Author: Farhad Nowzari MD

Do you find yourself locating the nearest bathroom when you are out with friends? Do you make it a habit to always use the bathroom before going anywhere? Are wearing leakproof panties now part of your daily attire? If so, you may be suffering from an overactive bladder. There is more you can do to manage this problem. Here are 12 effective tips for managing overactive bladder.

What is OAB?

An overactive bladder is a medical condition that causes your bladder to squeeze urine at the wrong time, or certainly not when you want it to. This can happen even if your bladder is not full.

It can impact a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to go out with friends, work, sleep, or exercise.

If you have two or more of the following symptoms, you most likely have OAB:

• You urinate 8 or more times during the day or 2 or more times at night.
• You have a sudden strong need to pee immediately.
• You leak urine after a sudden strong urge to urinate.

Going to see an experienced physician like Dr. Nowzari can confirm the diagnosis of OAB. Once diagnosed, you can begin to take control and manage the symptoms in various ways.

Lifestyle Modifications Tips for Overactive Bladder

Dr. Nowzari may suggest trying some simple lifestyle changes first.

• Limit foods and beverages which may trigger your bladder, such as caffeine, tea, carbonated beverages, fruit juices, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, and spicy foods.
• Limit fluids. This is a tough one because drinking too much can make your symptoms worse, but not drinking enough fluids can irritate the lining of the bladder and cause the impulse to pee.
• Lose some weight if you are overweight.
• Include more fiber in your diet to help reduce constipation. You can take supplements or just add more natural fiber to your diet.
• Stop smoking.
• Wear absorbent underwear or pads.

Behavioral Therapies for Overactive Bladder

These therapies are aimed at training your bladder.

Timed Voiding

Decide how long you want to wait between urinating during the day. Use the bathroom at specific times. Start with 3 hours for the first 3 days. If that works, gradually increase the time interval by 30 minutes. This helps to train your bladder, but be patient.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

These are also known as Kegel exercises. These work wonders to stop your bladder muscles from contracting by themselves. Talk with Dr. Nowzari about how to do them correctly.

Overactive Bladder Medications and Procedures

• Vaginal estrogen can help to strengthen the muscles in the urethra and vagina. Other medications relax the bladder.
• BOTOX injections are given directly into the bladder. This relaxes the muscles and increases the amount your bladder can hold. The shot lasts for 6 months. Talk with Dr. Nowzari about side effects.
• Minimally invasive electrical impulses are given near the sacral nerves which send signals to your bladder. This is known as a sacral nerve stimulator.
• PTNS stands for the Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulator. This is inserted into tissue in the ankle which connects to nerves that control the bladder. Treatments are administered once a week for a duration of 12 weeks.

For severe cases of OAB, surgery may be recommended.

Overactive Bladder Treatment in Torrance, CA

You don’t have to live with an overactive bladder. Contact Board-certified urologist, Dr. Farhad Nowzari at (310) 921-1100 for an evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and early detection plays a crucial role in successful treatment. When it comes to screening, two primary methods are widely used: the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.

While both approaches aim to identify potential signs of prostate cancer, they differ significantly in procedure, sensitivity, and scope. Let’s break down each method and explore how they compare.

What is a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)?

A Digital Rectal Exam is a physical exam where a healthcare provider gently inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to assess the prostate gland.

How It’s Performed: During the exam, your doctor feels for abnormalities in the prostate, such as changes in size, shape, or texture.

What It Detects: The DRE can identify issues like an enlarged prostate, hard or lumpy areas, or other irregularities that may suggest cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Benefits of DRE

• Quick and straightforward, usually taking just a few minutes.
• Can detect abnormalities that might warrant further testing.
• Cost-effective and accessible.

Limitations of DRE

• It cannot detect small tumors or those located in areas of the prostate that are out of reach.
• Subjective, as it relies on the examiner’s skill and experience.

What is a PSA Test?

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is used to assess prostate-specific antigen levels in the blood, a protein produced by the prostate gland.

How It’s Performed: A small blood sample is taken and analyzed to determine PSA levels. Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer, BPH, or prostate inflammation.

What It Detects: The PSA test can flag potential prostate cancer in its early stages, often before symptoms develop.

Benefits of PSA Testing

• Detects prostate cancer early, even when physical symptoms are absent.
• Non-invasive and relatively simple to perform.
• Helps monitor the prostate over time, especially in high-risk individuals.

Limitations of PSA Testing

• Elevated PSA levels don’t always mean cancer; they can result from other conditions, leading to false positives.
• Conversely, low PSA levels may miss some cancers (false negatives).
• Over-diagnosis can occur, potentially leading to unnecessary treatments.

DRE vs. PSA Screening: A Comparison

Key Differences in Procedure

• DRE: A manual physical exam that evaluates prostate size and texture.
• PSA Test: A blood test measuring PSA levels.

Detection Capability

• DRE: Effective for identifying larger or more advanced abnormalities in the prostate.
• PSA Test: More sensitive, capable of detecting early-stage cancers before they become noticeable.

Comfort Level

• DRE: Some patients find the procedure uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it is brief.
• PSA Test: Generally more comfortable since it only requires a blood draw.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• DRE: Simple, quick, and affordable, but less sensitive and limited in scope.
• PSA Test: More sensitive and able to detect early-stage cancers but prone to false positives/negatives and the potential for overdiagnosis.

Which Screening Method is Right for You?

Both DRE and PSA tests are valuable tools for prostate cancer screening. Many doctors recommend using them together for a more comprehensive evaluation, as each method complements the other.

Ultimately, the choice depends on individual factors such as age, family history, and personal preferences. If you’re over 50 or have a higher risk of prostate cancer, talk to board-certified urologist Dr. Farhad Nowzari in Torrance, CA, about the best screening approach for you.

Proactive screening could save your life—don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation today.