Thursday, March 21, 2024

How To Reduce Urinary Incontinence

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Botulinum Toxin A Injections

How to Cure Urinary Incontinence with Kegel Exercises

Botulinum toxin A can be injected into the sides of your bladder to treat urge incontinence and overactive bladder syndrome .

This medication can sometimes help relieve these problems by relaxing your bladder. This effect can last for several months and the injections can be repeated if they help.

Although the symptoms of incontinence may improve after the injections, you may find it difficult to fully empty your bladder. If this happens, you will need to be taught how to insert a catheter into your urethra to drain the urine from your bladder.

Botulinum toxin A is not currently licensed to treat urge incontinence or OAB, so you should be made aware of any risks before deciding to have the treatment. The long-term effects of this treatment are not yet known.

Who Can Get A Uti

Although anyone can be infected, people who are vulnerable due to other health conditions are at a higher risk of getting a UTI. Examples of such groups are the elderly, those with diabetes mellitus, or those with an indwelling catheter, residents and patients.

The main reason women are more susceptible to UTIs has to do with the female anatomy. The urethra, is shorter than in a man, and it is also close to the anus, from which bacteria can invade the urinary tract. In women, estrogen hormone levels also decline with age. This can cause the walls of the urinary tract to become thinner and dryer. The protective mucous membrane, or mucosa, also becomes less acidic which reduces its ability to fight off infection. This is why estrogen hormone treatment is recommended to prevent UTIs.

Not being able to empty the bladder properly is another example of what can increase the risk of UTI, since bacteria can grow in the remaining urine. Residual urine can be caused by many things, such as constipation, outflow obstruction from an enlarged prostate or a prolapse, spinal cord injury or nerve damage, which interferes with the normal function of the urinary tract.

Prevention through proper hygiene, skin care, and toileting routines is naturally of great importance for all of them.

Risk Factors For Urinary Incontinence

The following factors may put you at higher risk for developing UI.

Being female Women experience stress incontinence twice as often as men. Men, on the other hand, are at greater risk for urge and overflow incontinence.

Advancing age As we get older, our bladder and urinary sphincter muscles often weaken, which may result in frequent and unexpected urges to urinate. Even though incontinence is more common in older people, it is not considered a normal part of aging.

Excess body fat Extra body fat increases the pressure on the bladder and can lead to urine leakage during exercise or when coughing or sneezing.

Other chronic diseases Vascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions may increase the risk of urinary incontinence

Smoking A chronic smoker’s cough can trigger or aggravate stress incontinence by putting pressure on the urinary sphincter.

High-impact sports While sports don’t cause incontinence, running, jumping, and other activities that create sudden pressure on the bladder can lead to occasional episodes of incontinence during sports activities.

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Products To Help Manage Incontinence

Many people find the following products useful for dealing with incontinence symptoms:

  • Pads and undergarments Absorbent, non-bulky pads and underwear are worn discreetly under clothing and are available in different sizes for both men and women. For those with mild or moderate leakage, panty liners are sometimes all that’s required.
  • Patches and plugs Many women are able to manage light leakage from stress incontinence by using products that block the flow of urine, such as a small, disposable adhesive patch that fits over the urethral opening, a tampon-like urethral plug, or a vaginal insert called a pessary.
  • Catheters For otherwise unmanageable incontinence, a physician can place a catheter in the urethra to continually drain the bladder. Due to a higher risk of developing infections and kidney stones, catheters are usually a last resort and used only for severely ill patients.

How To Prevent Utis In Individuals With Incontinence

5 Herbal Remedies For Incontinence

A crucial aspect of incontinence care for you, or your loved ones, involves keeping the skin clean and comfortable to prevent common infections, such as urinary tract infections . While UTIs are fairly common for most people, those with incontinence have a higher susceptibility to infections, which can lead to further complications if left untreated.

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Can Urinary Incontinence Be Prevented Or Avoided

You may be able to prevent urinary incontinence by working to keep pelvic muscles strong. But even so, it doesnt guarantee that you will never have urinary incontinence.

There are also lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent urinary incontinence. You may find it helpful to make some changes in your diet. Alcohol, caffeine, foods high in acid , and spicy foods can irritate your bladder. Talk to your doctor if you think your diet may contribute to your incontinence.

Some people find that limiting how much they drink before bedtime helps reduce nighttime incontinence.

Losing weight if you are overweight can also help reduce incontinence.

Drinking Fluids Helps Prevent Incontinence

Dehydration can cause constipation or bladder irritation. To prevent dehydration:

  • Do not wait until you feel thirsty to have a drink of water.
  • Drink up to two litres of fluid each day, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
  • Drink more fluids in hot weather or after heavy exercise.
  • Take small sips and spread your drinks evenly throughout the day.

