Irritable bladder syndrome is a delicate problem. The number of diagnosed cases is significantly less than the actual presence of the disease in people of any gender, age and race. A person is embarrassed to voice his symptoms to a doctor, he comes up with all sorts of excuses to avoid going to the doctor, is treated with antibiotics to no avail, and uses urological pads in secret from family members. Frequent urination becomes an obsession, reduces the quality of life, and leads to neurological problems.

Etiology: causes of the disease

Irritable bladder syndrome can be either an independent disease or a symptom of an underlying, undiagnosed pathology. Normal urination occurs thanks to the coordinated work of the bladder, urinary canal, ligaments and fascia. Whether the genitourinary system malfunctioned or the disease arose for another reason can be determined after a thorough diagnosis. Before prescribing drug therapy, the doctor must determine the etiology of the syndrome.

Irritable bladder syndrome significantly reduces quality of life

Experts adhere to the following classification:

• Anatomical disorders structural parts of the pelvis and (or) an increase in the conduction of nerve impulses by bladder receptors. Such anomalies can occur with regular lifting of weights during sports or due to the specifics of work. Often, disorders are detected in obese patients, as well as after surgical operations on the pelvic organs.
• Prostate adenoma. Prostatic hyperplasia causes the development of irritable bladder syndrome in men. Nodes form in the prostate, which, as they grow, begin to compress the urethra. The walls of the bladder lose elasticity, blood circulation in them is impaired, and a frequent urge to urinate occurs.
• Age-related changes. As a person ages, the hormonal background of a person changes, and the production of biologically active steroids decreases. Changes in the structure of the muscles, ligaments and vascular walls of the pelvic organs occur, leading to urinary incontinence.
• Disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system. Improper functioning of the endocrine glands, which underlies the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, benign and malignant neoplasms, is the cause of frequent urination in patients with these pathologies. An inflammatory process in one of the parts of the spinal cord leads to impaired blood circulation in the pelvic organs and the occurrence of irritable bladder syndrome.

The disease is sometimes diagnosed in men and women who do not have a history of any of the above causes. When trying to find in such patients any characteristic characteristic of this group that underlies the occurrence of irritable bladder syndrome, interesting facts were made public. It turns out that all these people had increased nervous excitability, suffered from frequent depression, and had problems sleeping. And almost all of them had a concomitant disease - irritable bowel syndrome.

All symptoms of the disease

The body produces about 2 liters of urine per day, this volume is consumed in a person as a result of 8 or less urinations. If you have to go to the toilet more than 10 times a day, then you have irritable bladder syndrome. The sick person develops such a strong desire to urinate immediately that if there is no toilet nearby, he is unable to hold in his urine.

Involuntary urination may begin with the sound of dripping water

An indirect symptom can be a person’s lifestyle: he tries to leave the house less often or visit only those places where he can quickly visit a toilet stall. Here are more symptoms of the disease:

• Inability to hold urine on the way to the toilet.
• Once urination has started, it cannot be stopped.
• When your bladder is full, you cannot start urinating.
• When trying to laugh, involuntary urination occurs.
• Urine is released when you hear the sound of water dripping from a faucet or the sound of rain.
• A small amount of urine is passed.
• Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.

The clinical picture of irritable bladder syndrome makes it possible to differentiate it from infectious cystitis, accompanied by cutting pain when urinating.

Diagnostics: examination and tests

When contacting a doctor, you must provide a medical card with a list of possible diseases in your medical history. Based on the records of specialists at this stage, it is possible to assume the cause of irritable bladder syndrome. The doctor also asks you to describe the symptoms in detail: frequency of trips to the toilet, approximate volume of urine excreted, sensations when urinating. The following biochemical tests will be required:

• General blood and urine analysis.
• Urine analysis for cytological examination to detect cancer cells.
• Testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

To determine the condition of the bladder, a urodynamic study is performed using uroflowmetry or cystometry using a small-diameter catheter.

