Reclining Bound Angle Posev
Also referred to as Supta Baddha Konasana, it is a classic restorative Yoga pose that can work the entire pelvic floor muscles.
Why Does Our Bladder Fail Us
The bladder is like a balloon. It begins young and toned, smoth and supple. It fills and empties efficiently.
With age, after repeated filling and emptying, it loses tone and elasticity and doesnt fill and empty as efficiently.
The pelvic floor supporting the bladder can begin to weaken and sag, just like this sling. For many women, the pelvic floor never fully recovers its elasticity after pregnancy this leads to loss of bladder control.
Result: Increase in bathroom visits, a constant need to go, as wel I as leaks & accidents.
The bladder is like a balloon. It begins young and toned, smoth and supple. It fills and empties efficiently.
With age, after repeated filling and emptying, it loses tone and elasticity and doesnt fill and empty as efficiently.
The pelvic floor supporting the bladder can begin to weaken and sag, just like this sling. For many women, the pelvic floor never fully recovers its elasticity after pregnancy this leads to loss of bladder control.
Result: Increase in bathroom visits, a constant need to go, as wel I as leaks & accidents.
Read Also: Medication For A Weak Bladder
Could There Be Other Reasons I Seem To Pee All The Time
Absolutely. If, out of nowhere you develop a need to wee frequently, or it burns or stings when you pass urine, you may have a urinary tract infection . Other symptoms of a UTI include having cloudy urine and feeling like you need to pee after you just went.
If youre peeing very often and drinking excessive amounts of liquid because youre always thirsty, pay attention as these can be symptoms of diabetes.
Other conditions can also cause a frequent need to urinate. These include issues such as organ prolapse, anxiety disorders, pregnancy or bladder problems, among others. Ingesting a lot of diuretics can also increase your need to wee.
If youre concerned about how frequently you need to pee, or youre leaking urine or have other symptoms, see your GP.
And, if you do end up seeing a pelvic health physio, Samara wants you to know that having an individualised program can lead to astounding results.It literally takes 21 days to make a habit, and over that time the majority of women will notice their symptoms have significantly improved.
Dr Evelyn Lewin is a qualified GP who has completed a diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology. Along the way, she also had three kids and developed a massive coffee addiction . Nowadays, she works as a freelance writer.
Like this article? Share it with a friend!
Also Check: Do Bladder Infections Go Away On Their Own
Watch What You Eat And Keep A Food Diary
A condition called interstitial cystitis, which is much more common in women than men, can cause bladder pain, an urgent, frequent need to urinate, and sexual dysfunction. Some people find that certain foods worsen their bladder symptoms, Badlani says. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and orange juice, may be linked to flare-ups. Keep a diary of your symptoms and see if you can connect them to any foods. If you can, steer clear of these foods and see if you notice any improvement.
How To Strengthen Urinary Bladder Muscles
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day unless your doctor advises you otherwise.
Many people with urinary incontinence avoid drinking fluids, as they feel it causes more problems. However, limiting your fluid intake makes incontinence worse, because it reduces your bladders capacity.
Not drinking enough fluid can also cause constipation or make it worse.
Also Check: What To Drink To Help Bladder Infection
Also Check: Azo Bladder Control For Uti
How Is Overactive Bladder Diagnosed
A healthcare provider can diagnose overactive bladder by reviewing your symptoms and conducting a physical examination of the organs around your pelvis and rectum. They may ask you questions such as:
- What are your symptoms?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Do you have a family history of overactive bladder?
- What over-the-counter and prescription drugs do you take?
- What kinds of fluids do you drink during the day?
- What time of day do you drink certain fluids?
- What do you eat during the day?
They may also refer you to a urologist. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases and conditions that affect your urinary tract and reproductive system.
Bladder And Bowel Incontinence
Incontinence is a loss of control of a person’s bowels or bladder which can cause accidental leakage of body fluids and waste. Incontinence can be more than a physical problem. It can disrupt your quality of life if its not managed well.
Fear, anxiety, and anger are common feelings for people dealing with incontinence. You may avoid being intimate or having sex because you are afraid of urine, gas, or stool leakage. Fear of having an accident may keep you from being physically active, enjoying hobbies, or spending extended time outside your home.
Anyone can have incontinence during and after surgery or some other treatments for cancer. Incontinence can also occur because of other non-cancer medical conditions. Be sure to talk to your health care team if you have difficulty controlling urination or bowels. Talking about incontinence can be embarrassing, but being open and honest with your health care team can help manage it.
Don’t Miss: How To Stop Bladder Leakage While Exercising
How Do I Take Care Of Myself
If treatments dont work for you, or if youre waiting for them to take effect, incontinence products such as disposable pads or adult diapers can help you take control and improve your quality of life.
