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OAB is defined as urgency,
with or without urge incontinence,
usually with frequency
and nocturia. This condition
is characterized by involuntary bladder muscle contractions during
the bladder-filling phase. The muscle contractions may be spontaneous
or provoked and often times a patient cannot suppress them, resulting
in involuntary loss of urine. The symptoms of OAB may appear singly
or together and include:
- Urinary frequency – the need to
urinate on an abnormally frequent basis (more than eight times
in a 24-hour period)
- Urgency – a
sudden compelling desire to pass urine
- Urge urinary incontinence – involuntary
urine leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by urgency
- Nocturia – waking
up one or more times during the night to urinate
Although older people experience incontinence
more frequently, it should not be thought of as a condition that
is inevitable with age.
Psychological
Implications
OAB is a problem that both sufferers and their physicians often
fail to discuss. Many individuals suffering from incontinence
report an increase in irritability, frustration, anger, sleep deprivation
and depression due to their constant efforts to cope with the condition
as well as concern with personal hygiene and anxiety associated
with urine leakage. Incontinence can affect a person’s psychological
and social well being and in some cases has contributed to divorce
and unemployment.
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