Ultrasound is used in the diagnosis of irritable bladder syndrome

If necessary, an ultrasound examination of the genitourinary system will be required. Before the procedure, the patient empties his bladder, and an ultrasound scan determines how much urine is left and whether this amount is normal. Sonography can also detect benign or malignant tumors that may cause irritable bladder syndrome.

A computed tomography scan may be required to clarify the diagnosis. If you have diseases of the endocrine glands, you will need to consult an endocrinologist. If the doctor suspects that the underlying etiology of the disease is a dysfunction of the nervous system, it is necessary to treat the disease with the participation of a neurologist.

CT is used to determine the causes of irritable bladder syndrome

Several treatment options

If irritable bladder syndrome is an independent disease, then the cause of its occurrence is neurogenic in nature. Treatment is based on bladder training: the patient should go to the toilet no more than once every two hours. At the same time, he keeps a diary, where he records the indicators by which the doctor evaluates the effectiveness of this technique.

An important component of the treatment of the disease is performing a certain set of exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. Such exercises have been used for more than a hundred years to treat urinary incontinence, and Arnold Kegel was the first to systematize them and give them a scientific basis in 1948. A positive result occurs after just a few weeks of regular exercise.

Treatment of irritable bladder syndrome is carried out using a physiotherapeutic procedure - electromagnetic stimulation of the bladder. The patient is also recommended to eat foods high in coarse fiber (bran, cereals). The diet can eliminate the symptomatic manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome that accompanies the underlying disease. To speed up recovery, you will need to give up smoking, alcohol, salt and spices. Coffee irritates the walls of the bladder, so it must be avoided completely.

When treating irritable bladder syndrome, it is necessary to keep notes in a diary.

Pharmacological therapy is used in patients with urge urinary incontinence, which occurs due to bladder weakness. Treatment begins with the use of tricyclic antidepressants and mild sedatives: irritable bladder syndrome exposes patients to constant stress.

There are three types of drugs, the use of which successfully cures the disease:

• M-anticholinergics and (or) alpha1-blockers that reduce stimulation of the muscular lining of the bladder (detrusor). They are used as the first line of treatment for the syndrome and are highly effective and safe.
• Botulinum toxin (Botox). Intravesical Botox injections (25-30 pieces) normalize muscle tone, slowing down the release of acetylcholine from the nerve ending. The duration of action of the drug is about 12 months, then the procedure will have to be repeated.
• One of the analogues of vasopressin. The medicine reduces urine production and shifts the urination cycle to the night.

Research is currently being conducted on the use of estrogens to treat older women with irritable bladder syndrome.

Treatment with folk remedies helps reduce symptoms of irritable bladder syndrome

You can treat the syndrome with folk remedies using the following infusions:

1. 2 tbsp. l. orthosiphon stamen, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 3 hours. Drink the infusion throughout the day.
2. 3 tbsp. l. St. John's wort and 3 tbsp. l. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over bear ears and leave for 5-6 hours. Take 50 ml 3 times a day after meals.
3. 2 tbsp. l. elecampane and 1 tbsp. l. pour thyme into 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 3 hours. Drink in small portions throughout the day.

What you need to know about prevention

An excellent way to prevent irritable bladder syndrome is to have a regular annual physical examination. Pathologies cured in time will not become a source of other, often more unpleasant diseases.

If the first symptoms appear, you need to reconsider your diet and completely exclude from it:

• Products containing caffeine.
• Citrus.
• Alcohol.

They negatively affect the condition of the mucous wall of the bladder, increase its sensitivity, and lead to frequent contractions.

Stressful situations, neuroses, and depression will not be cured on their own, but can cause serious physiological disorders in the body. They provoke sleep disturbances, irritation, increased nervous excitability, and anxiety. This condition will inevitably lead to irritable bladder syndrome, so an urgent consultation with a neurologist is required.

