Up to 1 in 11 Americans have an overactive bladder, a condition characterized by the frequent need to urinate. An overactive bladder isn’t always severe, but it can increase the risk of broken bones or other slip-and-fall injuries for older individuals. At Modern Urology, experienced urologists Jose Vilaro, MD, and Adam De Fazio, MD, JD, provide complete care for overactive bladders. To make an appointment, call the practice in Miami, Florida, or book online today.
Overactive bladder is an umbrella term that refers to various problems, including frequent urination, urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage), and the need to urinate at night. Without treatment, these symptoms can affect your mental and physical health as well as your quality of life.
An overactive bladder can occur for various reasons, including:
The natural aging process also plays a role. For example, post-menopausal women experience a drop in their estrogen levels. Those changes often result in urinary incontinence and other similar issues.
To diagnose an overactive bladder, your Modern Urology provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started, if they’re worse at certain times, and if substances, like alcohol or caffeine, exacerbate them.
Next, your provider performs a physical exam and orders lab tests, including urinalysis to rule out an infection. They might also perform an ultrasound of your bladder to look for tumors or other abnormalities.
Treatment of an overactive bladder depends on various factors, including your age, the underlying cause, and the severity of your symptoms. Usually, the specialists at Modern Urology recommend healthy lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, drinking plenty of water, and eating a balanced diet.
If these changes don’t provide lasting relief, your Modern Urology provider might prescribe medication. There are various drugs used to treat an overactive bladder, including:
These medications reduce muscle spasms in the bladder, preventing frequent trips to the toilet.
Modern Urology also offers minimally invasive treatments for an overactive bladder, including sacral nerve stimulation, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, and Botox® bladder injections.
Botox bladder injections, also known as bladder Botox, go directly into the bladder. The injections reduce the nerve signals that trigger your bladder contractions, ultimately calming the overactive bladder and relieving your symptoms. In clinical studies, bladder Botox patients experienced improvements that ultimately improved their quality of life.
Living with an overactive bladder can be annoying, but if you follow your Modern Urology provider’s instructions, it’s possible to reduce bladder spasms and other related symptoms. Your provider monitors your progress over the course of treatment and makes adjustments to your care plan as necessary.
To learn more about the treatment options for an overactive bladder, make an appointment at Modern Urology by calling the office or booking online today.