(HealthDay News) -- Overactive bladder occurs when the bladder muscles contract while urine is collecting, rather than when the bladder is full and needs to be emptied. This often causes a sudden, frequent and urgent feeling of needing to urinate throughout the day and night.
Some people are genetically predisposed to symptoms of overactive bladder, the American Urology Association says. The condition can also be caused by taking certain medications or as symptoms of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke or multiple sclerosis.
Since other conditions such as bladder cancer and urinary tract infection have similar symptoms of urgent and frequent urination, it's important to have a doctor diagnose your condition promptly.
The physician may prescribe a drug to prevent the bladder muscles from contracting unless the bladder is full. A person with overactive bladder also can modify certain behaviors, including timing and regulating fluid intake, reducing caffeine and alcohol, losing weight and quitting smoking.
Your doctor also may suggest exercises to help strengthen the bladder muscles.