Irritable bladder syndrome in women is one of the common causes of uncontrolled urination and spastic pain in the pelvic area and perineum. The disease is characterized by ambiguity of symptoms and criteria, and the diagnosis is made only after a complete examination and exclusion of pathologies with similar clinical manifestations. Sudden urge to urinate and psychological problems significantly reduce the quality of life, while at the same time it has been reliably established that the syndrome in 90% of cases affects representatives of the fair half of humanity over the age of 45.

Irritable bladder syndrome is characterized by increased receptor sensitivity, which leads to involuntary contraction of the detrusor (muscle membrane). The condition is uncontrollable, and the amount of urine produced is disproportionate to the strength of the urge, which indicates a violation of the storage function of the bladder.

Despite the prevalence of the disease, scientists still cannot come to a consensus about its causes. There are various theories of pathogenesis, among which are:

1. Autoimmune disorders.
2. Increased content of mast cells in the bladder, which contributes to a decrease in the barrier functions of urothelial mucus.
3. Poor blood circulation in the wall of the organ.
4. Lack of estrogen in the blood in postmenopausal women.
5. Endocrine pathologies.
6. Psychosomatic disorders.
7. Increased urothelial permeability.
8. Chronic infections of the genitourinary system.

A predisposition to bladder overactivity is observed in patients suffering from depression, memory and attention disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and anorectal dyskinesia. In 70% of patients, an idiopathic form of detrusor overactivity is detected, when the symptoms are smoothed out and there are no neurological factors, which does not allow identifying the true cause of the disease. The pathological process does not pose a mortal danger, but against its background there is the development of persistent insomnia, pain of varying severity, and bacterial cystitis.

At least 15% of Russian residents suffer from frequent urination, in most cases due to an overactive bladder. The painful condition is more common than allergies, bronchial asthma and diabetes! Despite this, patients rarely seek medical help, which is explained by their low awareness, lack of uniform standards of treatment and the reluctance of doctors to conduct a full diagnostic examination.

Symptoms of the disease

First of all, irritable bladder syndrome is manifested by urinary incontinence and an increase in the number of acts of emptying the organ. It is supplemented by pain, chronic inflammation of the bladder lining and neuropsychiatric problems. Symptoms that cannot be ignored include:

• nocturia – excessive urine discharge at night;
• feeling of bladder fullness;
• spasmodic pain accompanying the process of emptying;
• involuntary loss of urine due to sudden movements or sneezing.

The main task is to identify concomitant pathologies and organic lesions of the bladder, and the state of the microflora is also assessed. For this purpose, general clinical and instrumental examination methods are used, including:

• urine and blood analysis;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• examination by a gynecologist and collection of biological material for bacteriological and cytological examination;
• cystoscopy is a diagnostic technique for visualizing an organ;
• X-ray;
• uroflowmetry;
• cystometry is a urodynamic study of the storage function of the bladder and the condition of the detrusor.

Due to the vague symptomatic picture, diagnosis presents certain difficulties and is based on clinical manifestations, nature and localization of pain. It is important to exclude from the anamnesis pathologies with similar symptoms, which include: urolithiasis, the presence of neoplasms, inflammatory processes and anatomical features of the structure of the organs of the urinary system.

Basic treatment methods

Currently, there are no uniform standards for drug therapy for irritable bladder syndrome. Treatment of the disease requires a clear definition of symptoms, constant monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach. Includes the following methods:

• drug therapy;
• gymnastics of the pelvic floor muscles;
• behavior correction;
• electrical stimulation;
• neuromodulation.

The first stage is changing the diet: reducing the amount of table salt, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, eliminating smoked meats and spices from food. It is important to maintain a drinking regime - at least 2 liters per day.

In combination with behavioral correction, it is recommended to control the number of urinations and perform physiological acts strictly when the alarm clock rings, for example, every two hours. At the same time, it is important to go to the toilet, even in the absence of the urge. Kegel exercises are a great help - a special complex for maintaining the tone of the pelvic floor muscles. Depending on the results of the examination and based on the medical history, an irritated bladder requires support from specialized specialists: a neurologist, nephrologist, neuropsychiatrist, endocrinologist, gynecologist.

