12 Easiest ways to control your Urinary Incontinence / Bladder leaks.
Women affected by Bladder leaks than men.
According to National Association for Continence (NAFC), Over 33 million Americans suffer from some form of urinary incontinence or bladder condition, a problem that many people find embarrassing. And, while it is a very common issue, it should not be regarded as “normal.”
Incontinence can strike anyone at any time. It is, however, more common in certain groups and at specific times in your life. Women are far more likely than men to experience incontinence. This is frequently associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Each of these events has the potential to weaken a woman’s pelvic support muscles over time.
As you get older, you’re also more likely to develop incontinence. The muscles that support your pelvic organs can weaken over time, resulting in leakage problems. Bladder Leaks are more common in women aged over 50 years.
What is Urinary Incontinence (UI)?
Urinary incontinence occurs when a person accidentally releases urine. Urinary incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is more common in older people, particularly women than it is in younger ones.
Bladder control disorders can be humiliating and cause people to avoid doing things they normally would. Incontinence, on the other hand, may often be prevented or controlled.
Urinary incontinence may be a temporary problem caused by another medical condition. It can range from the discomfort of minor urine losses to severe, frequent wetting.
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What happens in the body to cause bladder leakage issues?
The bladder is an organ that is part of the urinary system, along with the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. During urination, bladder muscles contract to force urine into the tube-shaped urethra.
At the same time, the muscles surrounding the urethra relax, allowing urine to exit the body. Urine can leak when the muscles in and around the bladder do not work properly, resulting in urinary incontinence.
What causes Urinary Incontinence (UI)/ Bladder leaks?
Urinary incontinence is not a natural part of aging, but it is more common in the elderly. Women are more likely than men to develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth, or as a result of menopausal hormonal changes.
Incontinence can result from a variety of factors, including urinary tract infections (UTI), vaginal infection or irritation, or constipation. Some medications can cause temporary bladder control problems. When incontinence lasts for an extended period, it could be due to:
- Weakness of bladder or pelvic floor muscles
- Overactive bladder muscles
- Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease may cause nerve damage to the bladder’s control nerves.
- Diseases such as arthritis can make it difficult to get to the restroom on time.
- Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when pelvic organs (such as the bladder, rectum, or uterus) shift into the vagina or anus from their normal position. When the pelvic organs are misaligned, the bladder and urethra are unable to function normally, which may result in urine leakage.
What are the other causes of Urinary Incontinence in Men?
The prostate gland is the most common cause of incontinence in men. Male incontinence can be caused by:
- Prostatitis is a painful inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Surgery-related nerve or muscle damage
- An enlarged prostate gland could lead to benign prostate hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate grows as men age.
What are the types of Urinary Incontinence?
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress Incontinence
- Urge / Overactive Incontinence
- Overflow Incontinence
- Functional Incontinence
You may have stress incontinence, if urine leaks out when you jump, cough, laugh, sneeze or lift heavy objects. Any physical activity that raises abdominal pressure also raises bladder pressure.
It is the most common type of bladder control problem in women in their twenties and thirties. It may also start later, around the time of menopause.
As a woman ages, the muscles in her pelvic floor and urethra weaken, making it easier for the urethra to open and leak. Estrogen may also play a role, though how much is unknown. Many women do not notice symptoms until they reach menopause.
Urinary sphincter damage caused by prostate surgery or a pelvic fracture is the most common cause of stress incontinence in men.
Lung diseases that cause coughing, such as emphysema and cystic fibrosis, can also contribute to stress incontinence in both men and women.
2.Urge / Overactive Incontinence
If you have a strong urge to urinate even when your bladder isn’t full, your incontinence may be caused by an overactive bladder, also known as urge incontinence.
This condition affects both men and women and is characterized by an overwhelming desire to urinate immediately, which is frequently followed by urine loss before reaching a bathroom.
Even if you never have an accident, urgency and urinary frequency can interfere with work and social life due to the constant need to run to the bathroom.
It may be a problem for people who have diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
It occurs when small amounts of urine leak from an overflowing bladder. Overflow incontinence occurs when something prevents urine from draining normally from the bladder, such as when the prostate enlarges and partially closes the urethra.
It can also happen in both men and women if the bladder muscle becomes underactive, resulting in no desire to urinate. The bladder eventually becomes overfilled, or distended, causing the urethra to open and urine to leak out.
The bladder may also spasm at random, resulting in leakage. Diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and cardiovascular disease are all linked to this condition.
If the urethra is blocked by an enlarged prostate, a man may have difficulty emptying his bladder.
Functional Incontinence occurs in a large number of elderly people who have normal bladder control. They simply have difficulty getting to the toilet due to arthritis or other disorders that make it difficult to move quickly.
If your urinary tract is working properly but other illnesses or disabilities prevent you from staying dry, you may have functional incontinence.
For example, if an illness caused you to be unaware or unconcerned about the need to use the restroom, you would become incontinent. Medication, dementia, or mental illness can all reduce awareness of the need to use the restroom.
