How Do I Do Kegel Exercises
To do Kegels:
If you are uncomfortable or uncertain about doing Kegel exercises on your own, a doctor or nurse can also teach you how to do Kegels. A pelvic floor physical therapist or other specialist may also be available in your area to help teach you how to strengthen these muscles.
Limiting The Impact Of The Diuretic Effect Of Alcohol
The only way to avoid the diuretic effect of alcohol is not to drink any at all. So to avoid having to pee so frequently, limit the amount of alcohol you drink. And to avoid becoming dehydrated, make sure you replace lost fluids with water.
To keep risks from alcohol low, stick to the UK Chief Medical Officers low risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units a week and taking several drink-free days every week.
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How Is Incontinence Treated
There are many different factors that your healthcare provider will consider when creating a treatment plan for your incontinence. The type of incontinence and the ways it affects your life are both big considerations. Your provider will also talk to you about the type of treatment you are most comfortable with. There are three main types of treatment you can explore for incontinence medications, lifestyle changes and surgery. Each option has pros and cons that your provider will discuss with you.
Medications to treat incontinence
There are quite a few medications that can reduce leakage. Some of these drugs stabilize the muscle contractions that cause problems with an overactive bladder. Other medications actually do the opposite thing relaxing muscles to allow your bladder to empty completely. Hormone replacement therapies can often involving replacing estrogen thats decreased during menopause may also help restore normal bladder function.
In many cases, medications can work very well to return normal function to the bladder. Your provider will carefully select a medication that matches your specific needs. Often, your provider will start you on a low dose of the medication and then increase it slowly. This is done to try and reduce your risks of side effects and to keep track of how well the medication is working to treat your incontinence.
Common medications that can be used to treat incontinence include:
Lifestyle changes to manage incontinence
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Tips For Getting Your Groove Back
There are some things you can do to ward off discomfort or embarrassment during sex.
Talk about it. First, know that your partner will probably be a lot more understanding than you expect. Then bring it up before you have intercourse. âDonât wait until it happens and say, âOh, guess what?ââ Denson says. âItâs better to be upfront and honest ahead of time.â
Plan. Prepare for sex, just as you do for bedtime. Double-void, cut back on fluids, and avoid foods and beverages that are likely to irritate your bladder.
Keep up the Kegels. Doing these several times a day — and even during intercourse — will help prevent urine leakage during sex.
All of these approaches can help you manage your overactive bladder at night, letting you get a better nightâs sleep and have a more active and satisfying sex life. But Sanz adds that if your overactive bladder is really causing you problems, thereâs no reason you need to live with it.
âThere is hope. There is treatment,â he says. You need to be evaluated by a urogynecologist, who will talk to you about three types of treatment: behavioral modification, medication, and surgical procedures are available, he says. âYou donât have to let an overactive bladder interfere with your life.â
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Symptoms And Risks For Male Incontinence
The symptoms vary depending on what type of urinary incontinence you experience. Here is a look at the more common signs that you could be dealing with UI.
- A sudden, urgent need to urinate
- A sudden leakage of urine
- A urine stream that starts and stops when you urinate
- A weak urine stream
- The need to strain while urinating
- A sense that the bladder is not empty
- Leaking urine while sleeping
In addition to the risk factors mentioned above, there are other influences that can impact a mans chances of experiencing urinary incontinence. For example, lifestyle choices can contribute to UI. We already mentioned obesity, but smoking tobacco has also been linked to an increased risk of urinary incontinence. Caffeinated and carbonated drinks, as well as alcohol, have also been associated with a higher incidence of UI. Men also have to be careful about diuretics or medicines that relax the bladder, such as anticholinergics and antidepressants. Other prescriptions, like sedatives and calcium channel blockers, have been associated with UI, and so have non-prescription diet, allergy, and cold medicines.
Certain diseases and health conditions put men at a higher risk of urinary incontinence, including the following:
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Surgical Treatment For Adult Bedwetting
The involvement of surgery when attempting to treat severe detrusor overactivity is limited and should only be considered when all other less invasive treatment options have proven to be unsuccessful. All of the procedures mentioned below have associated risks that must be considered and discussed with a healthcare professional.
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Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Sacral nerve roots are stimulated by neuromodulation, a process where neurotransmitters control various neuron groups. This increases the external sphincter tone causing the detrusor muscle neurons to stop activity. When detrusor muscle neurons have a decreased activity level the muscle will not contract constantly, which ultimately causes less frequent urination episodes. SNS is recommended for people with moderate to severe urge incontinence and for whom other treatments have not been helpful or for whom prescriptions are contraindicated.
