A bladder spasm, also known asdetrusor hyperreflexia, triggers when the bladder muscle squeezes involuntarily without warning.
There are many causes of bladder spasms, some more serious than others.
These include medications,urinary tract infections,interstitial cystitis, andbladder cancer.
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Bladder spasms occur when the detrusor muscle contracts spontaneously and often when the bladder is not significantly filled.
When this happens, it can cause:
A bladder spasm usually only lasts for a few seconds.
They can affect people of any sex, both adults and children.
Are Bladder Spasms and Overactive Bladder the Same?
Bladder spasms are a symptom ofoveractive bladder (OAB).
Common causes of bladder spasms include:
What Medications Can Cause Bladder Spasms?
Numerous medications can cause bladder spasms.
Many irritate the bladder when they are broken down in the kidneys and passed to the bladder in urine.
Others, called cholinergic drugs, stimulate a neurotransmitter calledacetylcholinethat causes muscles to contract.
Treatment
A bladder spasm is a symptom rather than a condition unto itself.
This is particularly important when the spasms arechronic(persistent or recurrent) and cause bladder leakage.
Surgery is rarely, if ever, used to treat bladder spasms.
This is a standard approach for people with interstitial cystitis and OAB.
Can drinking more water prevent bladder spasms?
Ensuring you are drinking enough water throughout the day may help reduce bladder spasms.
This is because concentrated urine can cause bladder irritation, which can contribute to the problem.
Doing this at least three times a day may help reduce bladder and bowel leakage while improving sexual function.
Medications
Various medications may help relieve bladder spasms in different ways.
Some of these are anticholinergic drugs that work by blocking the action of acetylcholine.
While useful in relieving urge incontinence, it is unclear if biofeedback has any impact on reducing bladder spasms.
Complications
Chronic bladder spasms can undermine your quality of life, social interactions, and sexual function.
Bladder leakage can create an increased risk of getting a UTI.
This can create a vicious cycle in which a UTI due to bladder leakage can lead to bladder spasms.
This might involve apelvic examor adigital rectal exam (DRE).
These include the presence of bacteria, blood, pus, or excess sugar.
Aurine culturemay also be ordered to identify specific types of infectious agents.
In some cases, there may be no clear-cut cause.
Summary
Bladder spasms occur when the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily.
This can cause pain, bladder leakage, and a sudden urge to urinate.
They can also be a side effect of medication.
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