takes in.
.....OAB is generally easily diagnosed. Usually, the history and physical examination are enough to alert even the dimmest doctor (and yes, sadly, there are a few of those around) that a patient is suffering from OAB, although if confirmatory evidence is needed, a test known as urodynamic evaluation, in which bladder strength and urine flow are measured, can be easily done.
.....Happily, if you have OAB, there is much you can do to try to help yourself. For example, there have been some reports about the benefits of what are called “bladder retraining regimes”, a sort of bio-feedback behavioral therapy in which the owner of the OAB learns to empty the bladder before it contracts on its own. (You think, by the way, that George W. Bush’s term in office could be called a “blather-retaining regime”? Just asking.)
.....As well, good old Kegel exercises that strengthen pelvic floor muscles are also said to help some people with OAB, especially younger women. In fact, some experts advise all peri-menopausal women to do Kegel exercises whenever they have a free moment, so the next time you see a woman driver of a certain age in the lane next to you and you can’t quite account for that determined look of intense concentration as she stares ahead while counting silently, rest assured that she’s probably just doing Kegels, although if she’s also doing 110 km/hr at the same time, perhaps you better let her pull ahead of you.
.....If Kegels and re-training regimes don’t work and you want to try a more active, though non-pharmaceutical therapy, one small study of 74 women found that acupuncture worked in some people with OAB.
.....The mainstay therapy for OAB, though, is the use of medications, and to that end (a little urinary humour, folks), drugs known as anti-muscarinics have been shown to prevent bladder contractions, which in turn reduces the sense of urgency, the need to urinate as frequently, and incontinence episodes. Consequently (this will be no surprise, I’m sure) the use of these drugs has also been shown to improve quality of life.
.....In terms of what may lie ahead, there are increasingly frequent reports about the benefits of using Botox for OAB, although this product has still not been approved for such a use.
.....Anyway, now that I think of it again, I must concede that my wife may be right, after all. Yes, I guess I am an egotist, but hey, I ask you: wouldn’t you be, too, if you were so perfect? Ah well, something for me to ponder while I go stare at myself in the mirror for a while.

Dr. Art Hister can be heard on CKNW and other Corus Radio Network stations on House Calls on Saturdays at 10 AM, as well as seen on Global TV news on Saturday mornings at 9:20.