Can Weak Bladder Muscles Be Fixed

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Your pelvic floor muscles surround the bladder and urethra and control the flow of urine as you pee.

Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles can cause urinary incontinence, so exercising these muscles is often recommended.

A GP may refer you to a specialist to start a programme of pelvic floor muscle training.

The specialist will assess whether you’re able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and by how much.

If you can contract your pelvic floor muscles, you’ll be given an exercise programme based on your assessment.

Your programme should include a minimum of 8 muscle contractions at least 3 times a day and last for at least 3 months. If the exercises are helping after this time, you can keep on doing them.

Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training can benefit everyone with urinary incontinence.

Find out more about pelvic floor exercises.

What Bladder Control Problems Can Men Have

The way men urinate changes slowly as they get older, so at first men may not notice there is a problem. The usual changes include:

• Difficulty or delay in starting to urinate. This is common with ageing, and with prostate problems. It can also be due to shyness when using a public toilet this affects about 3 in every 10 men, who have no problems passing urine in private.
• Stopping and starting in the middle of urinating.
• After finishing, a bit more urine trickles out. After the flow stops and the man has adjusted his clothes, a few more drops can come out and can cause a wet patch on the trousers. This is due to urine pooling in the urethra . It can be prevented by making sure there is nothing pressing on the genital area, like tight clothing or zips. The drips can be helped by carrying out 2 or 3 pelvic floor muscle contractions after you have finished. This will help ensure that your urethra is emptied.
• A feeling of not quite having emptied the bladder.
• Men may experience the need to urinate more often than usual or the sudden urge to urinate

Can Urinary Incontinence Be Reversed

The term urinary incontinence describes when a person cannot control their urination, to the point that they wet themselves. It can also cause frequent dribbling throughout the day and night. Although urinary incontinence is a common problem, it can be frustrating and embarrassing for those who suffer from it.

If your doctor has recently informed you that you have a form of urinary incontinence or you just suspect it, you may be wondering if the problem will ever go away. The good news about this issue is that you may be able to fully reverse it or at least reduce your symptoms. We describe some of the most common treatment methods for urinary incontinence below.

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Symptoms Of Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction

The symptoms of a pelvic floor dysfunction include:

• leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing or running
• failing to reach the toilet in time
• passing wind from either the anus or vagina when bending over or lifting
• reduced sensation in the vagina
• tampons that dislodge or fall out
• a distinct bulge at the vaginal opening
• a sensation of heaviness in the vagina
• a heaviness or dragging in the pelvis or back
• recurrent urinary tract infections, or recurrent thrush
• vulval pain, pain with sex, inability to orgasm.

Absorbency Products Can Help

No matter how fast you can run, sometimes that bathroom is just a little bit too far in the distance. Dont let yourself get caught in an embarrassing situation There is a wide range of products available that are discreet and comfortable.

Incontinence products excel in their absorbency and wont leak or become lumpy when they get wet. They help control odor and minimize contact between urine and your skin, preventing the development of a rash or other irritation.

Many incontinence products are available, from discrete pads with little bulk that can be slipped into underwear, to disposable adult-sized underwear with in-built absorbency and easy-tear sides. Gender-specific products account for the different requirements of men and women, and there are many reusable and washable options available.

Common brands include Attends, Because, Tena, Tranquility, Depend, Prevail and Poise.

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Familiarising Yourself With The Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles. Each section can be exercised. You can familiarise yourself with these muscles in order to contract them at will. If the pelvic floor is especially weak, it may be difficult to detect any muscle action at first.

It is very important to feel a full release of the muscles, and these muscles are quite circular – sometimes it is good to imagine the release as being ripples in a pond feeling the muscles release and open.To identify your sphincters:

• vaginal insert one or two fingers into your vagina and try to squeeze them
• urethral imagine you are passing urine and try stopping the flow in midstream
• anal pretend you are trying to stop yourself from passing wind and squeeze tightly.

Quick Answer: What Doctor Can Repair A Prolapsed Bladder

• How long can a pessary be left in?

If you plan to have pelvic prolapse surgery, youll want a highly qualified experienced doctor to perform the procedure. While obstetrician-gynecologists commonly perform pelvic prolapse surgeries, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeons specialize in these types of surgeries.

