KUALA LUMPUR: The lack of physical activity seems to have “turned the tap full on”. Lately, doctors have been receiving an increasing number of over-active bladder (OAB) complaints.

But rather than panic, a consultant urologist has urged those affected to stay calm and seek medical advice.

“A urinary tract infection cannot be ruled out. But in many cases, it’s only because the person has been drinking a lot of water,” said Dr Warren H.L. Lo.

“People are mostly homebound now and they consume more fluids, leading to more frequent visits to the toilet.”

He said many people have consulted doctors, fearing that they have developed OAB.

However, Lo said before the doctor prescribes any medication or starts treatment, he will have to ascertain what is causing the heightened intensity of the urge to urinate.

To determine if the patient has OAB, the doctor will have to rule out an over-consumption of fluids, he explained.

“People tend to drink more water when they are at home than at the office, so it could simply be that.”

He said a person normally drinks about two to 2.5 litres of fluids a day, equivalent to seven or eight glasses.

“But some people tend to drink more when they are not doing anything, thus creating an unnecessary increase in the number of visits to the toilet.”

Lo, who is with Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, added that OAB is usually associated with incontinence, or loss of bladder control.

“Women tend to be more vulnerable to OAB with incontinence. Among women with OAB, 39.5% also complain about incontinence, compared with 26.8% of men.

While OAB is not necessarily a sign of ageing, there is evidence to show that it gets more common with age, Bernama reported.

Lo said 20% of sufferers are people aged 70 to 75 and those aged 75 and above account for 30%.

He said apart from drinking too much fluids, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal chord injury and post-spinal surgeries may also cause OAB.

Obstructions caused by an enlargement of the prostrate, bladder stones or a narrowing of the urethra can also lead to symptoms of OAB.

Lo said a common perception is that urinary tract infection, or UTI, increases the sensation of the need to urinate urgently.

However, UTI is also accompanied by a burning sensation and occasionally foul-smelling and cloudy urine.

He said patients with severe symptoms may be given medications which, in many ways, help to relax the bladder, thus allowing for more urine storage and reducing urinary urgency and frequency or even incontinence. Medications are also useful, especially for those with neurological conditions.

Implanting a sacral neuro-modulation (bladder pacemaker) is the last resort if all the above treatment options do not provide relief. The device is designed to modulate the nerves that control the bladder’s ability to contract. It works for two polarising conditions – severe OAB and under-active bladder.