What is Overactive Bladder (OAB)?
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that causes sudden urges to urinate. You may feel like you need to go even if your bladder isn't full. Many people with OAB also experience:
- Urgency: a strong and sudden need to urinate.
- Frequency: going to the toilet more than 8 times a day.
- Nocturia: waking up during the night to urinate.
- Urge incontinence: leaking urine before reaching the toilet.
This condition affects up to 17% of people globally, increasing with age and often reducing quality of life.
What Does the Heart Have to Do With the Bladder?
A 2025 study from Scientific Reports found that your heart health and lifestyle choices strongly influence your risk of developing OAB. People with better heart health had significantly lower chances of having bladder problems.
The researchers used a tool called Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), developed by the American Heart Association. LE8 measures overall heart and health status using eight key areas:
- Healthy diet
- Physical activity
- Not smoking
- Good sleep
- Healthy weight
- Normal blood pressure
- Normal blood sugar
- Healthy cholesterol levels
These eight areas give a score between 0 and 100. A higher score means better health.
What Did the Study Show?
The study looked at over 23,000 adults using health data collected in the United States between 2005 and 2018. Here’s what they found:
- People with high LE8 scores (80–100) were 75% less likely to have OAB compared to those with low scores (0–49).
- Even a moderate score (50–79) reduced the risk by 48%.
- Higher blood sugar levels were the strongest individual factor linked to OAB.
- Other major contributors included high body weight, smoking, high blood pressure, and poor sleep.
In simple terms: The better your heart and lifestyle health, the healthier your bladder is likely to be.
Why Does Cardiovascular Health Affect the Bladder?
Here’s how different parts of your health may directly impact bladder function:
- High blood sugar (often from diabetes) can damage nerves that control the bladder.
- Being overweight puts extra pressure on the bladder and can affect its control.
- Smoking reduces blood flow to the bladder and weakens its lining.
- Poor sleep disrupts hormone levels and brain signals that manage when you need to urinate.
- High blood pressure can cause damage to bladder blood vessels, increasing urgency.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Bladder Through Heart Health?
Improving your LE8 score isn’t just good for your heart—it can also help prevent or reduce OAB symptoms. Here are simple steps to start:
Eat Healthier
- Choose more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and lean protein.
- Cut down on processed foods and sugar.
Be More Active
- Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
- Walking, swimming, and cycling are all good options.
Stop Smoking
- Smoking is linked to bladder irritation and higher risk of bladder cancer.
Get Enough Sleep
- Adults should aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Even a small weight loss (5–10%) can reduce bladder symptoms.
Control Blood Sugar and Pressure
- Monitor and manage blood pressure and blood glucose levels, especially if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
Who Is Most at Risk of OAB?
According to the study:
- Women are more affected than men (59% vs 41%).
- Older adults (over 65) are twice as likely to have OAB.
- People with lower education and income levels are at greater risk.
- Certain ethnic groups, such as non-Hispanic Black individuals, had higher rates.
Are These Findings Reliable?
Yes. The study was large, well-designed, and used NHANES data — a trusted health survey run by the US government. It also used robust statistical models to confirm the link between lifestyle and bladder health.
However, it’s important to remember that this was an observational study. It shows strong associations but does not prove cause and effect. More research is still needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can lifestyle changes actually reduce overactive bladder symptoms?
Yes. The study suggests improving your overall cardiovascular health (e.g., losing weight, managing blood sugar) can significantly reduce the risk or severity of OAB.
Is overactive bladder just a normal part of ageing?
No. OAB is more common with age but it’s not “normal”. Many lifestyle changes and treatments can help manage or even reverse symptoms.
Will quitting smoking help my bladder?
Absolutely. Smoking can irritate the bladder and increase urgency. Quitting can improve both bladder and overall health.
How quickly can I expect improvement?
Results vary. Some people notice bladder improvement within weeks of better sleep, exercise, or weight loss. But long-term change is key.
What is Life’s Essential 8 and where can I learn more?
Life’s Essential 8 is a scoring system by the American Heart Association that measures your heart and lifestyle health. You can learn more at:
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8
Want a Healthier Bladder? Start with Your Heart
This new research highlights something many people don’t realise: your bladder doesn’t function in isolation. It responds to your lifestyle, weight, sleep, diet, and stress levels. Improving your cardiovascular health could be one of the best ways to prevent or reduce overactive bladder symptoms — without medication.
Simple changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. A healthier heart means better bladder control—and a better quality of life.
