Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Overactive Bladder (Urgent Urinary Retention + Frequent Urinary Retention + Nocturia)
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The patient's nocturia and frequent urination improved after one month of treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Previously, the patient urinated four times after falling asleep at night; now, it only happens once.
(To protect patient privacy, the photos primarily show the patient's back.)
The incidence of overactive bladder increases with age. Nearly half of women over 65 years of age have overactive bladder problems. Besides frequent urination, urgency, and urge incontinence, overactive bladder also increases the risk of falls and fractures due to the urgent need to urinate.
What is Overactive Bladder? Overactive bladder was previously known as unstable bladder, detrusor overreaction, or urgency syndrome.
The main symptom of this disease is urgency, accompanied by frequent urination and nocturia; some people may even experience urge incontinence.
After a series of examinations, these patients often cannot find a clear cause. Current speculation suggests the cause may be unstable changes in the bladder muscles themselves, or abnormal contractions due to oversensitivity of the nerves controlling the bladder. Past research indicates that the prevalence of overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) can reach 18% in the population, and the incidence increases with age. It can affect both men and women, adults and children, making it a fairly common condition.
Common causes of frequent urination and nocturia in women:
1. Urinary tract infection: Bacterial infection of the bladder causes inflammation, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination.
2. Overactive bladder syndrome: Overactive bladder syndrome is a physiological change of unknown cause. The cause may be due to uncontrollable nerve contractions or unstable changes in the bladder muscles themselves.
3. Interstitial cystitis: Patients with interstitial cystitis experience lower abdominal pain when the bladder is full. Interstitial cystitis is characterized by the absence of bacteria in the urine, along with frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, and hematuria. It is a urinary tract disease of unknown etiology. The patient's symptoms recurred for at least six months, easily leading to misdiagnosis as bacterial cystitis, and despite taking numerous antibiotics, the condition did not improve.
4. Neurological disorders such as stroke and spinal cord injury can affect the nerves controlling the bladder, leading to loss of bladder control.
5. Pregnancy: The fetus compresses the bladder, and hormonal changes can cause frequent urination.
6. Menopause: Decreased estrogen levels may cause atrophy of urinary tract tissues and relaxation of pelvic floor muscles, thus affecting bladder function.
7. Uterine fibroids or prolapse: These gynecological problems can compress the bladder, causing frequent urination.
8. Pelvic surgery: Surgery may damage nerves around the bladder, affecting urination sensation and function.
Foods to avoid for frequent urination:
1. Caffeine and alcohol: Coffee, tea, cola, and alcohol are all diuretic drinks that stimulate the bladder.
2. Spicy and stimulating foods: Spicy foods such as chili peppers and curry, as well as acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits, may irritate the bladder. 3. Excessive water intake and sugary drinks: Drink water in small amounts frequently, avoiding large amounts at once. Avoid hand-shaken drinks in particular, as they contain high levels of sugar, caffeine, and dairy products.
4. Raw and cold foods: Limit raw and cold fruits, cabbage, and iced drinks.
5. Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges: Their acidity can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, reducing bladder tolerance and exacerbating urinary urgency.
6. Avoid refined foods: Consuming too many high-sugar refined foods such as cakes, sodas, and chocolate will increase the burden on the bladder. Reduce your intake of sweets with added artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks.
Recommended foods:
1. Pumpkin seeds: Rich in magnesium, zinc, and phytosterols, which help improve pelvic floor muscle function.
2. Legumes and soy products: Legumes and soy milk contain high-quality protein and soy isoflavones, which help strengthen pelvic floor muscles and stabilize hormones. 3. Foods rich in lycopene: such as tomatoes, watermelon, and papaya. Lycopene has antioxidant properties.
4. Foods containing zinc: such as oysters, seafood, eggs, nuts, and pumpkin seeds. These contribute to prostate health.
5. Foods rich in selenium: such as garlic, onions, tuna, eggs, and shiitake mushrooms. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps maintain urinary system function.
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