How is Urinary incontinence diagnosed?
It is critical for people who have urinary incontinence to see a doctor. In many cases, patients will be referred to a urogynecologist or urologist, a doctor who specializes in urinary tract diseases.
Urinary incontinence is diagnosed through a thorough physical examination that focuses on the urinary and nervous systems, reproductive organs, and urine samples.
How to control your Bladder leaks?
Following a healthy lifestyle keeps you healthy always. Lifestyle changes for your Urinary incontinence always help to control your Bladder leaks.
Here we have listed the 12 Easiest ways to control your Urinary Incontinence / Bladder leaks (Any Type).
1. Do pelvic floor muscles exercise daily
Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, help the bladder hold urine. Daily exercise can help strengthen these muscles, preventing urine leakage when you sneeze, cough, lift, laugh, or have an urgent need to urinate.
These exercises may also help prevent infections by strengthening the muscles that aid in bladder emptying.
2. Use the restroom whenever needed
Urinate at least once every three to four hours. People hold urinating if they are in the middle of work until they complete it.
Holding urine in your bladder for an extended period can weaken your bladder muscles and increase the likelihood of a bladder infection. Urinating is an important task for your body.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Overweight people may be at a higher risk of leaking urine. Making healthy food choices and staying physically active can assist in maintaining a healthy weight.
Because of the pressure of fatty tissue on your bladder, being overweight can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and cause incontinence.
If you lose any excess weight, your symptoms may improve or even disappear completely.
To see if you’re a healthy weight for your height, use the healthy weight calculator.
4. Do the suitable exercise
Practice suitable exercises.
Physical activity can help prevent bladder and constipation problems. It can also aid in the maintenance of a healthy weight.
However, high-impact exercise and sit-ups put a strain on your pelvic floor muscles and can worsen leaks.
Replace high-impact exercise, such as jogging and aerobics, with strengthening exercise, such as pilates, to strengthen your pelvic floor and relieve symptoms.
Pilates strengthens your core muscles, which helps with stress incontinence.
5. Drink plenty of water
Many people with urinary incontinence avoid drinking fluids because they believe it will aggravate their condition. However, limiting your fluid intake worsens incontinence because it reduces the capacity of your bladder.
The amount of water you require depends on your size, activity level, and where you live. In general, drink enough fluids to require urination every few hours.
Certain medical conditions, such as kidney failure or heart disease, necessitate a reduction in water consumption. Inquire with your doctor about how much fluid is healthy for you.
Constipation can also be exacerbated or caused by not drinking enough fluids.
6. Make changes in the Diet
Some people with bladder problems find that spicy and acidic foods, such as curries and citrus fruits, sodas, artificial sweeteners, and tomato-based foods irritate the bladder and worsen leaks and other incontinence symptoms. You might feel better if you change your diet.
7. Limit Alcohol & Caffeine Consumption
For many people, drinking alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing them to urinate more frequently. Cutting back may help with incontinence symptoms.
Caffeine irritates the bladder and can aggravate incontinence.
Coffee has the greatest impact, so avoid it or switch to decaffeinated coffee.
Caffeine is also found in fizzy drinks, tea, green tea, energy drinks, and hot chocolate, so limit your intake of these and replace them with water and herbal or fruit teas.
8. Avoid constipation
Constipation is caused by a buildup of stool in the colon, which puts pressure on the bladder and prevents it from expanding as it should.
Eating plenty of high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, drinking plenty of water, and staying physically active can help prevent this.
9. Avoid lifting weight
Lifting puts strain on your pelvic floor muscles, so avoid it as much as possible. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles before and during the lift if you must lift something, such as shopping bags.
10. Wear cotton Underwear
Wearing loose, cotton clothing will help in managing the area around the urethra dry. Tight-fitting pants and nylon underwear can trap moisture and promote the growth of bacteria.
11. Quit smoking
Because coughing puts strain on your pelvic floor muscles, smoking puts you at risk of incontinence.
People who smoke are more likely to have bladder problems. Cigarette smoking can also raise the risk of bladder cancer. If you smoke, stop right now.
12. Know the medications
Some medications may increase the likelihood of your bladder leaking urine.
Medications that calm your nerves so you can sleep or relax may dull the nerves in your bladder, causing you to lose the urge to use the restroom.
When should you see your doctor?
Consult your doctor if you have urinary incontinence or other symptoms of a bladder problem, such as:
- Urinating more frequently or suddenly
- Cloudy urine
- Urine containing blood
- pain while urinating
- Urinating eight or more times in a single day
- Passing only small amounts of urine after strong urges to urinate
- Having difficulty starting or urinating, or having a weak stream
If lifestyle changes are not working for you, your doctor may recommend medication, a medical device, a bulking agent, or as a last resort—surgery to treat your Urinary incontinence (UI)/Bladder Leakage.
Please don’t delay seeing or discussing your bladder control problems with your doctor, early lifestyle changes or treatment are more beneficial for your health.