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Clam Cystoplasty. This is a surgical treatment where the bladder is cut open and a patch of intestine is placed in between the two halves. The goal of this procedure is to reduce bladder instability and increase bladder capacity.
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Detrusor Myectomy. This process is also known as autoaugmentation that involves removing a portion or all of the exterior muscle surrounding the bladder. It intends to strengthen bladder contractions while reducing the number of them.
Losing Weight May Help To Improve Your Bladder Control
Excess weight puts extra stress on your pelvic floor muscles and contributes to an overactive bladder and loss of bladder control. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, it will help with bladder control.
The best weight loss plans are always those that set realistic goals combined with healthy eating habits and physical activity. Fad diets, although often successful short-term, rarely achieve sustainable weight loss, because once you tire of the diet, you often revert to ingrained unhealthy eating habits.
Check out our Obesity and Weight Loss guide for more information.
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Nocturia: Frequent Night Urination Causes & Treatment
Nocturia is a condition that causes sleep disruption as a result from frequent urination at night. Learn more about its causes and treatment options.
Bladder leakage at night can happen whether or not you feel the urge to go, so you may not always know beforehand that you have to use the bathroom. This means you may even wake up to wet sheets. Use this guide to better understand Nocturia, what causes those frequent urges to use the restroom at night, and how to prevent or treat the symptoms of nocturia.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Nocturnal Urination
The next few sections will cover some of the most common causes for incontinence in dogs. Well go over each one in-depth so you can have a better idea what your dog might be going through. There are different types of urinary incontinence to consider.
When your dog is sleeping, and you notice a small puddle where they might be laying, its important to get to the bottom of it. They may have a psychological or medical condition that needs attention. With that in mind, lets take a look at some of these causes so you can get your fur baby some help as quickly as possible.
Old Age and Hormone Levels
One of the primary causes of incontinence in dogs is age. Dogs can start to develop these issues as they enter middle age and beyond. Its important to understand that the aging process is different for various dog breeds. A smaller breed, like a toy poodle or Shih Tzu, will usually live longer than a large breed. So, when your dog becomes a senior can be largely based on their life expectancy.
But, as dogs age incontinence can become more of a problem. This is due to a drop in reproductive hormones. These sexual reproductive hormones also help to control the bladder. As they lower, so does that control. It most often occurs when the older dog has been spayed or neutered, but it can happen to any aging canine.
Spaying and Neutering
Stress Incontinence
Dogs can become stressed for many different reasons. Some of the most common ones include:
- Whining and barking
- Bladder infection
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Who Is More Likely To Develop Bladder Control Problems
Factors that make you more likely to develop UI include
- being olderas you age, your urinary tract muscles weaken, making it harder to hold in urine
- life events, such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause in women and prostate problems in men
- health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, or long-lasting constipation
- birth defects that involve a problem with the structure of the urinary tract
Your health care professional can help find the cause of your bladder control problems and talk with you about your options for treatment.
You are more likely to have a particular type of UI if a family member has that same type of UI. For example, bedwetting often runs in families, and children may outgrow the problem at about the same age their parents did.
Living With Bowel Or Bladder Incontinence
There is no single, right way to cope with bladder or bowel incontinence. The challenge is to find what is best for your situation, so you can get the help you need and return to a normal daily life. Talk with your health care team if you notice a change in bowel or bladder habits, and about the best ways to manage incontinence, if it is a problem. You might find it helpful to talk with other people who are dealing with incontinence, too. Ask a member of your cancer care team about support groups in your area.
Here are some things you can do that may help make incontinence less of a problem:
- Empty your bladder every 3 to 4 hours while awake, to avoid accidents.
- Empty your bladder before bedtime or before strenuous activity.
- Limit drinks with caffeine, or and avoid alcohol and citrus juices, which can irritate the bladder and make you have to go more often.
- Avoid hygiene products that may irritate you Women should avoid feminine spray or over-the-counter vaginal suppositories.
- Because belly fat can push on the bladder, avoiding weight gain or losing needed weight sometimes helps improve bladder control.
- Avoid tobacco use which can cause coughing and bladder irritation due to harmful substances in tobacco products.
- Talk to your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements youre taking. Some may affect urine control.
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Alcohol And Carbonated Drinks
People who suffer from incontinence should limit their alcohol intake. It interrupts with your thinking. If you drink alcohol until you blackout you might also not feel micturition. Alcohol also aids urine production in the body, which can lead to more frequent urge of urination. Even carbonated drinks can be a major cause behind urinary incontinence.
What About Breaking The Seal
Breaking the seal is a term used for the first time a person pees when theyre drinking alcohol.
