Home Remedies For Incontinence
Have you stopped taking an aerobics class because you’re afraid you might have an “accident”? Do you identify all the restroom locations in a mall before you dare to begin shopping? Do you dread sneezing, coughing, even laughing, because you’re not sure if you’ll stay dry?
Rest assured, you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 13 million Americans suffer incontinence, oftentimes in silence. Indeed, it’s a problem that’s only been recognized relatively recently in America as a common, treatable condition and not an unavoidable symptom of aging.
As a matter of fact, other cultures in times past seemed to have been much more aware and accepting of the problem. The ancient Egyptians developed products for incontinence, and in Great Britain around the turn of the century, it was perfectly acceptable for a woman to hold what was called a “slipper” under her dress to relieve herself during a long church service.
The loss of bladder control is not a disease but a symptom with a host of possible causes. It can affect anyone at any age — from children to the elderly, both women and men. Women, however, are three times more likely than men to be incontinent, due in large part to the physical stresses of childbearing and a decrease in estrogen after menopause.
Some people suffer from both urge and stress incontinence. They are said to have mixed incontinence.
Causes Of Dog Incontinence
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Dog incontinence can stem from a variety of issues. Femaledog incontinence is most common, but it occurs in male dogs as well.
Muscle weakness in the bladder sphincter muscle can be thereason urine is leaking, but the root cause of the weakness is what needs to beinvestigated.
Your natural vet will consider a variety of causes:
- Back Injury: Incontinence can be a result of a recent back injury, or a back injury tracing back to overstretching the spine during the spay operation. Injured back muscles tighten and encroach on nerves controlling the bladder sphincter muscle.
- Hormone induced urinary incontinence: Most hormone induced urinary incontinence occurs in female dogs. Low estrogen in dogs can be a result of spay surgery, but low levels also occur naturally as the dog ages. These low levels affect the muscles in the urinary tract.
- Over Intense Exercise: Some dogs may experience incontinence after exercising. Too much, too intense, or the wrong kind of exercise can exacerbate back and/or muscle issues that cause incontinence.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Your pelvic floor muscles surround the bladder and urethra and control the flow of urine as you pee.
Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles can cause urinary incontinence, so exercising these muscles is often recommended.
A GP may refer you to a specialist to start a programme of pelvic floor muscle training.
The specialist will assess whether you’re able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and by how much.
If you can contract your pelvic floor muscles, you’ll be given an exercise programme based on your assessment.
Your programme should include a minimum of 8 muscle contractions at least 3 times a day and last for at least 3 months. If the exercises are helping after this time, you can keep on doing them.
Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training can benefit everyone with urinary incontinence.
Find out more about pelvic floor exercises.
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Herbs And Natural Supplements For Utis
Urinary tract infections are one of the most common types of bacterial infections worldwide. Its estimated that over 150 million people contract UTIs each year .
E. coli is the most common type of bacteria to cause UTIs, although occasionally other types of infectious bacteria may be implicated.
Anyone can develop a UTI, but women are 30 times more likely to be affected than men. Approximately 40% of women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives .
A UTI can affect any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys, but it usually starts in organs of the lower urinary tract, bladder, and urethra (
- a burning sensation when you urinate
- frequent and intense urges to urinate
- cloudy, dark, or bloody urine
- fever or fatigue
- pain in your pelvis, lower abdomen, or back
UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, but infection recurrence is very common.
Whats more, the overuse of antibiotics can have long-term negative consequences, such as damage to the normal, healthy bacteria in your urinary tract, and possibly contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria .
If you suspect that you have a UTI, its important to consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible. What may start as a mild infection can quickly become serious and potentially fatal if left untreated for too long.
Here are 8 herbs and natural supplements that may help prevent and treat mild UTIs.
Natural Treatment & Home Remedies
It is quite useful to try a variety of treatments or combination of treatments when dealing with urinary incontinence. Even if conventional pharmaceutical treatment becomes necessary, drug dosages may be reduced by combining conventional treatment with natural or alternative supplments.
Once you have ruled out physical issues and have an idea of what may be contributing to your companion’s incontinence, natural approaches can support healthy bladder function:
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Can Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Utis
Studies, such as one published in January 2018 in Scientific Reports, have shown that apple cider vinegar has some antibacterial and antifungal properties, but theres no scientific or medical evidence that drinking apple cider vinegar cures UTIs. Drinking large amounts of apple cider vinegar could lead to throat irritation and tooth decay.