The main method of treatment is therapy with anticholinergic drugs that block bladder receptors and increase its storage function. The attending physician must include antihistamines, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic drugs in the therapeutic regimen. After examination by a neuropsychiatrist, the complex is supplemented with tricyclic antidepressants and mild sedatives.

If the patient wants to improve the quality of life, then treatment should be carried out constantly, as with hypertension. The success and effectiveness of therapy depends on strict adherence to medical recommendations and adherence to a strict medication schedule.

In difficult situations, treatment with cholonolytics is used in combination with intravesical botulinum toxin therapy. In the vast majority of cases, an integrated approach allows the patient to lead an active lifestyle and work fully.

Treatment with traditional methods

Along with traditional therapy, time-tested traditional medicine recipes will provide the desired result. To eliminate constipation, it is recommended to eat foods high in fiber: raw vegetables, fruits and herbs, and also, on the recommendation of a doctor, use berry fruit drinks and herbal infusions.

Recipe No. 1

Cranberry has anti-inflammatory, restorative and disinfectant effects. Pour 500 g of plant fruits into a saucepan, add hot water and bring to a boil. Mash the berries and strain the fruit juice through a fine sieve; if desired, you can add a little sugar.

Recipe No. 2

The fruits and leaves of lingonberries contain tannins, catechins, B vitamins, organic acids, flavonoids and a complex of valuable microelements. Fruit drinks made from berries and decoctions from plants that have a multiplicative healing effect. Pour boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. lingonberry leaf, let it brew for at least an hour, strain. The decoction is taken during the day 15–20 minutes before meals.

Recipe No. 3

Decoctions of elecampane are used as an anti-inflammatory agent for various conditions, including in the complex treatment of cystitis. Pour 50 g of raw material with a liter of water, cook over low heat for at least 30 minutes. Let the drink brew, strain, take half a glass a day 15–20 minutes before eating.

Due to the fact that herbal infusions and berry decoctions can cause allergic reactions and neutralize or reduce the effect of medications, consultation with a specialist is required. Only the attending physician can include herbal remedies in the therapeutic course!

Irritable bladder syndrome is a common pathology among men and women. The disease brings discomfort and disrupts the usual rhythm of life.

Irritable bladder syndrome - what is it?

The issue of irritable bladder syndrome is a delicate one. Many people are embarrassed by her. Therefore, the number of diagnosed cases is several times less than the actual presence of this disease. A person does not dare to go to the doctor, comes up with various excuses, self-treats with antibiotics, and uses urological pads. Meanwhile, the disease progresses, causing psychological problems and reducing quality of life.

Irritable bladder syndrome is a neurological disorder. This disease is not classified as a urinary tract pathology. The condition is characterized by the fact that a person experiences involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles, which provokes urination. If there is such a problem, the patient has to rebuild his lifestyle.

Reasons

The development of irritable bladder syndrome is provoked by the following neurogenic factors:

• Stroke.
• Back and head injuries leading to damage to the spinal cord and brain.
• Diabetic neuropathy.
• Operations.
• Congenital anomalies of the spinal cord.

There are also other reasons that are not included in the neurogenic group:

• Disturbances in the functioning of the bladder.
• Sensory pathologies.
• Problems in the genitourinary area.
• Menopause.
• Age-related changes.

There is a theory according to which people exposed to constant stress and depression are more likely to suffer from involuntary urination. Attention disorders can also cause irritable bladder syndrome.

Symptoms

A healthy person gets about 2 liters of urine. In this case, the number of trips to the toilet is equal to 6-8 . With urinary hyperactivity, the patient has to visit the toilet much more often - about 15 times a day. At the same time, less urine is released. It happens that a person does not have time to get to the toilet: the genitals become numb and cannot hold urine. In addition to urinary disorders, symptoms of pathology include:

• Burning and itching in the perineum, vaginal area, lower abdomen or urethral area.
• Cutting and pain during urination.
• Feeling of incomplete emptying.

