How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older

by Michael Greger

With or without incontinence, overactive bladder is defined as urinary urgency, often accompanied by increased urinary frequency. More than one in three women experience an overactive bladder in their lifetime, with an increasing prevalence with advancing age.3441 However, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that relief may just be ½ g of dried cranberry powder away. Bladder-relaxing drugs to control symptoms, like tolterodine (Detrol), are a multibillion-dollar industry,3442 yet may only reduce average monthly urinations by sixteen, about one less pee every other day.3443 But, less than a quarter teaspoon of cranberry powder worked nearly four times better, resulting in almost two fewer trips to the bathroom a day. And, that’s without suffering from the drug’s side effects, which may include dry mouth, constipation, sedation, impaired cognitive function, rapid heartbeat, urinary retention, and visual disturbances that lead almost two-thirds of users to discontinue taking it.