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Chiropractic Acupuncture And Osteopathy
These hands-on treatments are excellent choices that can be very successful in resolving incontinence. Theyre especially effective if urinary incontinence in dogs is due to physical issues like spine misalignment, muscle spasms, or nerve injury or impairment.
Read how to find a practitioner under the Find A Holistic Vet section below. You may also be able to find a local veterinary rehab facility that offers these modalities.
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Cut Bladder Irritants From Your Diet
When you have a UTI, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, nicotine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder further, making it harder for your body to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Focus on healthy foods, such as high-fiber carbohydrates , that are good for your digestive health, says Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in West Hollywood, California, and the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Womans Guide to Safe, Natural Hormone Health.
Go Easy On The Drinks
It depends from guy to guy, but some find drinks can trigger incontinence. You may be sensitive to carbonated beverages like soda, caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea, and alcohol. Studies suggest not everyone is bothered by these, though. If you have UI symptoms, try to remember if you’ve had any of these beverages recently.
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Stress Urge & Overflow Incontinence
Different kinds of incontinence are caused by different things:
- Stress incontinence. This is caused by pressure against your bladder and may follow prostate surgery. The cause of the pressure might be a hardy laugh, a cough, a sneeze, or an attempt to lift a heavy weight.
- Urge incontinence. This comes from an urge to relieve your bladder so overwhelming that you fail to reach the toilet in time. Men with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia are more likely to develop urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence. A man with an enlarged prostate may have difficulty fully eliminating urine. This can lead to small amounts of urine overflowing from a constantly full bladder.
- Prostate gland problems are the most common causes of incontinence in men.
Natural Remedies To Beat Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is something no one talks about, but it is actually an extremely common problem. The National Association for Continence states that this annoying, and sometimes downright debilitating, urological disorder affects more than 25 million Americans.
This is an extremely common problem for most women at one time or another in their lives, although it can affect men as well.
There are three main types of incontinence:
- Stress incontinence This is perhaps the most common type. It occurs when simple physical activities such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, or jumping put pressure on the bladder, causing it to release urine involuntarily.
- Urge incontinence This is perhaps the most annoying type of incontinence. This occurs when an overactive bladder gives a person an extremely intense feeling of needing to urinate. This feeling is so strong that it often stops people in their tracks, afraid to move! This often leads to the release of urine either immediately after the urge passes or when the urge hits.
- Overflow incontinence This is the inability to empty the bladder completely, which can lead to frequent and in some difficult cases even a constant dribbling of urine. This is the most common type of incontinence for men.
To really get rid of this problem, the person needs to find out the underlying causes. Be certain that you check with your doctor to be sure that you dont have a more severe problem such as bladder cancer.
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Cost Of Natural Incontinence Remedies In Dogs
A consultation with your vet and related lab testing to diagnose your dogs condition could cost from $50 to $200– even as much as $1,500 if imaging scans such as CT or MRI are required. The cost of herbal supplements can start at less than $10 per month, depending on their type, quality, and source, and each visit with a licensed acupuncturist may cost $30 to $150.
Worried about the cost of Natural Incontinence Remedies treatment?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
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Specific Antidepressants May Suppress Symptoms
Specific antidepressants such as Tofranil, Tyramine and Norfranil may help to suppress overactive bladder symptoms. Which one your doctor chooses to prescribe will depend on your particular symptoms.
For example, the SSRI class of antidepressants works better for stress incontinence than for urge incontinence, although its not clear how it helps. Alternatively, tricyclic antidepressants are known to have anticholinergic side effects, which relax the bladder muscle and cause the muscles of the bladder neck to contract.
Cut Down On Caffeine And Alcohol
As great as they are, caffeine and alcohol both pose their own challenges for the body, especially for those who experience incontinence. Drinks with caffeine can make incontinence worse. Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes people have to go to the bathroom more frequently, further exacerbating incontinence symptoms. So consider cutting back on that morning joe and those evening cocktails to see if any improvements come about.
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Buchu For Sale On Amazon
Buchu
Buchu, also known by the names Bucco, Diosma, Bookoo, Bucku, is an African plant used by men and women to treat urinary tract infections, bloating and kidney stones and to improve bladder control and prostate health. There are several varieties with different shaped leaves, but all have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, first among the Hottentot tribe in Africa and then in Europe since the 1800s.
