice by urologist and gynecologist. So if you have any of these doubts always make it a point to discuss with your doctor so that they will guide you to tackle OAB. One in five adults over the age of 40 generally encounter OAB, while women face the OAB hurdle twice as much as men.

   

• Myth: OAB comes along with aging and have to live with it.

• Fact: While the likelihood of developing OAB does increase with age but aging itself does not cause OAB. OAB happens at any age and can be treated at any age. So if you do experience bladder control problems, you need not just accept it, you need to treat it with little lifestyle change and a bit of Kegel.

   

• Myth: OAB is not serious enough to discuss with doctor.

• Fact: OAB may not seem as serious as other conditions to begin with, but it can have a real impact on your daily activities. Some may find it difficult to discuss OAB with doctor, but once you understand that OAB needs to be tackled to help you lead a normal life, your doctor is the best person to guide and direct you in this.

   

• Myth: OAB can be controlled by reducing liquid intake.

• Fact: While drinking too much fluid can make the bladder problems seem worse, drinking less fluid may lead to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and along with underlying OAB, it will still cause the same number of leaks and accidents, strong, sudden urges, or trips to the bathroom. The normal number of trips to the bathroom is 8 – 10 times every 24 hours.

   

• Myth: OAB can be treated with Kegel exercises only.

• Fact: Kegel exercises can help people who have leaks and accidents while sneezing, coughing, or laughing where the main culprit is weakened bladder muscle tone. This is called stress incontinence. OAB medicine alone does not treat stress incontinence. But muscle strengthening Pelvic Floor exercise is advised. However, in patients who have both OAB and stress incontinence doctor can determine what treatment is best suited.

   

Curtailing your social activity generally unless it is unavoidable, controlling or avoiding excess fluid intake in social gathering or restaurant, self imposing restrictions on taking part in group activity or traveling or attending long meetings and finding some hearsay remedy will only compound the problem.

A key step in improving control over OAB begins by discussing matters with your doctor. Also bringing a checklist to your appointment can help your doctor understand more about the ways your daily activities are affected.