Is it possible to have a small bladder

They will also provide you with management tips on training your bladder. There are also health problems that can increase your risk of developing incontinence, such as a spinal cord deformity or injury.

If you are aware that you have a nervous system abnormality, this may be causing your overactive bladder. The following conditions increase the risk of an overactive bladder:.

Studies have also shown that psychological stress and the bladder are actually related. Excess worrying and having an unusually hectic schedule can actually cause the limbic system to override brain signals that curb our desire to urinate.

If your bladder is getting in the way of your quality of life, visit a Doctor. They will ask you about any triggers that cause you to urinate more and will try to find an underlying cause. A Doctor will also recommend any lifestyle changes. If you have weak pelvic floor muscles, you may be asked to practise exercises. You can read how to do pelvic floor exercises here. Buy iD Expert Light. Buy Depend Active-Fit Underwear.

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Notify me of new posts by email. Ask a question on our forum here and get professional answers. What is Causing you to Urinate? Consuming Bladder Irritants It might seem obvious; however, you should consider whether what you eat or drink affects your bladder. Your Pelvic Floor Muscles are Weak Understanding how bladder control is achieved can be useful when finding a cause.

Your Medication is Affecting your Bladder Some medications for certain illnesses are actually proven to increase urination frequency. Bladder training, a program of urinating on schedule, enables you to gradually increase the amount of urine you can comfortably hold. Bladder training is a mainstay of treatment for urinary frequency and overactive bladder in both women and men, alone or in conjunction with medications or other techniques.

It can also help prevent or lessen symptoms of overactive bladder that may emerge after surgery for stress incontinence. You can try it on your own or with the guidance and support of a health professional. Because bladder training is low-cost and low-risk, your clinician may encourage you to try it first, even before specific diagnostic tests are performed.

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Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? A muscle in the urethra called the sphincter opens to release urine out of the body. In women, the urethral opening is located just above the vaginal opening.

In men, the urethral opening is at the tip of the penis. As your bladder fills, nerve signals sent to your brain eventually trigger the need to urinate. When you urinate, these nerve signals coordinate the relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles and the muscles of the urethra urinary sphincter muscles. The muscles of the bladder tighten contract , pushing the urine out. Overactive bladder occurs because the muscles of the bladder start to contract involuntarily even when the volume of urine in your bladder is low.

These involuntary contractions create an urgent need to urinate. As you age, you're at increased risk of developing overactive bladder. You're also at higher risk of diseases and disorders, such as enlarged prostate and diabetes, which can contribute to other problems with bladder function.

Many people with cognitive decline — for instance, those who have had a stroke or have Alzheimer's disease — develop an overactive bladder.

Incontinence that results from situations like this can be managed with fluid schedules, timed and prompted voiding, absorbent garments, and bowel programs. Some people with an overactive bladder also have bowel control problems; tell your doctor if this is a problem for you.

Any type of incontinence can affect your overall quality of life. If your overactive bladder symptoms cause disruption to your life, you might also have:. Women who have an overactive bladder may also have a disorder called mixed incontinence, when both urgency and stress incontinence occur. Stress incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine prompted by physical movement or activity that puts pressure on your bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising.

Treatment of stress incontinence is not likely to help overactive bladder symptoms. Similarly, treatment of overactive bladder is not likely to improve stress incontinence symptoms. Some people may have a common combination of bladder storage problems and bladder-emptying issues. The bladder may cause a lot of urgency and even incontinence, but it doesn't empty well. A specialist may be able to help you with this combination of bladder problems.

Overactive bladder care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Overactive bladder, also called OAB, causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control.

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