In rare cases, irritable bowel syndrome has also been observed. Then colic, abdominal spasms, and esophageal upset occur. The number of manifestations and their severity differ from person to person.

Diagnostics

It is impossible to get rid of irritable bladder syndrome on your own. The key to successful treatment is timely diagnosis. It is difficult to identify such a pathology. At the appointment, the doctor asks the patient: under what circumstances and when the frequency of urination increases, how much liquid the person drinks per day, and whether the amount of urine excreted corresponds to what was drunk.

To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct dynamic observation for a week. The doctor prescribes a full examination to exclude the presence of anomalies in the structure of the urinary system, infectious process, urolithiasis, or malignant tumor. Men are additionally offered a rectal examination of the prostate, and women are referred for examination to a gynecologist. A general blood test, urine test, and ultrasound diagnostics are also performed.

Treatment

Treatment of irritable bladder syndrome is difficult. Medicinal, traditional, physiotherapeutic and surgical methods are used. A specific option is chosen based on the severity of the pathology, the presence of concomitant diseases, and the effectiveness of drug therapy.

Medications prescribed include sedatives and M -anticholinergics. Electromagnetic stimulation of the bladder is also effective. Sometimes the syndrome is provoked by chronic constipation. Therefore, the patient is offered a diet that includes foods rich in fiber. Coffee and carbonated drinks are prohibited. It is recommended to stop taking liquids 3 hours before bedtime. The daily amount of water you drink is reduced.

Doctors advise, in addition to drug treatment and diet, to train the bladder to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Kegel exercises are effective. They help with any dysfunction of the genitourinary organs.

The training goes as follows:

• Squeeze the muscles of the perineum (as if to stop the process of urination). At the end point, you should hold your breath, wait a few seconds and relax your muscles as you exhale. You need to perform the exercise 6 times a day for 10 approaches. The number of compressions is gradually increased to 30.
• Squeezing and unclenching the muscles of the perineum at a fast pace.
• "Elevator" method. Lightly squeeze the muscles of the perineum, holding in this position for three seconds. Then they tense their muscles even more and stop again. They continue to do this as much as possible. Having reached the maximum point, they begin to consistently relax the muscles.

Folk recipes offer treatment with decoctions of St. John's wort, plantain, centaury, and elecampane. It is recommended to add honey to infusions to enhance the healing effect.

If the treatment does not give the desired result, then botulinum toxin injections are used into the wall of the bladder. This substance relaxes the urinary muscles without affecting the nerve receptors. The drug begins to act after two days. The effect lasts for a year.

Surgical intervention is rarely resorted to. The following methods are used:

Irritable bladder syndrome is a pathology that is accompanied by a frequent urge to urinate. With this syndrome, a person is unable to hold urine and this leads to an awkward feeling, and in some situations even causes stress.

If a person develops a disease such as irritable bladder syndrome, then this situation leads to involuntary contraction of the muscle membrane and uncontrolled release of urine, which is very often incommensurate with the strength of the urge.

Despite the fact that the disease is diagnosed in patients and treated for a long period of time, scientists have not yet identified the cause that would provoke the development of the disease. There are many different opinions on this matter, and all of them are true to one degree or another.

Currently, the following reasons are identified that lead to the occurrence of the syndrome:

• chronic infections of the genitourinary system;
• autoimmune disorders;
• traumatic brain injury;
• structural features of the bladder;
• diabetes mellitus;
• spinal injuries;
• taking medications that have a diuretic effect;
• systematic consumption of caffeine-rich drinks;
• hereditary predisposition;
• increased urothelial permeability;
• decreased barrier functions of urothelial mucus;
• psychosomatic disorders;
• poor circulation in the bladder;
• endocrine pathologies;
• lack of estrogen in the blood of a postmenopausal woman.

