How To Prevent A Leaky Bladder
- Limit or avoid excess caffeine intake through coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages.
- Perform Kegel exercises on regular basis to maintain strength of pelvic floor muscles.
- Avoid fluid intake for several hours before bedtime.
- Limit fluid intake throughout the day, but keep hydrated.
- Avoid smoking as tobacco use increases risk of bladder cancer, which can cause bladder leaks.
- Maintain a healthy weight as obesity can lead to bladder leakage.
- Urinate after sexual intercourse to eliminate bacteria from the urethra.
- Limit or avoid spicy foods, acidic foods, and artificial sweeteners, as they increase fluid output.
- Use caution with diuretics to prevent bladder leakage from frequent urination.
Why Does Nocturia Affect Older People More Than Others
There are several reasons for this. One simple reason is that as you get older your bladder looses its elasticity. Another is that later in life you are more likely to suffer from other medical conditions which can affect the bladder. The following are some of the reasons which can cause nocturia and which are more common in older people:
When Your Bladder Keeps You Up At Night
Having your sleep interrupted by the need to urinate is a common cause of sleep loss, especially among older adults. Nearly two-thirds of adults ages 55 to 84 deal with this problem at least a few nights per week.
People with mild cases may wake two times a night in severe cases, it may be as many as five or six times. The result can be significant sleep loss and daytime fatigue.
Nocturia becomes more common with age, partly due to normal changes. In addition, older folks are more likely to have medical problems that affect the bladder. Other possible causes include diabetes, urinary tract infection, and side effects of certain medications. Simply drinking a lot of liquid a few hours before bedtime can contribute to this problem, particularly if the drinks contain alcohol or caffeine.
There are really three ways to treat this problem: correcting any underlying health problems, trying behavioral approaches, or prescribing medication. Almost always, the first step is to try to identify any medical cause for frequent nighttime urination and correct it. Behavioral approaches such as cutting down on how much you drink in the two hours before bedtime can also help. If the nocturia doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat an overactive bladder. There are several choices available and she or he can help find the one that works best for you.
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It Could Be A Sign Of An Underlying Condition
Naturally, later in life, people can experience incontinence because of increased production of urine related to aging kidneys. Bladder function is also heavily impacted by changing bladder capacity and chronic medical conditions like diabetes, says Fairchild. Chronic straining, coughing and/or constipation can all put stress on the bladder, she explains.
But leakage can also be sign of a more serious, underlying health condition, according to a 2018 National Poll on Healthy Aging. For example, poor heart function could be the culprit behind frequent urination while sleeping.
If fluid is pooling in your legs during the day, when you lay down, that fluid redistributes and increases urine production, says Fairchild.
Although bladder leakage is common, discuss your particular symptoms with your doctor.
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Causes Of Urge Incontinence
The urgent and frequent need to pass urine can be caused by a problem with the detrusor muscles in the walls of your bladder.
The detrusor muscles relax to allow the bladder to fill with urine, then contract when you go to the toilet to let the urine out.
Sometimes the detrusor muscles contract too often, creating an urgent need to go to the toilet. This is known as having an overactive bladder.
The reason your detrusor muscles contract too often may not be clear, but possible causes include:
- drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
- not drinking enough fluids this can cause strong, concentrated urine to collect in your bladder, which can irritate the bladder and cause symptoms of overactivity
Overflow incontinence may also be caused by your detrusor muscles not fully contracting, which means your bladder does not completely empty when you urinate. As a result, the bladder becomes stretched.
Your detrusor muscles may not fully contract if:
- there’s damage to your nerves for example, as a result of surgery to part of your bowel or a spinal cord injury
- you’re taking certain medicines
Symptoms For Bladder Weakness: How To Interpret
Regular self-observation leads to self-interpretation, which makes it easier to manage your condition. Unfortunately, patient-oriented resources for interpreting bladder diaries are few and far between.
Below we have listed the three general degrees of bladder weakness, which help you find the best medical care and products for your individual needs.
