A sudden urgent need to urinate is the main characteristic of an overactive bladder (OAB). While this is not a disease by itself, it has a damaging effect on the physical functioning of the organ. Besides, there is a reduction in physical strength and vigor, and one’s psyche is impacted negatively. OAB condition affects millions of men and women in the country, but people are usually embarrassed to talk openly about the symptoms they experience.

Four early warning symptoms of overactive bladder

1. Incontinence
A primary symptom of an overactive bladder is urinary incontinence. Since the desire to urinate is compelling when you have a hyperactive bladder, involuntary expelling of urine is unavoidable. It is impossible to postpone this feeling even if you have just gone to the bathroom. Incontinence is generally associated with a geriatric problem. But in the case of people with OAB, it can happen to patients of all ages.

2. Leakage of urine
The leakage of urine is a common sign of an overactive bladder. Since your urge to urinate is sudden and intense, you cannot stop it, and running to the toilet on time is not always possible. Soiling your clothes irrespective of whether you are at home or work can be both embarrassing and annoying to do.

3. Frequent urination
In individuals with this condition, the frequency of urination is unusually high. The number of times you feel the need to urinate might differ from another person with the same disorder. But it is certainly higher than 7 or 8 times a day and can go as high as over 20 times within 24 hours.

4. Waking at night time to urinate
Nocturia or the urgent need to pass urine multiple times at night time is another early symptom of an overactive bladder. Sleep is interrupted once or twice during the night by the urge to urinate. The feeling that your bladder needs to be emptied occurs often.

The symptoms of an overactive bladder might be challenging to manage because this is an erratic and unpredictable health condition. The detrusor muscle contracts with a full bladder when you are normal, but in an overactive bladder, the detrusor muscle contracts even before the bladder is full. It causes the feeling of needing to empty the bladder frequently. The symptoms of an overactive bladder can cause diffidence. And, at times, if you have this condition, you might consider self-isolation from social situations. It can lead to mental depression and severely affect your quality of life.

The involuntary leak of urine can happen for many reasons. For example, if you have been resisting the urge to pass urine for a long time, you might have to run to the toilet when you can no longer hold it in. Similarly, if you laugh too hard or cough, there could be some urine leakage. But the symptoms of an overactive bladder are more persistent and definitely needs to be addressed. It is not a life-threatening condition, and alleviation of symptoms is possible.