Ask Dr Mel: Cutting calories and an overactive bladder

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Every week we bring you expert advice from Woman's Weekly health
expert Dr Melanie Wynee-Jones. Mel is a GP with 26 years' experience
and is the senior partner in a busy surgery in Stockport. This week she
answers your questions about cutting calories and training an overactive bladder.

Q. I've read that a low-calorie diet can help you live longer, but is it really safe?

A. Researchers recently found that a calorie-restricted diet can slow monkeys' ageing and reduce their risk of developing diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. But not all of the possible health effects were studied and, of course, monkeys aren't humans!

What we do know for certain is that being obese increases our risk of all these diseases, and there's evidence that people with body mass index (BMI) is at the lower end of the recommended range may be healthier.

But like many doctors, I'm concerned that very low-calorie diets may not contain all the nutrients we need, and may even encourage eating disorders in vulnerable people. So, I'd still recommend basing meals on starchy foods such as wholegrains, pasta or rice, eating oily fish a couple of times a week, and a wide range of fruit, veg, nuts and seeds, while cutting down on salt, sugar, saturated fats and red meat.

And, of course, combining this with regular exercise will help to keep your BMI in the healthy range.

Q. I think I've got an overactive bladder, as I'm always going to the loo. Is there any treatment?

A. Yes, although you should really see your GP first to make sure there's nothing wrong. An overactive bladder (OAB) is very like a baby's bladder, firing little and often!

But infections, bladder inflammation, narrowing of the bladder outlet pipe and other conditions can sometimes cause irritation, so you need a urine test, and perhaps a telescope examination or scan.

Before you see your GP, keep a 'bladder chart' for a couple of days - record the actual times you go to the toilet (or leak) and use an old jug to measure how much urine you pass each time. This record will show your GP how much urine your bladder can hold and for how long.

If there's nothing seriously wrong, your GP may suggest 'bladder drill' or training - re-educating your bladder by resisting the urge to go for gradually longer periods. Regular pelvic floor exercisesshould help, too. Your GP can give you leaflets on these, or visit www.patient.co.uk.

She may also prescribe drugs such as oxybutynin, tolterodine or solifenacin to reduce your bladder's activity. These can make your mouth dry, so try a different one if the first doesn't suit. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol sometimes helps, too.

Note: Advice given here is for general information only and is
correct on date of publication 23rd June 2009 but may be subject to
change. Please seek help from your own GP if you have a medical problem.

Read more great health advice from Dr Mel There's more expert health advice in this week's Woman's Weekly, on sale every Wednesday, only 82p! Subscribe today to Woman's Weekly and get 20% off!