If you are a woman dealing with incontinence, you know it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Fortunately, some simple solutions can help you manage your symptoms and regain your confidence. In this post, we will explore some practical ways to help women manage incontinence in their day-to-day lives.
Lifestyle changes
Managing incontinence does not have to be a daunting process. By making simple yet powerful dietary and lifestyle changes, you can stay in control of your bladder health. Healthy incontinence practices, including eating nutrient-rich foods low in unhealthy fats, refined sugar, and salt can help keep your weight and blood sugar levels stable while improving digestion, which is often the key to good bladder health.
Incontinence products
Incontinence products such as pads and adult diapers are designed to absorb urine leakage. These products come in various sizes, styles, and absorbencies to suit your needs. If you are primarily experiencing light bladder leaks, go with a thinner profile or more discreetly packaged product, so it fits easily under your clothing. If you are experiencing heavy bladder leaks, you may opt for an adult diaper that offers maximum protection against moisture build-up on the skin. It is important to choose incontinence products that meet your needs to feel comfortable throughout the day.
Medications
Certain medications, such as anticholinergics, may be prescribed by your doctor to treat overactive bladder symptoms like urgency or frequency. These medications work by reducing muscle spasms in the bladder wall, which decreases episodes of overactive bladder symptoms. Even if you follow your doctor's instructions for drug dosage, make sure to follow other lifestyle habits to maximise the effectiveness of the medication. Anticholinergics have few side effects, but it is important to monitor yourself closely.
Bladder training and yoga
Bladder training involves retraining your body’s bladder clock by gradually increasing the time between visits to the restroom until you reach an ideal schedule for emptying your bladder during awake hours. Additionally, certain yoga poses or asanas have been known to improve pelvic floor strength which helps prevent urine leakage due to weakened muscles in this area of the body caused by childbirth or ageing. Both methods are simple ways to take control of bladder leakage without needing any special equipment or medication.
Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption
When it comes to bladder control, your consumption of alcohol and caffeine could be one of the culprits. Both are diuretics, which means they cause your body to produce more urine than usual. This can leave you with a weak bladder that cannot hold back urine for long periods, resulting in incontinence issues. The good news is that cutting back on these substances can help to reduce the symptoms of incontinence significantly.
Conclusion
Women with incontinence don't need to feel helpless; many practical solutions can help them manage their condition daily. From lifestyle changes to specialised medications used for treating overactive bladder, women have access to tools they can use to take control of their bodies.
