Tips for adults
Tips against urine leakage
- Do not walk around unnecessarily with your problem, bladder training can really help (you can be referred by your GP);
- Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. You can do this by carrying out various exercises. You can ask the pelvic floor therapist or physiotherapist for advice;
- Try to drink at least 1 to 2 litres of fluid every day, it does not just have to be water. Be aware that caffeine, alcohol and soft drinks are diuretic, which means they encourage you to go to the toilet;
- Look after your condition - half an hour of exercise each day is already enough;
- There is a link between being overweight and incontinence. If you suffer from both, it is best to consult your doctor to find out whether being overweight may be linked to your incontinence problem.
Incontinence is not a disease in itself; however, it is a symptom of a loss of function of certain body functions. We are unable to provide a comprehensive overview of all the medical factors, but we can provide a summary of various causes.
- Stress incontinence is incontinence due to exertion - such as coughing, lifting, sex, sports, laughing. One in four women over the age of 35 suffer from this. In cases of stress incontinence, the sphincter and/or pelvic floor muscles do not work properly. The main cause for this is a weakness of the pelvic floor due to a genetic predisposition, pregnancy or hormonal changes. The initial treatment of stress incontinence is usually aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor through physiotherapy.
- Urge incontinence is a form of incontinence where one feels the urge to urinate, but the urine flows immediately. In other words, an over-active bladder. What actually happens is that the bladder contracts at times when it is not required. This can be the result of underlying physical or psychological causes. If the balance between the bladder and the valve mechanism is disturbed, the bladder can involuntarily squeeze together (unstable bladder). A psychological factor may be that one is fixated on urination and wanting to go to the toilet at the slightest signs of pressure.
- Overflow incontinence is characterised by the involuntary loss of droplets of urine. The cause in men can be an enlargement of the prostate, which can cause an obstruction of the urethra.
- In neurological disorders, the nervous system is affected, and control of the bladder muscles can totally disappear. Other brain abnormalities (e.g., mentally handicapped or dementia) can cause this type of urinary incontinence.
Typical complaints with constipation
- You often feel the need to go to the toilet, but nothing comes out;
- You often suffer from stomach ache (abdominal cramps);
- You produce small streams of watery stool, diarrhoea, after you have not been to the toilet for a while.
Health tips for the intestines
- Do not delay your visit to the toilet, this will only make the stool harder;
- Did you know that the intestine is most active 15 minutes after a meal, which makes it the perfect time to go to the toilet;
- Laxatives come in all forms, and many different products contain laxative substances. For example, plums, linseed (delicious with yoghurt) and coffee (within limits). Drinking enough water (1.5 litres per day) is also very important;
- Eat sufficient amounts of fibre (dry fibre can be found in your local supermarket and it can be added to many different dishes; it is tasteless and you can then be sure you are getting enough fibre). The fibre encourages the intestines into additional activity. You will need to drink plenty of water.
Did you know?
- 1 in 4 women experience bladder weakness;
- For men over 50 years of age, 1 in 10 suffer from bladder weakness. Usually, this is due to an enlargement of the prostate, or a urinary tract disorder, or following surgery on the prostate;