Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing problem for many women. There are a variety of things that could be causing this issue and for many, the thought of heading to a doctor to discuss it is the last thing that they want to do.
The truth is, speaking to your doctor usually is the best approach to take, as they will be able to make recommendations for changes that you can make in order to make the issue better. But what about right now? What helps women deal with incontinence? Let’s take a look at a few of the ways.
Products designed to help
When it comes to incontinence in women, there are a few different products out there that you can try to help with the issue. In the most part the products from places such as HARTMANN Direct are designed to help with leaks and can ensure that you feel comfortable and protected throughout the day and no matter what is happening with your body.
Pelvic floor exercises
There are a group of muscles in your pelvis that are designed and dedicated to helping you hold in your urine. These are known as your pelvic floor. Your pelvic floor, over time, can become weakened, which means that your body isn’t as good at holding in your urine as it used to be. There are a number of reasons for this happening, pregnancy is possibly one of the most common ones.
Just like any other muscle in your body, if you work on your pelvic floor, then you can make it stronger. You need to try an exercise called a Kegel and in order to do it you need to make sure that you contract and hold the muscles within your pelvic floor, just as you would if you were holding in a wee.
Drinking the right amount of the right liquids
Accidents are much more likely to happen if you have a full bladder, however, this doesn’t mean that you should cut back on how much you drink. In fact, drinking less than is recommended can mean that the urine that your body makes actually irritates the lining of our bladder which creates more of a sense of urgency.
You should always aim for 6 to 8 glasses of liquid everyday, however, caffeine and alcohol should be avoided as much as possible as this will make your body produce more urine and exasperate the issue.
Set a bathroom schedule
If your bladder doesn’t have anything in it, then you are going to be significantly cutting down your chances of having an accident. Therefore, it makes sense to urinate as often as you can, and definitely before you have the urge to go. We recommend that you set a bathroom schedule of every 2 ½ hours, however, it really does depend on how frequently you normally have to go.
Over time, you may find that this “bladder training” can help you to go longer between trips to the toilet, which will leave you feeling better and having less accidents.
Losing weight
Being overweight is one of the common reasons that women suffer with incontinence, therefore, it makes sense that losing weight is going to help with this issue. Not only this, but there are also a variety of other great reasons why you should try to lose weight, mainly as it will help you to improve your overall health, not just your pelvic floor.
Avoid certain foods
Not only do certain drinks have an impact on the activity within your bladder, but certain foods do too. Which means that it is a good idea to try and avoid them as much as you can. Unfortunately, these foods include chocolate, as well as citrus fruits, which isn’t always the best news to hear. However, everyone is different and not only can the foods which cause irritation vary, but the amount that they are eaten in can vary too. Which is good news for all those chocolate (and orange) lovers out there.
It is true that incontinence isn’t the nicest thing to have to deal with and that it can be incredibly embarrassing too. However, it is important to remember, that just like many medical issues, there are things that you can do to help things to improve. The first step is to talk about your problem, in doing this you are not only going to get the advice that you need, but you will also be surprised to learn just how many other people out there are finding that they have the same problem.
This is a collaborative post.