There are many reasons that lead to the occurrence of the syndrome

In addition to all the reasons listed above, circumstances such as systematic stressful situations, as well as people suffering from memory and attention disorders, can lead to the occurrence of irritable bladder syndrome.

In general, this pathology does not pose a serious danger, but if the disease is not treated, quite serious complications can develop as a result of it, such as insomnia, pain syndrome, which can manifest itself in varying degrees of severity, as well as cystitis.

In men, this pathology can also be caused by prostate adenoma, since during the period of the disease the urethra is compressed by the nodes, resulting in a frequent urge to urinate.

Based on statistics, bladder irritation is much more often diagnosed in women than in men. The development of pathology occurs especially often during menopause. This is explained primarily by hormonal changes in the female body.

As for the symptoms of the syndrome, they are almost identical in both representatives of the stronger and weaker sex.

The main symptoms indicating irritable bladder syndrome include:

• intermittent urination;
• sluggish stream during urination;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• uncontrolled release of urine during sneezing, coughing, laughing or simply sudden movement;
• constant feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• long wait for emptying;
• appearance;
• inability to hold urine on the way to the toilet;
• inability to stop urination once it starts;
• urine discharge may begin involuntarily at the sound of dripping water;
• When urinating, a small amount of urine is released.

Frequent urge to urinate is one of the symptoms of the disease

Based on the symptoms listed above, you can even distinguish irritable bladder syndrome from irritable bladder syndrome even without examination. After all, cystitis is accompanied by strong and cutting pain during urination.

When the first symptoms of irritable bladder syndrome appear, you must immediately seek help from a medical facility in order to undergo research and find out an accurate diagnosis, as well as to prescribe effective treatment.

It is quite difficult to make an accurate diagnosis for this pathology, so the patient will have to undergo a series of surveys and various types of research.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor must first have a confidential conversation with his patient. During the conversation, he needs to find out exactly under what circumstances and when the frequency of the urge to urinate increases. In addition, the patient must explain to the attending physician what quality of liquid is released during the process, as well as how much liquid the patient drinks in one day. Using these indicators, the doctor will be able to determine the correspondence of the liquid drunk and the urine excreted, taking into account sweating and breathing.

The first symptoms of irritable bladder syndrome indicate an immediate visit to a specialist in a medical facility

But this will not be enough to make an accurate diagnosis. To confirm it, the doctor must observe the patient for five days, and in some cases for about one week. In addition to observation and the calculations listed above, the patient is prescribed a number of examinations that will help exclude the possibility of developing an infection, as well as congenital anomalies of the urinary system. As for women undergoing such an examination, among other things, they are additionally sent to see a gynecologist, and men undergo a rectal examination of the prostate.

Pay attention! In some cases, to make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is prescribed an ultrasound examination or computed tomography.

Only after all the examinations will the doctor be able to determine the diagnosis and accordingly prescribe effective treatment, which is selected individually in each case.

Irritable bladder syndrome is in every sense not only a serious disease, but also poorly diagnosed and without certain standards of treatment. In order for the treatment to be effective, the doctor must rely on the symptoms and constantly monitor the patient’s condition. In this case, the most optimal treatment option is an integrated approach. Basically, the treatment of this pathology includes the following methods:

• drug therapy is mandatory;
• neuromodulation;
• a complex of gymnastics aimed at the pelvic floor muscles is selected;
• electrical stimulation;
• behavior correction.

First of all, you need to reconsider your lifestyle and diet. You should completely avoid eating table salt, fatty foods, smoked meats and spices. In addition, it is necessary to eliminate all bad habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Proper drinking regimen plays an important role on the path to recovery. To do this, you need to drink at least about two liters of purified or boiled water per day.