Water is the best fluid for preventing dehydration, but other hydrating fluids may include fruit juice, tea, coffee, milk or soup. Limit your daily intake of carbonated drinks, alcohol, tea and coffee because they can cause bladder irritation.

You can check to see if you are drinking enough fluid by looking at the colour of your urine. If you are well hydrated, your urine should be pale yellow . Urine that is dark yellow in colour may indicate you have not had enough fluid. Remember that some medications, vitamins and foods can affect the colour of urine.

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Causes Of Frequent Urination

As said above, if you feel that frequent urination is normal for you and is not affecting your daily life, then theres nothing to worry about. In fact, urinating overnight may just be a sign that youre drinking too much near bedtime.4 However, if youre experiencing increased urination with other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, pain while urinating, discoloured urine, vomiting or fever, it could be a sign of another health condition. If you have any concerns about your health, bladder or otherwise, iD recommends you talk to a healthcare professional.

Some common causes of frequent urination in men and women are:

  • Infection, injury or irritation of the bladder
  • Diuretics in drinks
  • Some cancer treatments and other medications
  • Pregnancy
  • Kidney infections
  • Urinary incontinence.5

Urinary incontinence differs from frequent urination, as it is considered the unintentional passing of urine 6. If you would like to learn more about the types of urinary incontinence, you can read our article on that here.

Now we understand what frequent urination is and how it is caused, lets look at some tips for managing your symptoms.

How To Do Pelvic Floor Exercises

.@KelseySeybold urologist explains how to prevent urinary #incontinence

First, you need to locate your pelvic floor muscles, which you can do by trying to stop your flow of urine mid-stream. Exercises should be performed at first by sitting on a chair with your feet flat on the floor, and your elbows rested on your knees.

Two types of exercises, called slow contraction and fast contraction, should be performed to give your pelvic floor a full workout. Always do the slow contraction exercises first and then the fast contraction exercises.

To practice slow contraction exercises:

  • Draw up your muscles surrounding your anus as if you are trying to stop yourself passing gas. However, do not squeeze your buttock muscles.
  • Also, draw up the muscles around your urethra as if you are trying to stop urine flow.
  • Hold this position for as long as you can. You may only be able to hold this contraction for a couple of seconds at first, but the goal is to hold for a count of 10 seconds.
  • Slowly relax and let go for 10 seconds.
  • Gradually increase the time you hold the contraction and repeat until your muscles begin to feel tired.

To practice fast contraction exercises:

  • Draw up the muscles surrounding your anus and urethra as before.
  • Hold the contraction for 1 second and then let go and relax.
  • Repeat the contractions up to 10 times or until your muscles tire.

Try to come up with an exercise plan that includes 10 slow contractions and three sets of 10 fast contractions twice per day.

The following tips may help you to increase your success with bladder training:

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Do Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

Strong pelvic floor muscles hold in urine better than weak muscles. You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles by doing Kegel exercises. These exercises involve tightening and relaxing the muscles that control urine flow. Researchers found that women who received pelvic floor muscle training had fewer leaks per day than women who didnt receive training.6 You should not do pelvic floor exercises while youre urinating.

Men can also benefit from pelvic floor muscle exercises. Strengthening these muscles may help a man leak urine less often, especially dribbling after urination.

A health care professional, such as a physical therapist trained in pelvic floor therapy, can help you get the most out of your Kegel exercises by helping you improve your core muscle strength. Your core includes your torso muscles, especially the lower back, pelvic floor muscles, and abdomen. These muscles keep your pelvis lined up with your spine, which helps with good posture and balance. Your physical therapist can show you how to do some exercises during daily activities, such as riding in a car or sitting at a desk.

You dont need special equipment for Kegel exercises. However, if you are unsure whether you are doing the exercises correctly, you can learn how to perform Kegel exercises properly by using biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or both. Biofeedback uses special sensors to measure muscle contractions that control urination.

Help The One You Care For Use The Toilet

Toilets can be difficult to use for those who have a mobility problem, or another disability, and many people with medical health conditions have trouble completely emptying their bladder. This can cause problems, since the remaining urine can act as a medium for bacteria. By helping your relative with good toilet habits, you can avoid an unnecessary risk of infection.

Here are a few tips:

  • Make sure your relative gets to the bathroom in time
  • Avoid constipation and ensure regular bowel movements
  • Ensure your loved one has a comfortable and correct toilet posture that facilitates complete bladder and bowel emptying. This means slightly leaning forward with bent knees and feet resting on the ground or on a footstool. A raised toilet chair, a foot rest, or a soft cushion on the toilet seat can be helpful.
  • Assist with double or even triple voiding. This means encouraging your loved one when they have finished voiding, to stand up and sit down again a few times. This may facilitate urine to be voided that was left behind the first time.

