Bush Beats Millenia Vol-10, No-1, 2024

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome has been described as a condition of urinary urgency often associated with frequency and nocturia, where urgency incontinence may or may not be there, when there is no infection or clear pathological condition.

This chronic condition has a considerable impact on the patient's quality of life. The condition affects both men and women, with a rise in incidence with age. It has been reported that OAB more frequently affects women.

Symptoms include urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urgency incontinence, with urgency incontinence believed to be more prevalent among females, while males more commonly experience urgency and frequent urination. Nocturia is the symptom that troubles patients the most and has been linked to poor sleep quality and reduced quality of life.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, linked to disruptions of gut-brain interaction, is characterized by pain in the abdomen along with change in bowel habits.

IBS markedly affects an individual's quality of life. The condition has been reported to be common among Indians. Community-based studies have shown the prevalence to range between 0.4% and 4.2%. Additionally, in our country, it is equally common among both men and women.

Various factors are at play when it comes to the development of IBS. These include central and peripheral factors (Table 1). Genetic factors may contribute to both central and peripheral mechanisms.