Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
Between 16 and 33 million Americans have a disorder that affects their daily lives, but most of them don't do anything about it. This week on Healthwatch, we'll talk about the problem of overactive bladder and what you can do about it.
Dr. Mikio Nihira, a gynecologist and expert in bladder problems at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says overactive bladder is a condition in which patients experience either urgency that makes them unable to wait to urinate or that makes them need to urinate more than eight times a day or two times during the night. People who have this problem may alter their routines, doing things like making sure they know exactly where the restrooms are everywhere they go or deciding not to do things that will require them to be away from a restroom. Dr. Nihira says you need to seek treatment if the problem is bothersome and changing your life, if you have pain with urination or blood in your urine.
Next: Treatments for overactive bladder.
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May 2005
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