11 Tips for Incontinence Management

Living with Urinary Incontinence
Having urinary incontinence does not mean you have to put your life on hold. Some people with urinary incontinence feel like they have to put limits on their life for fear of having a leak in public. However, with some lifestyle changes this does not have to be the case. Here are some tips to live well with urinary incontinence.

1. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Also known as Kegels, these exercises focus on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, which are used to help you stop urinating. Strengthening them helps prevent leaks and the feeling of urgency that happens with an overactive bladder.

2. Be Conscious Of Your Fluid In-Take
Many people believe that drinking less will help avoid leaks and other symptoms of urinary incontinence. This is not true though and it can lead to other health issues. Drinking the right amount of fluids is extremely important for your overall health.

3. Use The Bathroom Only When Needed
Use the toilet when you wake up and before you go to bed. Strengthen your muscles by reducing the number of toilet trips during the day. Begin by aiming to hold on 20 minutes longer, eventually building up to going every 2-3 hours.

4. Keep A Diary
There are several different types of urinary incontinence and each has different methods for treatment. In order for your doctor to figure out which type you have it can be useful for you to keep a diary of when you use the bathroom, if you have any leaking and how much you are drinking.

5. Maintain A Healthy Weight
Extra weight adds more pressure on the bladder and this increases the feeling of urgency to have to urinate. Losing weight can help with this. Losing weight is also better for your overall health.

6. Limit alcohol and caffeine
Both of these drinks are diuretics so they can irritate the bladder. Limiting the consumption of both of these can help reduce the feeling of urgency.

7. Stop Smoking
It is known that smoking is bad for your overall health, but it is especially bad for people with urinary incontinence. Smoking damages the small blood vessels that can cause tissue weakness.

8. Find Exercises That Work For You
Exercise is extremely important for your overall health and it should be a part of your daily routine. For some people certain exercises such as running or ab exercises can cause leaking. To combat this, work with your doctor to find the right exercises for you.

9. Tell Your Doctor About Your Medications
Some medications, even over the counter ones, could possibly cause urinary incontinence. So it is important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking to see if they could be the cause.

10. Plan Ahead
One of the best ways to prevent a leak or any issues is to plan. Know how much you should drink at a time and also have a bathroom schedule. It is also helpful to know where you are headed and how long you it will take you to get there.

11. Use Tailored Bladder Weakness Protection
You can’t function properly if you’re worried about leaks and odours. Make sure you’ve got the right bladder weakness protection for your needs and you can get rid of those worries right away.

Did you know?
Pelvic floor muscles can take up to six months to mend after having baby. If bladder leakage continues you should see your doctor.

As many as half of all women will experience incontinence at some stage in their life

Incontinence is a symptom – not a disease. There’s always an underlying cause.