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More Fluids Are Consumed

Drinking plenty of fluid is essential if you wish to maintain your bladder in good condition. The most popular kind that fluid can be found is called water. There is no alternative to water. It has also been proven medically that drinking water has a lot of health advantages. Drink at least ten glasses, or approximately three liters, of water per throughout the day to alleviate the problem of a weak bladder naturally. But, if youre already suffering from other health conditions, like heart or kidney issues, seek advice from a doctor prior to increasing your water intake

Tip: Do not drink water or any other fluids prior to the time you go to bed. Drink plenty during the entire day in order to ensure you stay well-hydrated. Make sure you have a gap of minimum four hours before you go to go to bed.

Exercises Your Leaky Bladder Wants You To Do

There are exercises for your butt, your legs, your arms, your spare tire, even your ever-texting achy thumbs. So considering the bladder itself is a muscleand it’s surrounded by other musclesit makes sense that you can whip that puppy into shape, too.

Of course, unless you already have the occasional leakage due to aging, genetics, or childbirth, you might not focus much exercise attention on your bladder. But strengthening those down-there muscles can stop so-called stress incontinence in its tracks, says Candace Howe, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn in private practice in Newport Beach, California. “Who wants to undergo surgery?” Howe says. “I’m a surgeon, and I tell my patients I wouldn’t want to! If we can fix incontinence with exercise, that’s preferable.”

When Suzanne Andrews, host of Functional Fitness, was experiencing urinary incontinence after the birth of her son, her doctor told her to consider surgery. As an occupational therapy clinician, Suzanne was seeing patients with the same symptoms and realized her exercise background could help. She created the 30 Day Bladder Fix, a pelvic floor strengthening DVD that combines seated and lying-down exercises to help control incontinence. “I remember the day I realized I didn’t have it anymore,” Andrews says. “I sneezed and nothing came out!”

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Home Remedy For A Weak Bladder

The bladder in the urinary system is a vital organ within our body. Storing urine is among the primary roles that this body organ performs. It is also helpful in controlling the frequency of urination as well. The organ functions equally for adults and, also the children. The significance and vitality of this organ is equal to both genders regardless of age. If someone experiences weak bladder, prompt care and treatment is required.

The question is which method is the most effective? Do you have a home remedy available for weak bladder? Are you aware of ways to treat weak bladder on your own? What are the signs of weak bladder? This article will address all your questions and point out the most effective remedy at home for a weak bladder that will solve the issue naturally.

Through the years, Urologists are concerned about the presence of a specific disorder related with our Urinary Bladder. Medically, it is known as Overactive Bladder or OAB. It is often referred to the weakening of bladder issue. If a person is diagnosed with OAB, it can be difficult to recognize. It is because there is a commonality to the symptoms experienced by a person with OAB as well as patients suffering from ovarian cystsdiabetes kidney stones, and many more.

It is typical to misinterpret a weak bladder issue. If it is detected and treatment are not taken care of can cause serious complications. The good news is that there are home remedies and natural remedies for treating a weak bladder.

What Is A Bladder Management Program

Bladder training with patient education is an essential component of neurogenic bladder dysfunction management to ensure regular and adequate emptying of the bladder either with a voiding schedule, clean self intermittent catheterization, which is the preferred method of bladder emptying in spinal cord injury or

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What Causes Bladder Leaks

There are two main types of urinary incontinence:

Stress incontinence

If you have this type, activities that raise the pressure inside your abdomen cause urine to leak through the ring of muscle in your bladder that normally holds it in. Coughing, sneezing, jumping and lifting heavy objects could lead to a leak.

Going through childbirth, smoking or being overweight can raise the risk of stress incontinence for women, Wright says. Stress incontinence in men is rare, and when it arises, its often due to prostate cancer treatment, such as radiation or surgery.

Urge incontinence

With this type, your brain, spinal cord and bladder dont work together properly to allow you to hold and release urine at the right time. Your bladder may suddenly empty itself without warning. Or you may feel like you need to urinate frequently, a problem called overactive bladder.

Some diseases that affect the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis or stroke, can cause this kind of incontinence, says Wright. In men, an enlarged prostate may be the culprit. But in many cases, doctors dont know what causes urge incontinence.

It is possible to have both types of incontinence at the same time.

TRY IT: Keep Records

Your doctor will want to know as much as possible about your bladder leakswhen they occur, how much urine comes out, and what youre doing when leaks happen. Consider keeping a diary of when you urinate and when you have leaks, recommends Wright.

Can You Fix A Cystocele Without Surgery

In mild cases, non-surgical treatments may be all that is needed to successfully deal with a cystocele. When surgery is performed for more serious cases, some women will eventually need another surgery because the first surgery failed, the cystocele returned or another pelvic floor problem developed.