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Bladder Not Emptying All The Way Here’s What Might Be Going On
When your bladder doesn’t feel empty after using the bathroom, you may be dealing with urinary retention. The condition, which is marked by an inability to fully empty the bladder, can be a side effect of numerous health problems.
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As a result, figuring out the underlying culprit is a must for feeling better.
Urinary retention becomes more common with age, and people assigned male at birth are significantly more likely to be affected than those assigned female at birth , according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases .
In most instances, “a person will have a constant urge to urinate without being able to,” explains S. Adam Ramin, MD, a urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles. “It is a very uncomfortable sensation. The urge becomes stronger and stronger, but no matter what a person tries, they will not be able to urinate.”
This can lead to bladder damage, incontinence, urinary tract infections and even kidney damage.
Here’s a look at some of the most common causes and the best way to manage the condition.
Other Types Of Bladder Leakage
- Mixed Incontinence: This label is given to bladder leakage conditions that stem from more than one form of incontinence, whether stress, urge, functional, or overflow. Women can be often diagnosed with stress and urge incontinence at the same time.
- Transient Incontinence: A transient incontinence refers to a temporary condition of a bladder leakage. It is often seen with complications after surgery, an irritated bladder, chronic constipation, and as a side effect of some diuretic and sleep-induced medication.
- Total Incontinence: A total loss of bladder function is referred to as total incontinence. This may be a result of nerve or bladder damage or disease that hinders the regular functioning of the bladder. Some cases of multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries may see a malfunction of the bladder to store urine.
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Look For A Suitable Product
You will feel much more confident and prepared for leaks if you are in the right product. There is a variety of pads and pants in the market with all different absorbency levels. For nighttime, all in ones can be the most effective as they generally have the highest absorbency. They are also comfortable for long term use.
Talk To Your Doctor About Nocturia
As with any medical condition and health concerns, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing and discuss treatment options. The doctor may ask for an overview of your diet and fluid intake, how often you wake up per night to urinate, as well as if you have any underlying health conditions.
It can be difficult to broach the subject with others, but don’t be embarrassed. It’s more prevalent than you think. Some common questions to get the conversation started with your doctor include:
How do you diagnose nocturia ?What causes nocturia or frequent urination at night?Why do I wake up to pee at night?How can I better manage my fluid intake?How many times is normal to urinate at night?What can I do to prevent bedwetting?Can you stop nocturia or frequent urination at night?Are there any medications or treatment options to help control my bladder?
The sooner you know what the source of nocturia and your frequent bathroom visits, the faster you can get treatment, learn how to stop bedwetting, and be on your way to a dry, comfortable and restful nightâs sleep. Hello, better quality of life!
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Cause Of Nocturia: Untreated Diabetes
When you have diabetes, the excess glucose, or blood sugar, rushes to your kidneys, leading water to enter as well, says Dr. Phillips. So you might find your bladder filling up more quickly than usual.
If your constant peeing happens throughout the day as well as at night, and you’re really peeing a lot, you might want to get a urinalysis test, says Dr. Phillips. This measures several substances in your urine, including glucose.
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Causes Of Global Polyuria
The most common cause of global polyuria is excessive fluid intake. Nowadays this is related to people inadvertently overdoing the recommendation to increase fluid intake that is often broadcast in the media. Excessive fluid intake can also be a response to the presence of a chronically dry mouth that is a common side-effect of many medications .
Other causes of global polyuria include:
- Diabetes mellitus with poor sugar control that increases urine production and increases thirst
- Diabetes insipidus a rare condition in which sugar control is normal but there is a deficiency of the hormone that regulates urine production called ADH .
- Disturbances of other blood elements such as high calcium levels
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What Steps Can I Take At Home To Treat Urinary Incontinence
Your doctor or nurse may suggest some things you can do at home to help treat urinary incontinence. Some people do not think that such simple actions can treat urinary incontinence. But for many women, these steps make urinary incontinence go away entirely, or help leak less urine. These steps may include:
You can also buy pads or protective underwear while you take other steps to treat urinary incontinence. These are sold in many stores that also sell feminine hygiene products like tampons and pads.