The specific treatment of pathology includes drug therapy

Visiting the toilet should also be given close attention. It is best to go to the toilet every two hours, regardless of whether you have the urge and desire to do so or not. In order to control the process, patients are recommended to set an alarm clock, so they won’t miss the next visit.

A set of Kegel exercises has an excellent effect on the body. It helps maintain the tone of the pelvic floor muscles.

Only all procedures and the use of medications in strict accordance with the doctor’s recommendations will be rewarded, and the patient will be able to get rid of the pathology.

Among other things, depending on the results of the study and the patient’s diagnosis, the attending physician recommends consultations with specialized specialists, such as a gynecologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, nephrologist and neuropsychiatrist.

For irritable bladder syndrome, the use of folk remedies is allowed as additional therapy.

As for medications, anticholinergic drugs, as well as antihistamines, antispasmodics and anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended for use. After examination by specialized specialists, additional antidepressants and sedative medications may be included in the treatment complex.

For irritable bladder syndrome, the use of folk remedies is allowed as additional therapy. But in no case should you start taking them without first consulting your doctor, as some of them can provoke the development of an allergic reaction or reduce the effect of the medications you are taking.

Prevention methods

As we all have known for a long time, any disease is much easier to prevent than to get rid of it later. This rule also applies to irritable bowel syndrome. Of course, the best prevention is to undergo certain examinations annually. Thus, it becomes possible to diagnose the pathology at the initial stage and get rid of it in a short period of time without any adverse effects on the body.

If a person experiences the first symptoms indicating such a pathology, it is immediately recommended to completely eliminate from the diet all products that contain caffeine, as well as alcoholic beverages and citrus fruits. They have the most negative impact on the condition of the bladder mucosa.

In addition, you should try to avoid stressful situations, depression and neuroses. All these situations not only have an adverse effect on a person’s psycho-emotional state, but also contribute to the development of various pathologies. During such periods, a person becomes irritable, his nervous excitability increases, and his sleep is disturbed. In this state, a person involuntarily provokes the development of irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, if stressful situations arise, it is recommended to immediately seek help from a neurologist.

The only remedy for CYSTITIS and its prevention, recommended by our subscribers!

Irritable bladder syndrome (IBS) is a serious psychosomatic disorder of urinary function. The pathology is characterized by bladder overactivity, frequent and persistent urge to go to the toilet, even urinary incontinence. A person suffering from this delicate problem experiences severe stress, awkwardness, and is forced to adapt his life to the disease. Considering that the syndrome is caused primarily by psychological reasons, this only aggravates its manifestation.

The reason for the constant urge to urinate lies in the involuntary spasmodic contraction of the muscular walls of the bladder in men and women. It occurs suddenly and is beyond the control of the patient. As a result, a person is afraid to leave home for a long time or attend important events. The desire to visit the restroom occurs much more often than the normal 8-10 times a day, and the amount of urine produced may be very small, which indicates a violation of the storage function of the bladder.

Symptoms of the disease

The main symptom of irritable bladder syndrome is difficult to miss and ignore:

• urination disorders, accompanied by pain, itching in the bladder itself, urethra, perineum;
• frequent nighttime urge to go to the toilet;
• constant feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• a small amount of urine excreted at a time.

In addition, the disease is often accompanied by irritable bowel syndrome (abdominal pain, cramps, colitis, digestive disorders), which confirms its psychosomatic nature. The syndrome affects both adult men and women, as well as children.

The signs of SRMP are very similar to the manifestations of acute and chronic cystitis of an infectious nature. Therefore, it is extremely important to differentiate these diseases at an early stage in order to prevent the spread of infection in the body and irreversible damage to internal organs. The opposite situation is possible, in which the primary diagnosis of “cystitis” is not confirmed, but in fact turns out to be a psychosomatic syndrome. In this case, the undertaken treatment of non-existent cystitis can cause serious harm to the body.

Any significant violation of the body’s excretory functions requires close attention and timely diagnosis. After all, disruption of these processes entails intoxication of the body, further disruption of the functioning of organs and systems, and other dangerous complications. Adequate, quickly prescribed treatment is required.

