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Natural Solutions for Overative Bladder Syndrome
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?
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For years, Jane leaked urine whenever she sneezed, laughed or coughed. But now her leaky valve is such a problem that she turns down social invitations. She has even stopped taking her daily two-mile walk because she’s afraid of being away from a toilet.
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- Tom wakes up to go to the bathroom anywhere from two to five times a night. He’s always tired in the morning, feeling as though he has hardly slept.
- Linda’s husband hates taking road trips with her because she gets the urge to go NOW, and has to stop at all the rest stops along the way.
- Susan and her husband used to have a great sex life. Now she avoids physical intimacy because of her embarrassing incontinence.
What do all these people have in common?
It’s called Overactive Bladder, and it affects approximately 33 million adults in the United States.1 In addition to being inconvenient, Overactive Bladder (OAB) has a significant effect on quality of life, quality of sleep, and the mental and emotional health in both men and women.2
If you have Overactive Bladder you may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate (40% of people with OAB have involuntary loss of urine) … or you may find yourself spending too much time running to the bathroom—day and night. Either way, it’s a condition characterized by a sudden, uncomfortable need to urinate with or without urine leakage.
“Although it’s the subject of numerous jokes, Overactive Bladder (OAB) has a significant effect on quality of life, quality of sleep, and the mental and emotional health in both men and women.”
What causes Overactive Bladder Syndrome?
Although the exact cause is not completely known, the following are believed to be contributing factors:
- Enlarged prostate in men
- Urinary tract infections
- Weakened muscles (urethral sphincter and pelvic-floor) that control urination
- Obesity
- Smoker’s cough
- Stretched pelvic muscles from pregnancy and childbirth
- Side effects of certain drugs
- Frequent constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Damage to or diseases of the brain or spinal cord, including dementia, spinal cord injury, stroke or MS
- An obstruction or blockage in the urethra or bladder
- Anxiety, depression & attention deficit disorder
- Fibromyalgia
What can you do about it? The difference between natural remedies and pharmaceutical drugs
You can take a pharmaceutical drug to decrease urgency, frequency and urge incontinence—but then you’d have to cope with the possible common side effects of dry mouth, constipation, headache and blurred vision. Added to that, one researcher who studied the effect of an anticholinergic agent (the typical ingredient used to prevent involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle) found that memory loss is a real concern for people who take some of these drugs. “We transformed these people from functioning like 67 year olds to 77 year olds,” said Gary Kay, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of Neuropsychology, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.3
Dr. Kay is recognized for his expertise on the effect of medications on brain functioning (memory, performance, cognitive function, safety), a consultant to federal agencies (ie. FAA, Department of Defense), developer of cognitive tests utilized in NIH trials, CDC investigations and industry (aviation and pharmaceutical). “You can take a pharmaceutical drug to decrease urgency, frequency and urge incontinence—but then you’d have to cope with the possible common side effects of dry mouth, constipation, headache and blurred vision.”
Editor's Note:
The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.
Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
Visit www.hfn-usa.com – when commitment to quality and freshness is important, this factory direct solution is preferred by many of our readers.
This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
References
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Antimuscarinic Drugs and Memory Loss in Patients With Overactive Bladder: An Expert Interview With Dr. Gary Kay. Medscape Urology. 2006;8(1) ©2006 Medscape
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Yanagisawa, Ei et al. Study of Effectiveness of Mixed Processed Food Containing Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract and Soybean Seed Extract on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women. Japanese Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science 14; No. 3:313 – 322. 2003.
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