Leaking urine on a continental basis is never OK. Whether you have an overactive bladder, or if you’re dealing with stress incontinence, you should always make an appointment with an expert to discuss the problem.
Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery in Passaic Park New Jersey, offers compassionate care while addressing sensitive issues, such as urinary incontinence. Dr. Haddad provides holistic approaches that can improve your health and overall well-being.
There are two common types of urinary incontinence:
Those with an overactive bladder have a sudden and frequent urge to urinate. It can be difficult to control, and you may get up many times during the night to use the bathroom. If you have an overactive bladder, you may also leak urine unexpectedly. This happens when your bladder muscles contract involuntarily even if your bladder isn’t holding much urine. The contractions are what make you feel the need to urinate urgently. An overactive bladder is caused by various issues, such as:
Stress incontinence causes you to leak urine because of pressure on your bladder. It has nothing to do with mental stress. Instead, it’s the physical stress or pressure placed on your bladder during movement or activity. The pressure makes your bladder contract, which can lead to sudden urine leakage. You may leak urine when you:
You may be more likely to have an overactive bladder if you have a neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis, or if you’ve had a stroke. Your risk also increases if you’re going through hormonal changes, such as menopause or pregnancy. If you have diabetes, you may notice a frequent urge to urinate caused by an overactive bladder. Other risk factors include bladder stones and urinary tract infections.
Risk factors for stress incontinence include physical changes in your body, such as aging. Although stress incontinence can happen at any age, you’re more likely to develop this problem as you get older and your bladder muscles weaken. Other things that can cause weak bladder muscles are pregnancy and body weight. Women who’ve given birth vaginally are more likely to have stress incontinence. Additionally, excess weight around the abdomen can add extra pressure on the bladder, making obesity a risk factor for leaking urine.
Dr. Haddad and his team of experts provide gentle and discreet treatment for urinary incontinence. They may request that you keep a journal to record instances of your problem. You may need a urinalysis check to make sure there aren’t other conditions beyond urinary incontinence. Any of the following treatment options may be recommended:
Kegels and bladder training exercises are a common treatment to help restore strength to weakened bladder muscles. By strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, you may be able to reduce your bladder’s involuntary contractions.
If you’re dealing with leaking urine, it might be time to consider some lifestyle changes. This may include monitoring your diet. Some foods and drinks could worsen your symptoms. For example, tea, alcohol, and coffee may trigger or worsen the condition. The same may go for chocolate, spicy and acidic foods, and anything that contains artificial sweeteners.
Although some beverages can increase your risk of leaking urine, it’s essential to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and try to limit your intake 2-3 hours before you go to bed. If your urine has a strong odor, or it’s dark yellow, you should drink more water. By drinking lots of water, you’ll avoid concentrated urine that may irritate your bladder and cause more frequent urges to urinate.
Your weight can influence your bladder function, and excess weight may increase your risk of stress incontinence. By eliminating extra pounds, you’ll reduce pressure on your bladder, which may help you avoid urinary leakage.
If you’re frequently leaking urine and it’s affecting your well-being, Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone today.
