Urinary incontinence is a condition, which impacts a lot of people’s lives. In case of incontinence, you might experience bladder control problems as well as leaking urine. The leakage is generally uncontrollable and could negatively affect your life. Urinary incontinence happens when the urinary system doesn’t work as it should. It can happen due to many reasons.
Causes
There are various cases when you experience incontinence. These causes may depend on your gender if you are a man or a woman. Some of the causes are temporary while some are permanent. The main causes of urinary incontinence include:
- Limited intake of Beverages
- Constipation
- Diabetes
- Enlarged Prostate
- Medicines
- Menopause
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pregnancy
- Stroke
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Symptoms
The key symptom of urine incontinence is urine leakage. It might be continuous dripping of urine or occasional leakage experience. You may experience leakage for many reasons:
- Cough
- Exercise
- Have the desire to urinate, but can’t reach the toilet on time.
- Laugh
- Need to get up in the middle of the night to urinate
- Sneeze
Diagnosis
Usually, the diagnosis procedure starts with a discussion with your doctor about the medical history as well as bladder control problems you have. For diagnosis, you need to undergo:
- Bladder Ultrasound
- Cystoscopy
- Physical Examination
- Stress Test
- Urine Samples
- Urodynamic Testing
How to Prevent Urinary Incontinence?
Usually, you can’t prevent problems of bladder control like Urinary Incontinence however, good habits may keep the bladder healthy.
- Healthy Diet
Healthy eating links may prevent different factors, which increase your chances of creating UI like diabetes and obesity. Although no scientific evidence is there that nutrition makes the UI worse or better. You should avoid food like alcohol, chocolate, spicy foods, high-acid foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated, caffeinated, as well as citrus beverages as they might contribute to bladder inflammation and irritation.
- Drink Enough Fluids
Drink enough fluids so that you require to urinate every few hours. See what’s normal and avoid dehydration. The urine needs to be pale yellow in case you drink enough liquids. Water is the best option. Although if you have heart failure or kidney failure, it’s not advised to drink too much water.
- Avoid Constipation
Constipation could make the health of the urinary tract worse as well as may result in UI. To stop constipation, eat a lot of high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and drink sufficient water; as well as stay physically active. Medications that healthcare experts use for treating UI like anticholinergics have many side effects including constipation.
- Change Bathroom Habits
Go to the bathroom immediately when you have to. Usually, people hold the urine and go at their convenient time. However, frequently holding urine may tire out the bladder muscles. It may lead to a bladder infection and bladder infections may cause UI.
- Controlled Weight
Losing weight can improve the UI, as well a healthy weight might prevent UI. In case, you’re overweight, discuss with your healthcare expert how to lose weight by eating healthy. Managing diabetes and obesity might lessen UI, particularly in women.
- Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is good for bladder health as well as overall health. Smoking increases your probability of increasing stress incontinence, as smoking creates coughing. Smoking is the result of most bladder cancers. Smoking irritates the bladder to make matters worse.
- Regularly Do Pelvic Muscle Exercises
Pelvic floor muscles assist in holding urine in the bladder. Also known as Kegel exercises, these can make the muscles stronger as well as assist in keeping urine from leakage when you cough, sneeze, lift or laugh. Both men, as well as women, could benefit from these pelvic floor exercises.
It’s not possible to completely treat Urinary Incontinence however, you can certainly prevent it by following these tips.