The following can help boost your comfort and confidence if youre wearing incontinence products:
- Change the product regularly. Changing your pads or adult diapers after a leak helps reduce odors.
- Apply a barrier ointment or lotion. Using a barrier ointment or lotion on your skin before using incontinence products helps prevent skin irritation from regular exposure to pee.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Incontinence products can be bulky and make you feel self-conscious. Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing can help hide incontinence products, so you worry less about others noticing what youre wearing.
- Wear darker clothing. Darker clothing helps hide any leaks that may occur.
Types Of Bladder Control Problems
Anyone can have bladder control problems or incontinence. Incontinence caused by cancer or cancer treatment can last a short time or a long time, and it can be mild or severe. There are different types of bladder control problems.
Stress incontinence. Urine leaks out during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
Overflow incontinence. Urine leaks out when your bladder is full.
Urge incontinence. You feel the urge to go to the bathroom right away and urine leaks before you can get to the bathroom.
Continuous incontinence. Urine leaks out constantly, and you cannot control it.
These bladder problems can make you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. Sometimes, people avoid activities they enjoy because of bladder problems. That can affect your quality of life. These are reasons why it is important to tell your health care provider about your experiences. They can help you treat incontinence. The treatment of side effects is an important part of your cancer care and treatment, called palliative care or supportive care. Talk with your health care team about how to treat or manage incontinence.
Don’t Miss: Side Effects Of Immunotherapy For Bladder Cancer
S To Bladder Training
One way to train your bladder is to extend the amount of time in between urinations. These five steps can help you achieve this type of bladder training.
Step 1: For a couple of days, document how often you urinate or leak.
Step 2: For each day, calculate the amount of time in between urinations.
Step 3: Based on the calculations, choose an interval that you can hold your urine for.
Step 4: Always empty your bladder upon awakening. Throughout the day, continue to add 15 minutes to your intervals. Continue this routine until you feel comfortable with it.
Step 5: Once youve mastered your initial training, create a new regimen by adding an additional 15 minutes to each interval.
Another form of bladder training to strengthen pelvic muscles is to stop your stream of urination while peeing. You can do this several times while youre urinating.
That motion of stopping urination can also be done when youre not urinating. This technique is called a Kegel and it can be done anytime and anywhere. Simply contract your pelvic floor muscles throughout the day in order to keep your muscles strong.
Also read:
What Are The Two Basic Methods Of Bladder Training
Bladder training requires following a fixed voiding schedule, whether or not you feel the urge to urinate. If you feel an urge to urinate before the assigned interval, you should use urge suppression techniques such as relaxation and Kegel exercises.
How long does it take for bladder training to work?
Bladder retraining can take six to 12 weeks to be successful. If youve been trying bladder training for several weeks and it still isnt working, check back in with your doctor. You might need to try other approaches, like medication or surgery. American Academy of Family Physicians: Bladder Training for Urinary Incontinence.
Read Also: How To Control Your Bladder At Night
How Do I Make My Weak Bladder Stronger
For many people with urinary incontinence, the following self-help tips and lifestyle changes are enough to relieve symptoms.
What muscle controls the urethral sphincter?
A layer of muscle called the urogenital diaphragm supplies support for the contents of the pelvis and acts as the external urethral sphincter. It provides a second means of stopping the escape of urine from the body. This sphincter is under voluntary control.
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.
Read Also: Botox Injections In Bladder Procedure Video
What Is Bladder Training
Bladder training is a way of learning to manage urinary incontinence. It helps you change your urination habits. Its generally used for stress incontinence or urge incontinence. Stress incontinence is when urine leaks because of sudden pressure on your lower stomach muscles. This could be when you cough, laugh, lift something, or exercise. Urge incontinence is when the need to urinate comes on so fast that you cant get to a toilet in time. Bladder training can also be used for a combination of the 2 types .
Bladder training can help by:
- Lengthening the amount of time between bathroom trips.
- Increasing the amount of urine your bladder can hold.
- Improving your control over the urge to urinate.
Dont Miss: What Doctor To See For Bladder Infection
Supplements For Adequate Nutrition
Developing a diet free of irritants can take some trial and error. During this time, its important to get the recommended amount of daily nutrients.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your individual nutritional needs. They can help determine the appropriate supplements for you.
You may find it beneficial to supplement your diet with a daily multivitamin or nutrition drinks. Popular nutrition drinks include shakes, such as Boost or Ensure, and formulas, such as ProNourish.
Check in with your doctor before adding a supplement or nutrition drink to your regimen. Certain ingredients may interfere with your medications or otherwise negatively impact your overall health.