Causes of irritable bladder syndrome

Bladder diseases can be caused by a dozen different causes, including neurogenic (nervous) ones. In no case can one exclude the possibility of an infectious nature of the disease, a benign neoplasm of the urinary system or neighboring organs (ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids in women), urolithiasis, oncological tumors, atony of the muscular walls of the organ as a result of injury or overextension. Sometimes symptoms of urinary system disease are complications of other serious systemic diseases. However, if these factors are excluded during diagnosis, the doctor can draw a conclusion about the psychosomatic nature of the disease.

Neurogenic factors are associated with disorders of the brain and spinal cord. The following conditions may be the cause:

• Parkinson's disease;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• multiple sclerosis;
• encephalitis;
• diabetic neuropathy;
• the impact of aggressive drugs and other substances, alcohol on the nervous system;
• congenital developmental pathologies;
• traumatic injuries;
• severe stress affecting the psyche, depression.

A separate group of psychosomatic diseases includes organ neuroses (neuroses of individual organs), such as irritable bladder syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome. They are characterized by a chronic course, disrupt the normal functioning of the organ, and are accompanied by algic symptoms: significant pain of a psychosomatic nature (cystalgia).

Such diseases aggravate themselves, causing another round of stress and depression. Statistics indicate that among people suffering from psychosomatic disorders there are a significant number of women, which is probably due to the greater mobility of the female psyche.

Diagnosis of psychosomatic bladder disorder

Diseases of the urinary system must be diagnosed carefully. At first glance, it is very difficult to tell whether the disorder is caused by neurogenic factors (and therefore does not pose a serious threat to the patient’s life) or by an aggressive infection. Microbial invasion of the genitourinary system is especially common in women, whose short and wide urethra is a free path for pathogens. Accordingly, treatment will be different in different cases.

First of all, the urologist must listen to the patient’s complaints, collect anamnesis and perform an examination. The volume of liquid consumed during the day must be taken into account. To clarify the preliminary diagnosis, tests and urodynamic studies are prescribed. In men, a rectal examination of the prostate is also performed.

It is necessary to completely exclude infectious and inflammatory diseases (cystitis), urolithiasis, benign and malignant tumors of the abdominal and pelvic cavities. Only after this can we assume irritable bladder syndrome and begin its treatment.

Treatment of the syndrome

There are several areas of treatment for irritable bladder syndrome, they are used individually or in combination.

• Drug treatment with special drugs that affect the nervous system. The type and dosage of a particular drug is determined strictly by the doctor, taking into account the degree of development of the disease. Sedatives and M-anticholinergics (Detrusitol, Detrol) work well.
• Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the wall of the bladder. The bladder muscles relax, and urinary function is restored within a few months.
• Electrical stimulation of the bladder.
• Strengthen your back and pelvic floor muscles through sports and Kegel training. These exercises have proven themselves in the fight against various disorders of urinary and sexual functions. Kegel exercises are used for urinary incontinence, prostatitis, and sexual dysfunction. During training, the muscles responsible for urination are activated (they tense and relax at different rates). Exercises can be done anytime, anywhere.
• Treatment with a psychotherapist, overcoming stress and psychological disorders.
• Strict drinking regimen, therapeutic diet with a high fiber content. This measure is especially relevant when the disease is combined with irritable bowel syndrome. Foods and drinks that irritate the mucous membrane of the bladder (soda, coffee, chocolate) are excluded from the diet. A couple of hours before bedtime, fluid intake completely stops.
• Establishing a urination routine. The patient must go to the toilet according to the established schedule, even if he is not currently experiencing the urge. This allows you to take the functioning of the organ under conscious control.

If treatment with conservative methods does not produce results for a long time, the doctor may offer the patient surgery. This is an extreme and rarely used measure; surgery deals a heavy blow to the body and can lead to various complications.