Urinary incontinence is not only a medical condition, but also a social one. It can happen at any age and regardless of gender. It is a disorder characterized by uncontrolled, unintentional and involuntary excretion of urine. People affected by it have no control over their sphincters. Therefore, they cannot stop urine leakage in any way. The urinary bladder is then emptied completely or only partially.
In the past, this disease was a taboo topic, but today it is widely talked about. Many people avoided meetings with friends and family for this reason and gave up their favorite physical activities, but now we know ways to deal with this troublesome problem. Starting with a visit to the doctor and choosing appropriate hygiene products, as well as changing your lifestyle and habits, you can enjoy everyday life again.
Types and causes of urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is much more common in women than men. This is due to the fact that a woman’s body is subjected to many loads throughout her life. In women, the most common cause of urinary incontinence is the weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, which are responsible, among other things, for tightening the urethra and controlling urination. It is often the result of natural childbirth, gynecological procedures, anatomy of the urinary system, menopause or advanced age.
It also often accompanies pregnant women, because the baby growing in the mother’s belly puts pressure on the bladder, and the relaxed pelvic muscles do not hold urine. This type of problem may persist long after the baby is born. The problem of urinary incontinence also often occurs in women over 40 – here we are dealing with hormonal changes in the woman’s body, which strongly affect the condition of the urinary bladder, pelvic floor muscles and urinary tract.
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Diseases such as diabetes, neurological diseases, frequent constipation, as well as obesity, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to urinary incontinence.
Depending on the cause of the problem, there are three types of urinary incontinence:
- stress urinary incontinence, which is manifested by the involuntary flow of urine during physical exertion, laughing, sneezing or coughing;
- urge incontinence, i.e. a sudden need to urinate immediately;
- mixed urinary incontinence.
A recurring problem? Prevention and treatment
Urinary incontinence is always a disturbing symptom and should not be underestimated. It is worth seeing a specialist already at the first episodes. The selection of appropriate treatment in each case is individual and depends on many factors, such as: severity of symptoms, anatomical conditions, and history of previous treatments. Modern medicine proves that with an appropriate action plan and treatment, urinary incontinence can be significantly reduced or completely eliminated.
Treatment may be conservative, pharmacological or surgical. Popular methods of conservative treatment include pelvic floor muscle training and electrostimulation. For women, well-selected physiotherapy involving Kegel exercises is often sufficient. Urinary incontinence can also be treated with drug therapy. However, its combination with properly selected exercises and training brings much better results. People suffering from this disease should also know how to properly prevent urinary incontinence and how they can additionally support the urinary system.
Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel muscles) can strengthen those that support the bladder and urethra. They can be performed anywhere and anytime, and they involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. The training is very simple and recommended to all women, including those who do not have any symptoms of urinary incontinence. To identify the correct muscles, simply tense them so that the urine stream stops. Before you start exercising, remember to empty your bladder. Contract your pelvic muscles, squeeze for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times. Breathe freely during exercise. Try to do this training at least 3 times a day. Prevention can do a lot!
How will lifestyle changes affect the urinary system?
Introducing a few changes in our everyday life may turn out to be an important factor in the prevention of urinary incontinence. These may include, but are not limited to:
- •providing the body with appropriate nutrients;
- taking care of intimate hygiene and preventing inflammation of the urinary tract;
- maintaining proper body weight;
- limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption;
- avoiding spicy spices;
- following a diet to prevent constipation;
- regular exercise to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles;
- regular use of the toilet;
- providing the body with the appropriate amount of fluids;
- care about hygiene – it is worth washing personal underwear at at least 60 degrees C.
You can choose good quality dietary supplements
It is worth ensuring that the daily menu is balanced, rich in nutrients and fiber, which, together with appropriate hydration, will ensure regular bowel movements. This is important because constipation sometimes increases urinary incontinence.
A healthy diet can be enriched with a dietary supplement containing substances that help maintain the proper functioning of the bladder, urinary tract and muscles. It is worth paying attention to the dietary supplement ™ intended for women. It contains, among others, pumpkin seed extract, bearberry leaf extract, cranberry fruit extract and vitamin D, which contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system and to maintaining the proper functioning of muscles. It can also be taken before and after urinary incontinence treatments.
Treatments for urinary incontinence
Procedural and surgical treatment is used primarily in stress urinary incontinence (UI). In this case, it is worth trusting modern gynecology and the experience of specialists to significantly improve the comfort and quality of your life. Most often, to get rid of UI, the so-called minimally invasive treatments that are painless and comfortable for the patient. One of them is a laser treatment, which involves photothermal stimulation of the mucous membrane, which increases the tension and elasticity of the tissues around the vagina, urinary bladder and urethra. It takes 15-30 minutes and is painless for most women.
Suburethral tape surgery, which involves transvaginal implantation of a synthetic tape under the urethra, also brings satisfactory results. After such a procedure, episodes of urinary incontinence should stop completely – the effectiveness of the procedure is estimated at 95%. It is performed under anesthesia and takes approximately 40 minutes. Other modern methods of treating stress urinary incontinence involving the use of tapes include TOT, TVT and IVS. The most frequently used method is the TOT method, which involves the introduction of suburethral tapes through incisions in the groin. This one half-hour treatment, although it sounds a bit disturbing, is also painless.
In people whose urinary incontinence results from an overactive bladder, the bladder is injected with botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is injected directly into the urinary bladder, in the gynecological position, and the entire procedure takes about 15-20 minutes. The patient can return home immediately after the procedure.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
