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Overactive Bladder – Symptoms and Causes

Causes of Overactive Bladder

Your kidneys produce urine and that urine travels to your bladder. Then, a signal is sent from your brain to tell your body to urinate. Your pelvic floor muscles relax and allow urine to exit your body.

An overactive bladder causes your bladder muscles to contract involuntarily. This gives a sensation of needing to urinate frequently even if your bladder isn’t full.

Different conditions and factors can cause symptoms of OAB:

  • Drinking too much fluid.
  • Taking medications that increase urine production.
  • Urinary tract infections [1].
  • Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or other bladder irritants.
  • Failure to completely empty the bladder.
  • Bladder abnormalities, such as bladder stones [2].

The exact cause of an overactive bladder is still unknown. The risk of developing this condition increases with age. But an overactive bladder isn’t a normal part of aging, therefore, you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms and immediately call your doctor’s attention if you observe it annually. Seeing your doctor can help make sure you get the correct diagnosis.

Basically, the function of the bladder relies on good urinary tract health. Therefore, the causes of overactive bladder are often the result of issues in your urinary tract.