KARACHI, Aug 8: Excessive intake of tea and other caffeine-containing beverages causes the bladder to become overactive and this malfunctioning of the bladder may cause incontinence at any point of time.

Dr Qasim Jaffery, consultant urologist at the University College Hospital, Galway (Ireland), in his presentation at the Dow University of Health Sciences here on Wednesday identified caffeine-induced overactive bladder as “polyuria related urgency.”

Overactive bladder, he said, was most commonly noticed among women with multiple pregnancies that very commonly leads to incontinence -- a widespread, often overlooked, treatable condition -- in many parts of the world. People with urinary tract infections were also said to be excessively vulnerable to the condition.

“The incidence of overactive bladder is registered to be much more common among the elderly as compared to those suffering from osteoporosis or dementia,” the urologist said, adding that overactive bladder affected the entire well-being of the person concerned, ranging from occupational aspect to physical, emotional well-being of the person concerned.

The condition characterised by involuntary bladder contractions that resulted in frequency and urgency, the urologist said, could be easily diagnosed on the basis of symptoms.

He advised gynaecologists, urologists and other health-care providers besides medical students to look for simplified definitions which could lead to a better understanding of the disease.

At the start of his presentation, Dr Jaffery said that incontinence mainly registered among women as compared to men was usually overlooked.

He discussed different types of incontinence as urge incontinence, stress incontinence, mixed incontinence and the modes to treat them.

Techniques as behavioural therapy, Kegel exercise besides medical and surgical interventions could be beneficial for the patients in accordance with their condition, Dr Jaffery said.

The urologist also referred to chances of incontinence among individuals taking narcotics or those treated with diuretics, sedatives, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensive, analgesics -- without proper management.

Dr Jaffery, a graduate of the Dow Medical College (1990 batch), in the second part of his presentation discussed at length Laser Vaporisation for benign prostate.

“This is a revolutionary treatment yet to be available in Pakistan,” he said.

Highlighting the significance of the non-invasive intervention, he said it was virtually bloodless, with very short hospital stay, almost 100 per cent safety and no contra-indications.

Later, answering the questions raised by the participants, he said the latest technique could treat the symptom of prostate carcinoma but not the prostate cancer itself.

Prof Saleem Ilyas, director of the Skill and Professional Development Centre of the DUHS, thanked the guest speaker and the participants.

He said the DUHS had procured Electronic Stimulator for Laproscopic Surgery and that Dr Jaffery would revisit the DUHS in December to offer hands-on training to local doctors.—APP