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.
This week on Healthwatch, we've been talking about overactive bladder, a problem that strikes between 16 and 33 million Americans, most of them older adults. In spite of the life-altering impact of this problem, few people actually seek treatment for it. In a recent survey, 83 percent of the people polled said they'd seek treatment if they had symptoms of overactive bladder, but only 25 percent of people with the problem actually do see their doctors about it.
The treatment may be as simple as changing what you drink and when you drink it. Other treatment options include exercise, biofeedback, medication and surgery.
Dr. Mikio Nihira, a gynecologist and expert in treating bladder problems at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says to ask your primary care physician if you need a referral to a specialist who is current on the full range of treatment. You don't have to miss out on things like long car trips or theater performances because you're afraid to be away from the bathroom.
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May 2005
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