Don’t Miss: Chinese Herbs For Prolapsed Bladder
Mistake : Not Emptying Fully
When youre in a rush, incomplete bladder emptying can cause issues far more problematic than taking the extra minute or so in the bathroom. Similar to urine-holding, incomplete bladder emptying allows a reservoir of urine to collect that can potentially cause urinary infections. It can also increase the odds of developing another painful problembladder stones, which are salt crystals that sometimes form when urinary concentration or stasis develops.
Incomplete emptying isnt something you are always aware you’re doing, but its a good idea to make an effort to ensure you are emptying your bladder, says Dr. Brito. He says this is a particular problem for older men with prostate issues. For them, incomplete bladder emptying can lead to a smaller functional bladder capacity and subsequent urinary frequency and urgency problems.
Often as men get older, they will not completely empty their bladder. The problem there is, if your bladder’s full and you empty it halfway and then drink fluids like you normally would, it fills up more quickly, says Dr. Brito.
Sometimes educating patients to take their time in the bathroom and ensure their bladder is as empty as possible can help, says Dr. Brito. Other times, patients may need medications or surgery to help the bladder empty better.
Make Regular And Controlled Visits
Double void is another approach to dealing with OAB. This technique involves relieving yourself and then, a few minutes later, going again. This deliberate approach to bathroom visits helps you to make sure that after passing urine a second time, your bladder is mostly or completely empty. The main benefit of this approach is that you can avoid having to return to the bathroom just a few minutes after your initial visit, which is both a nuisance and sometimes embarassing.
Don’t Miss: Bladder Infection Back Pain Right Side
Learn How To Do Kegel Exercises To Prevent Urinary Incontinence
Kegel exercises are done to strengthen the muscles that allow for better bladder control. Weak muscles can contribute to urine leakage, called urinary incontinence. But most people do Kegels the wrong way, Badlani says. If you’re having bladder control issues, talk to your doctor or a specialist who can teach you how to properly do these exercises.
Medical Treatments For An Overactive Bladder
Depending on how successful they were and the strength of your condition, your doctor may recommend that you continue with the above treatments and return for another check-up after a specific period of time.
However, if they decide, usually in consultation with the patient, that medical treatment may be beneficial or necessary, they may choose to prescribe one or multiple medical treatments, some of which are detailed below.
Also Check: Bcg Efficacy For Bladder Cancer
Anticholinergic Drugs For Overactive Bowel
This particular class of medication is used to control the muscle spasms that lead to overactive bladder. Anticholinergic drugs focus on blocking the nerve signals that typically trigger inopportune bladder contractions, reduce the frequency, and the severity of your urge to urinate.
There are several anticholinergic drugs to choose from and they all require a doctors prescription. Most people have very favourable reactions to anticholinergics, though there are a few possible side effects which may include dry mouth, constipation, increased heartbeat and/or drowsiness.
Medications To Strengthen Weak Bladder:
You might require medications to strengthen weak bladder, especially if other ways of treatment do not work. Antimuscarinics or anticholinergics are the medications used for treating weak bladder. These medicines block some nerve impulses to the bladder, which helps in relaxing the muscles of your bladder, ultimately increasing the capacity of your bladder.
These medications work better if they are taken along with the combination of bladder training. One common plan is that you can try one course of these medication for at least 30 days and if you find them useful, you might be advised by your doctor to continue the same for about 6 months and then after stop them altogether so as to see how you experience the symptoms without the medication.
Recommended Reading: Can You Have A Fever With A Bladder Infection
Avoid Tobacco To Help Prevent Bladder Cancer
Every year, more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Tobacco use is a major risk factor, Badlani warns: Smokers are at least three times as likely to get bladder cancer as nonsmokers. If you’re still smoking or using other forms of tobacco, it’s important to stop for bladder health and other reasons as well. Talk to your doctor about how to quit smoking.
How To Do The Male Kegel Exercises
*Male Kegel exercise is best done after emptying your bladder. * Tighten the muscles you located above and hold for 3 to 5 seconds, or as long as you can at first. As these muscles get stronger, you will able to hold them longer. * Relax for 3 to 5 seconds or for as long as you tightened the muscles, then repeat. * Breathe normally. * Do 5 to 7 exercises at a time, 3 times a day minimum. As you get stronger, increase up to 15 exercises at a time, 4 times a day. * In addition for more advanced exercises, you might consider incorporating a series of quick flexes into this routine of long flexes. For example, perform 30 quick rapidly. Then 1 long contraction for as long as you can. Then repeat. Add more repetitions as you get stronger. * The key, as with any physical training, is to set up a consistent routine and to perform the exercise properly.
Read Also: Natural Remedies For Bladder Spasms
Recommended Reading: How To Detect Bladder Cancer Early