Note: Buchu should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, be sure to consult your physician if you have been diagnosed with a kidney infection or if you are using blood thinners, as there are potential complications there. Always take Buchu or Buchu extract with meals and plenty of water.
Medicine For Stress Incontinence
If stress incontinence does not significantly improve with lifestyle changes or exercises, surgery will usually be recommended as the next step.
However, if you’re unsuitable for surgery or want to avoid an operation, you may benefit from an antidepressant medicine called duloxetine. This can help increase the muscle tone of the urethra, to help keep it closed.
You’ll need to take duloxetine tablets twice a day and will be assessed after 2 to 4 weeks to see if the medicine is beneficial or causing any side effects.
Possible side effects of duloxetine can include:
- nausea
- constipation
Do not suddenly stop taking duloxetine, as this can also cause unpleasant side effects. A GP will reduce your dose gradually.
Duloxetine is not suitable for everyone, however, so a GP will discuss any other medical conditions you have to determine if you can take it.
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Dietary Changes And Fluid Management
One of the most straightforward methods in the treatment of OAB involves making dietary changes. This involves cutting out several known food irritants from the diet and limiting fluid intake.
Foods to avoid
Foods and drinks, which are known to cause or worsen the symptoms of OAB include:
- alcohol
- tomatoes
- vinegar
As triggers from food vary from person to person, it can be helpful for people to keep a diary detailing food intake and bladder symptoms. A diary can help people work out which foods are causing the greatest problems.
Manage fluid intake
Drinking enough water is essential for health. Too little water can lead to concentrated urine, which can irritate the bladder lining, increasing urgency. Too many liquids may worsen frequency symptoms. Fluid intake before bed can contribute to urinating during the night.
A , published in Research and Reports in Urology, recommends limiting fluid intake to 6 to 8 glasses of water daily, and avoiding liquids for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
What To Expect At Your Doctors Office
Your doctor will give you a physical examination and ask questions about:
- Any past prostate problems
- When your urine leakage occurs
- Whether you strain or have discomfort when urinating
You may be asked to cough vigorously to see if it causes urine loss. This is a sign of stress incontinence.
Your doctor may suggest urine tests to find:
- Infection
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Altering The Bladder With Bladder Augmentation Surgery
When all other approaches to strengthen and retrain the bladder have failed, you may need to alter the bladder itself. This surgery is typically used as a last resort and in only the most severe cases of an overactive bladder.
Bladder augmentation involves enlarging the bladder with a section of your large intestine, so theres more physical space to store urine in and less pressure to urinate frequently. The surgery is the most invasive and complicated procedure for solving overactive bladder problems, and includes a long recovery time and possible lasting consequences. Once you have bladder augmentation surgery, you will cease to be able to urinate naturally you will have to use a catheter or stoma.
The good news is that many, if not most cases of an overactive bladder can be very well controlled with healthy lifestyle changes, and natural and traditional medical treatments. Its important to remember that not all of the listed treatment options may work for everyone.
Remember to discuss the above overactive bladder treatment options with your doctor before beginning them.
When To See A Doctor For Your Uti
If your symptoms persist beyond a few days with no sign of improvement, or if your infection keeps recurring, its best to see a doctor. While many home remedies may ease symptoms if they persist your doctor will be able to determine the cause and prescribe a course of antibiotics that should help take care of your UTI right away and prevent it from leading to a worsening condition or infection.
Have you tried any of the above natural remedies for UTIs, or other home treatments to treat your urinary tract infection? Tell us about them in the comments below!
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Saw Palmetto For Sale On Amazon
Saw Palmetto
Clinical studies in the US have seen mixed results with saw palmetto for treating urinary problems. A study by the University of Chicago Medical Center did find significant improvement for men with lower urinary tract problems, but other studies such as the one by the National Institutes of Health below found no significant difference between saw palmetto and a placebo.
Despite these divergent findings, saw palmetto remains one of the most popular herbal remedies on the market, with substantial anecdotal testimonies praising its effectiveness for bladder control.
Pumpkin Seed Oil/Extract
Pumpkin seeds have also been used to battle UI and OB. Since weve already written at length about pumpkin seeds for treating UI/OB, please see our other HubPages article about this topic for more info.