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Small Lifestyle Changes Can Make A Big Difference

Several factors that can help eliminate or improve urinary incontinence are within your control. For example, losing weight if youre overweight helps to take some of the excess pressure off your bladder. This can significantly help your incontinence! Other things to consider include:

• Exercise regularly: Just 30 minutes of daily exercise has shown to improve urinary incontinence in some studies according to the Mayo Clinic.
• Manage medications: Certain medications such as antihistamines, anti-depressants, diuretics, heart medication, high blood pressure medication, muscle relaxants, and sedatives can all increase urinary incontinence. Talk to your doctor about an alternative if taking one of these aggravates your symptoms.
• Stop smoking: This is especially important if you develop a chronic cough since that problem tends to make urinary incontinence worse.

Can Overactive Bladder Be Controlled

Overactive bladder therapy can be challenging to manage. However, many people are very satisfied with the treatment they receive and they often see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Your doctor will guide you to the best steps to begin with and give you options for any additional treatments you may need over time.

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Do Pelvic Floor Exercises If Female

Your urinary sphincter and pelvic floor muscles help you control urination. These muscles help to support the bladder and activities you perform every day such as standing, walking, and lifting. When they become weak, you can help them regain strength by completing certain exercises.

To complete a Kegel floor exercise, squeeze those muscles as if youre trying to prevent yourself from urinating for approximately three seconds. You should then stop for three seconds and repeat the process several times. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should plan to do this at least three or four times a day. If that isnt effective, your urologist might recommend biofeedback to train the muscles of your pelvic floor, which may require a specialized pelvic floor

Bladder Control Problems And The Prostate

The prostate is a gland found only in men. It is about the size of a walnut and is located below the neck of the bladder, surrounding the bladder outlet or urethra. Because the prostate gland is located close to the outlet of the bladder, it is common for problems with the male prostate gland to also affect urinary processes.Urinary problems which start in middle age are often caused by the prostate gland getting larger as a man ages and partially blocking the flow of urine through the urethra as it leaves the bladder. This causes a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia . Other causes of prostate-related urinary conditions include prostatitis or prostate cancer.

Read more about common prostate conditions

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Solutions For A Leaky Bladder

Research has found that at least half of people with urinary incontinence dont discuss the condition with a health care provider. But theres no need to feel embarrassed. If you have a leaky bladder, youre definitely not alone. Bladder leakage, or urinary incontinence, affects women and men of all ages, though it becomes more common later in life.

And its definitely worth discussing, because of the many ways it can interfere with enjoying daily lifefrom exercise and travel to social outings and romance, says E. James Wright, M.D., director of urology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Carefully Manage Your Fluid Intake

Drinking too much fluid puts pressure on your bladder, and makes you need to urinate. Drinking too little means your urine becomes concentrated, which irritates your bladder, and leads to urinary urgency.

However, it’s important to maintain your fluid intake to avoid dehydration. You can drink slowly and throughout the day to maintain adequate hydration.

• Aim to drink four to eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day.
• Look at your urine and aim for a light yellow color. Dark urine is a sign that you are not drinking enough. Colorless urine is a sign of drinking too much.
• Try to drink only during the day and stop a couple of hours before you go to bed.
• Drink mainly water avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks night.

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Other Types Of Urinary Incontinence

• Overflow incontinence This occurs when a person is unable to empty their bladder completely and it overflows as new urine is produced. It’s often found in people with diabetes or spinal cord injuries.
• Mixed incontinence You show evidence of more than one type.
• Functional incontinence This type of incontinence has less to do with a bladder disorder and more to do with the logistics of getting to a bathroom in time. It’s usually found in elderly or disabled people who have normal or near normal bladder control but cannot get to the toilet in time because of mobility limitations or confusion.
• Nocturia The need to urinate twice or more during the night, usually affecting men and women over the age of 60. In men, nocturia can be a symptom of an enlarged prostate.

Common Bladder Problems And When To Seek Help

Bladder problems can disrupt day-to-day life. When people have bladder problems, they may avoid social settings and have a harder time getting tasks done at home or at work. Common bladder problems include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention.

Some signs of a bladder problem may include:

• Inability to hold urine or leaking urine
• Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently
• Cloudy urine
• Pain or burning before, during, or after urinating
• Trouble starting or having a weak stream while urinating
• Trouble emptying the bladder

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your health care provider.

Treatment for bladder problems may include behavioral and lifestyle changes, exercises, medications, surgery, or a combination of these treatments and others. For more information on treatment and management of urinary incontinence, visit Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults.

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