Overactive Bladder Can Affect Your Daily Life
If you need to pee frequently, find out how you can manage this common condition
Jan 27, 2025
Jan 27, 2025
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What is overactive bladder?
Overactive bladder occurs when muscles in the bladder start to tighten on their own. When the muscles contract, it creates an urgent need to pee.
4 out of 10 U.S. women have overactive bladder.
Symptoms of overactive bladder
Sudden need to pee
Urgency incontinence (sudden need to pee that causes leakage)
Peeing 8+ times in 24 hours
Waking up more than 2x a night to pee
The average person pees 6–7 times in 24 hours.
Risk factors for overactive bladder
Being born female
Age 45+ (for people assigned female at birth)
Menopause
Having overweight or obesity
Smoking
Depression or anxiety
Certain medical conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or IBS
Getting help for overactive bladder
Sometimes lifestyle changes can relieve symptoms.
Quitting smoking
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating a healthy diet
Drinking plenty of water
Exercising regularly
Limiting foods that irritate your bladder
coffee, alcohol, acidic foods
Other treatments include:
Biofeedback
Bladder training
Pelvic floor therapy
Medications that relax the bladder
Botox injections
Nerve stimulation
Surgery
It’s common for women with overactive bladder to experience psychological distress, anxiety and depression. Talk to a mental health professional about your symptoms.
This educational resource was created with support from Sumitomo Pharma, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.
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C. diff is the name of a common, easily transmittable infection caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile. The infection causes your colon (bowel) wall to become inflamed, resulting in severe, watery diarrhea. Left untreated, it can cause a serious complication called toxic megacolon.
C. diff affects about 250,000 people in the United States every year. Some people get it only once in their lifetime, but if you have a C. diff infection, there is up to a 1 in 4 chance you might relapse (the same infection returns) or get it again within eight weeks. People at the highest risk for a C. diff infection are those who take or have recently taken antibiotics, especially if they have a weak immune system.
The bacteria live in feces (poop), and in soil and water. They spread easily and can live for a long time on hard and soft surfaces, like linens and clothing. If someone who has C. diff on their hands touches a door handle and you touch it after, the bacteria transfer to your hand. They then can enter your gastrointestinal system if you touch your mouth or handle food before washing your hands.
Protect yourself and others from getting a C. diff infection in a healthcare setting
If you are a patient in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center, you are at higher risk of getting a C. diff infection — not just because you likely have a weak immune system from the condition that put you in the facility but also because of the number of people you may encounter while you’re there.
Here are some steps you can take to lower the risk of getting C. diff in a healthcare facility:
- Make sure all healthcare workers and visitors wash their hands before they touch you and your things. If you don’t see them wash their hands, ask them to do so.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water every time you use the bathroom. If you use a bedside commode, ask to be transported to a sink to wash your hands or use a waterless hand sanitizer.
- Wash your hands before eating or drinking. If you can’t get to a sink, ask the staff or a friend to supply you with a waterless hand sanitizer to use while you are in bed or sitting in your chair.
- Allow cleaning staff access to your environment. Clear everything off the bedside table or nightstand, and remove clothing or linens from the bedside rails so they can be wiped down.
Patients with a diagnosed C. diff infection should not share a room with someone who does not have the infection. If you do share a room and your roommate contracts C. diff, ask to be moved.
Stop the spread of C. diff at home
C. diff doesn’t just affect people in healthcare facilities. It can happen at home, too.
Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of spreading C. diff at home:
- If your home has a second bathroom, reserve one for the person with the C. diff infection to limit exposure to others.
- If your home has only one bathroom, make sure the toilet seat, flusher, faucets, light switches and doorknob are cleaned with a bleach-based cleaner after each use.
- If the infected person is immobile, keep waterless hand sanitizer within reach.
- Clean common home surfaces (door knobs, light switches, fridge handles, etc.).
- Wash clothing (especially underwear), towels and linens separately and in the hottest water possible.
- Wear disposable gloves while handling clothing and linens, especially if the person is incontinent (loses control of their bowels). Wash your hands after removing the gloves.
- Shower with soap to remove C. diff that may be on the skin.
This educational resource was created with support from Seres Therapeutics and Nestle Health Science.