Overactive bladder, or OAB, is a general term that refers to a group of urinary symptoms. People with OAB experience symptoms of a sudden, uncontrolled urge to urinate. They may also feel the urge to urinate frequently and experience involuntary loss of urine. In the US, 30% of the male and 40% of the female population live with OAB symptoms.

The symptoms of OAB can affect the quality of your life. Nonetheless, you may be able to manage the symptoms of OAB with certain strategic changes to your lifestyle. Below you can find such lifestyle tips for overactive bladder.

• Dietary habits
  These can play a significant role in the management of OAB. Spicy foods, chocolate (not white chocolate), citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, and drinks like tea, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks commonly increase OAB symptoms. To avoid worsening your symptoms, however, you may include these items in your diet in a proportionate amount. Other than these items, you may take note of the foods that affect your symptoms and make adjustments accordingly. Moreover, you may add fibers like lentils, beans, whole grains, and oatmeal, along with fresh vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, to improve your digestion.
• Exercise
  This is a great way to manage the symptoms of OAB is to exercise. Pelvic floor exercises or kegel exercises can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises provide strength and support to your bladder because pelvic floor muscles are next to the bladder. Regularly doing these exercises can decrease the urge for sudden urination.
• Controlling the fluid intake
  This may help you manage the symptoms of OAB better. Drinking an excessive amount of fluid can deteriorate your symptoms, whereas inadequate fluid intake can also irritate your bladder’s inner lining. Therefore, you may ask your doctor for advice on a balanced fluid intake routine and make the necessary lifestyle changes.
• Bowel movements
  People with OAB can get benefits from maintaining bowel regularity. Constipation adds pressure on your bladder and can affect its functioning. Therefore, try to keep a healthy bowel movement to avoid constipation and its negative effect on your bladder. You can maintain bowel regularity by having fiber-rich food and exercising regularly.
• Weight management
  Maintaining a healthy weight eases the symptoms of OAB. Heavier people are more likely to experiences stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or unintentional loss of urine. You can manage a common bladder problem like SUI by losing weight.
• Smoking
  This irritates the bladder and increases the frequent urge to urinate. Moreover, smoking causes coughing, a major contributor to urinary incontinence. Thus, it is advisable to refrain from smoking to avoid worsening the symptoms.

There is no cure for OAB. Hence, the treatment involves controlling the symptoms. Doctors may prescribe various drugs, suggest behavioral therapies, and recommend surgery for severe cases. But, following these lifestyle tips for overactive bladder may also be effective along with other options.