Can CBD help with an overactive bladder?

From watching a movie to attending live sporting events or performances to taking car rides, the frequent need to go can disrupt everyday life in ways big and small. Over 33 million Canadians and Americans live with overactive bladder disease (OAB). While it is not as life-threatening as other problems, it can still be uncomfortable. OAB, or spastic bladder, is such a big problem that more than $3 billion is spent each year to help those who suffer. TThe two commonly prescribed key medications have serious side effects Can CBD help with an overactive bladder?

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Symptoms include frequent urination (more than eight times in 24 hours) and a sudden, difficult-to-control urge to urinate. Another gets up more than twice at night to go to the toilet. It's normal to go there once a night in your forties and fifties, twice a night in your sixties and seventies, and even two to three times a night in your eighties and beyond. But waking up too often during the night can cause you not to get enough sleep and is sometimes a sign of a health condition.

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CBD can help in certain situations. In addition to the natural aging process, causes of OAB include menopause, an enlarged prostate, neurological diseases and smoking. Short-term causes can include too much fluid intake, caffeine and spicy foods. CBD can help with some of the underlying problems.

CBD can have an impact on the signals between your brain and your bladder. If it's a signal interruption (neurological disorder) that causes spasms and irregular contraction of the detrusor muscle, cannabinoids can help reduce the number of interruptions that send your bladder into overdrive.

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Researchers have found that the body has receptors for the cannabinoids CB1 and CB2 in the brain and bladder, as well as other parts of the body. CB1 and to a lesser extent CB2 act on the detrusor muscles at different levels. Research suggests that CB1 receptors have an influence on urination and manipulating them with cannabinoids from marijuana holds promise for treating OAB.

CBD can help regulate the body's inflammatory response and reduce neuroinflammation, thereby reducing the need to walk. Neuroinflammation in particular is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease. These diseases can lead to an increased risk of an overactive bladder.

It is always advisable to work with a trained healthcare professional regarding frequency and dosage.