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What Is Overactive Bladder?

From , former About.com Guide

Updated April 22, 2010

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Question: What Is Overactive Bladder?
Answer: If you watch TV, then you've probably heard the commercials for medication to treat overactive bladder. Women with overactive bladder urinate eight or more times during the day or more than two times at night. Wow! You could easily spend an hour of your day in the bathroom if you have overactive bladder. Urge incontinence also frequently occurs in women with overactive bladder.

Abnormal nerve signals to the bladder cause overactive bladder. These abnormal nerve signals cause the bladder muscles to squeeze and release urine at the wrong time and without warning.

If you think you may have overactive bladder, contact your physician for diagnosis and treatment.

Source:

Urinary Incontinence In Women. NIDDK / NIH. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/. Accessed 04/15/10.

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