Some people believe when a person breaks the seal, it makes them pee more frequently. As a result, they try to hold out on peeing until they absolutely have to go.
Theres no research to support the idea that breaking the seal is a real thing. Instead, doctors propose the theory may be more of a mental suggestion to a person when drinking.
If you think breaking the seal makes you pee more, youll probably start thinking about going to the bathroom more, and therefore pee more frequently.
Generally, its not a good idea to resist the urge to urinate when you feel like you need to go. Holding it in repeatedly can increase your risk for urinary tract infections and affect your bladder-brain connection that signals when you need to pee.
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So Can I Drink With Overactive Bladder
I would not recommend it. I suggest not drinking alcohol, especially if an underlying health problem is present or if medications to manage overactive bladder are being used. Talk with your health care provider to see what he or she recommends if you have questions.
In my opinion, the benefits of drinking are outweighed by the risks for most people who have an overactive bladder.
An Extra Precaution To Prevent Accidents
Of course, drinking too much alcohol isnt healthy, especially if its affecting your ability to hold your urine on a regular basis. If you have an occasional extra drink or two, there are a few ways to reduce your risk of wetting the bed while you sleep.
- Avoid caffeine before a night out. If you know a night of drinking is in store, avoid extra caffeinated beverages throughout the day or limit the amount of liquids.
- Switch from large quantities to smaller ones. Instead of that pitcher of beer, consider a gin and tonic or other mixed drink.
- Make an extra trip to the bathroom right before bed. Be sure to void your bladder completely right before hitting the pillow.
- Set a middle-of-the-night alarm. You may find that limiting fluids and avoiding caffeine doesnt help. If you still arent able to reliably hold your urine until morning after a night out, Dr. Ulchaker recommends setting a wake-up call during the night to control bed-wetting. This may be annoying, but if it prevents you from waking up in a wet bed, it may be worth it.
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When Is Enuresis A Problem
Many children may have enuresis from time to time. It can take some children longer than others to learn to control their bladder. Girls often have bladder control before boys. Because of this, enuresis is diagnosed in girls earlier than in boys. Girls may be diagnosed as young as age 5. Boys are not diagnosed until at least age 6.
Managing Bladder Or Urinary Incontinence
Sometimes urinary incontinence can last a short time, depending on what’s causing it. But sometimes incontinence can be long-term and uncomfortable, making some everyday activities difficult to manage.
Your health care team will ask you questions to determine the type of bladder incontinence you might have. Then, you might need tests to verify the type and learn the cause of it which will help them know the best way to manage it.
- Pelvic floor muscle strengthening may be recommended. A physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor muscle exercises can help. This might help muscle strength and bladder control get better by doing exercises that tighten and relax muscles that control the flow of urine.
- Bladder training canhelp manage how often you need to urinate throughout the day, by assigning certain time intervals to empty your bladder.
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What Is Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. In children under age 3, its normal to not have full bladder control. As children get older, they become more able to control their bladder. When wetting happens in a child who is old enough to control his or her bladder, its known as enuresis. Enuresis can happen during the day or at night. Enuresis can be frustrating. But its important to be patient and remember that its not your childs fault. A child does not have control over enuresis. And there are many ways to treat enuresis and help your child.
Treatments For Nighttime Bed Wetting
Seniors who experience persistent nocturnal enuresis typically make an appointment with their primary care physician or family doctor to address the issue. However, some cases may require a referral to a specialist, such as a urologist or a sleep disorder specialist. It can be uncomfortable to discuss bodily functions with another person, but a medical professional will be able to provide options for treating bed wetting. In many cases, nighttime incontinence can be minimized or completely cured.
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What Are Bladder Control Problems
Bladder control problems are conditions that affect the way a person holds or releases urine. Accidental loss or leaking of urine, called urinary incontinence , is one of the most common bladder control problems. UI is not a disease but a condition that may be related to another health problem or life event, such as prostate problems or pregnancy.
Bladder control problems can be a small annoyance or can greatly affect your quality of life. You may be too embarrassed or afraid to participate in activities because of these problems, or you may be unable to complete your normal routine. For example, you may lose urine while running or coughing, or you may leak urine before you can get to a toilet.
Bladder control problems are common. Proper treatment may improve your quality of life. Talk with a health care professional about urine leaks. Health care professionalsespecially gynecologists, urologists, and geriatriciansoften talk with people about bladder control problems. Health care professionals can help treat the problem or manage the symptoms by suggesting simple lifestyle changes. Caregivers may find help from a health care professional or a support group. The sooner you get help, the sooner UI may improve.