How Can Nerve Stimulation Help Overactive Bladder
There are several treatments that involve stimulating your nerves to help improve overactive bladder. Your nerves help communicate the message that your bladder needs to be emptied to your brain. By treating the nerves, your healthcare provider can improve your bladder control. Nerve stimulation is a reversible treatment that is considered when conservative treatments have not worked or have not been tolerated. Conservative treatments include behavioral therapies and medications.
There are several types of nerve stimulation treatments. These can include:
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How Is Nocturia Classified
Nocturia is classified into 3 types that may overlap:
- Global polyuria
- Defined as production of urine volume more than 40 ml/kg per 24 hours
The bladder diary is crucial in helping define the type and cause of nocturia. The bladder diary determines:
- Total 24 hour urine output
- Nocturnal urine volume
- Proportion of total urine output that occurs at night
Some Of It Is Part Of Aging
Its true that as we age, our bodies make less of the hormone that allows us to retain fluids. Because of this, our bladders fill more rapidly. Also, our bladders are unable to hold a lot of urine as we get older.
Between these two factors, adults beyond age 60 should expect to wake to use the bathroom at least once each night. But even so, these tips can help minimize the nightly excursions for people of any age.
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Do Older Dogs Pee More Often
Older dogs might also need to urinate more frequently than average as their bladders become weaker. Many older dogs need to be taken out to urinate a similar amount as to when they were a puppy. Similarly, a lot of medication for dogs, such as heart pills, will increase how often your dog needs to go.
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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What Are The Symptoms Of Nocturia
Normally, you should be able to sleep six to eight hours during the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom. People who have nocturia wake up more than once a night to urinate. This can cause disruptions in a normal sleep cycle.
Symptoms of nocturia can include:
- Waking up more than once a night to urinate.
- Urinating more volume .
- Fatigue, sleepiness even after waking up. This occurs because the frequent urinations can interrupt your sleep cycle.
When To See A Doctor
Make an appointment with your pediatrician for a check-up if your child has any signs of OAB. This is especially true if your child is 7 years old or older. Most children this age will have bladder control.
When you see the doctor, theyll want to give your child a physical exam and hear a history of symptoms. Your doctor may also want to check for constipation and take a sample of urine to analyze for infection or other abnormalities.
Your child may also need to participate in voiding tests. These tests may include measuring the volume of urine and anything left in the bladder after voiding, or measuring the flow rate. In some cases, your doctor may want to do an ultrasound to determine if structural issues of the bladder may be the cause.
OAB usually goes away as a child gets older. As a child grows:
- They can hold more in their bladder.
- Their natural body alarms start to work.
- Their OAB settles down.
- Their bodys response improves.
- Their bodys production of antidiuretic hormone, a chemical that slows the production of urine, stabilizes.
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What Are Bladder Storage Disorders
In bladder storage disorders the ability of the bladder to store urine is reduced causing nocturia . The night-time volumes of urine passed are often small as well as frequent in bladder storage disorders.
Bladder storage can be affected by conditions that reduce bladder capacity, cause an overactive bladder or that cause bladder irritation.
Incomplete bladder emptying due to an underactive bladder or bladder outlet obstruction is another potential cause of more frequent night-time urination.
Causes Of Urinary Incontinence
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area .
Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:
- pregnancy and vaginal birth
Find out more about the causes of urinary incontinence.
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What Is Frequent Urination At Night Or Nocturia
Nocturia is the medical term for frequent urination at night. Nocturia is a symptom and not a diagnosis.
Nocturia is defined as the number of urinations that occur during a nights sleep with each urination both preceded and followed by sleep.
Nocturia is a very common symptom with more than 70% of people aged 70 or older affected. Men and women are affected in similar numbers in the older population.
Nocturia also happens in younger people with some studies showing that up to 30% of people aged 20 to 40 years old need to pass urine once or more at night.