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Can Incontinence Be Prevented

Different events throughout your life can lead to many of the things that cause incontinence. The muscles that support your pelvic organs can weaken over time. For women, these muscles can also be weakened by big life events like pregnancy and childbirth. However, in the same way you work out to build strength in your legs or arms, you can do exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Doing exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles may not prevent you from having any issues with incontinence, but it can help you regain control of your bladder. Maintaining a healthy body weight can also help with bladder control. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best ways to maintain strong pelvic floor muscles throughout your life.

Learn The Medical Benefits Of Tummy Tuck Surgery

How to prevent urinary incontinence and pelvic floor muscle ...

If your stress urinary incontinence cannot be treated through nonsurgical methods, it may be time to consider a tummy tuck. The professionals at Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery has seen countless patients love their results and live in comfort again because of this procedure. To learn about the many benefits of a tummy tuck, speak with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Dauwe. We can determine whether you are an ideal candidate in Dallas, TX.

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How Does A Tummy Tuck Reduce Urinary Incontinence

Most people choose tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, to make their stomach look flatter and smoother. While patients assume this procedure can only correct cosmetic concerns, this is not the only advantage. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Dauwe can also address uncomfortable medical concerns such as urinary incontinence.

Tummy tuck surgery can be performed by itself or alongside other procedures in a mommy makeover. If you want to resolve stretched-out abdominal skin, fat pockets, and separated muscles due to pregnancy and childbirth, Phillip Dauwe, M.D. Plastic Surgery. Our clinic in Dallas, TX can review the benefits of tummy tuck surgery with you.

What Are Pelvic Floor Muscles

Pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that extend from the pelvis that form its floor. These muscles help to support and keep your bladder, bowel, and, if a female, your uterus in place. They are the muscles you contract or tighten to stop rectal gas and urine flow. Pelvic floor muscles can become weak as we age and from a variety of causes and when they do, some people experience unintentional urine loss .

Pelvic floor muscle exercises can make the muscles stronger and stop or reduce incontinence. Always consult your primary care provider before starting these exercises.

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Why Does Urinary Incontinence Happen

There are two main types of urinary incontinence:

  • Stress incontinence
  • Urge incontinence

“Stress incontinence occurs when your pelvic floor muscles the muscles that support your bladder and urethra weaken, either due to childbirth or over time,” says Dr. Lindo.

If you’re experiencing stress incontinence, you might find yourself leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise or lift something heavy.

“Urge incontinence, on the other hand, occurs when the bladder muscle squeezes to empty out urine when it is not supposed to. It may be due to the amount or type of fluids you drink, resulting in spasms,” explains Dr. Lindo. “Additionally, urgency incontinence can sometimes be a sign of a larger health complication, such as a bladder infection.”

With urge incontinence, you likely experience an overwhelming, sudden need to urinate and leak urine before you can make it to the bathroom.

“For many women the exact cause of their urge urinary incontinence is unknown,” adds Dr. Lindo. “However, there are many treatments that can help you manage symptoms.”

Exercises To Reduce Male Urinary Incontinence

Stop Stress Urinary Incontinence With 5 Easy Exercises

Urge or stress incontinence in men is a common problem, but the good news is that you may be able to improve your condition with certain male urinary incontinence exercises. In some cases, pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises may reduce bladder leakage in just a few months or less than a year.

Read Also: Silent Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

What Is A Uti

A urinary tract infection occurs when any part of the urinary system including the bladder, urethra, or kidneys becomes infected with a pathogen . UTIs are caused when bacteria from the anal, genital, or vaginal areas travel from the urethra into the bladder. Women are often at higher risk for urinary tract infections secondary to having a shorter urethra.

UTI causes include poor hygiene, sexual activities, diabetes, difficulty emptying the bladder, catheter usage, kidney stones, blocked urine flow, urinary incontinence, scented feminine products, and compromised immune systems.

It is critical for caregivers to assist with changes into clean incontinence products as well as properly cleaning the skin if an accident occurs. Keeping the skin clean and dry will prevent the spread of bacteria while preventing skin irritation.

What Is The Difference Between A Lower And Upper Uti

Generally speaking, a UTI isnt dangerous, although it is painful. It is most commonly treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, but if left untreated, the infection can spread from the lower urinary tract to the upper urinary tract and the kidneys. Such an infection can potentially cause kidney damage or even kidney failure. If that happens, the symptoms will get considerably worse with back pain, nausea, and fever. From the kidneys the infection can enter the blood stream and spread to other parts of the body, which is a serious medical condition that requires intensive care.

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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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