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5 Things You Must Know About Incontinence

or loss of bladder control can be very irritating and often embarrassing to the sufferer. Learning all about it can help in tackling the problem. Here are some facts you should know...

1. may be caused by a variety of reasons. It may be caused by excess alcohol, excess beverages, and irritation of the bladder by carbonated drinks and colas; foods like tomatoes; medications like blood pressure drugs, muscle relaxants and sedatives. may also be caused during pregnancy in women, enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer in men, or variations caused by simple aging. Neurological complaints like Parkinson's disease, stroke, tumors in the brain or spine can meddle with the nerves that control the bladder muscles and cause incontinence. Again, a tumor in the urinary tract can obstruct the easy flow of urine and cause incontinence. Finally, urinary stones or bladder stones may also be the reason for urine leak.

2. A person with incontinence should avoid drinking big amounts of fluids at one time. Small quantities of water at intervals can ease the pressure on the bladder. Drinking only a few sips of water especially during breaks in exercises can relieve the incontinence. There is generally the temptation to drink more after dehydration, putting a strain on the bladder. He should also not drink too much alcohol and coffee if he is suffering from incontinence. Coffee and alcohol can cause more urine to be produced. They will also wear off the muscles that run the bladder.

3. Exercising regularly especially the pelvic muscles is a must. Kegel exercises help in contracting and relaxing the pelvic muscles that direct the urination. He should be patient to see the results of the exercises in controlling incontinence. It may take a few weeks. He should also train the bladder. He can practice by holding on when the desire comes. He can start with a few minutes in the beginning and then gradually increase the time gap. With the proper exercising mentioned earlier it can be done.

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

(a) He should avoid foods and beverages that can cause incontinence. Eating too much of tomatoes can irritate the bladder. Instead fiber rich foods or fiber supplements can check constipation. It is known that constipation is linked with incontinence.

(b) He should avoid smoking. Smoking is linked to incontinence.

(c) Control the stress. Taking a brisk walk or doing some breathing exercises to relieve the stress can help in incontinence. It has been observed that stress can lead to incontinence.

(d) Maintain a healthy weight proportionate to his height. Losing a few pounds can reduce the strain on the muscles that control the bladder.

(e) Adult diapers and sanitary napkins can help in the incontinence if the problem is not acute. There are a number of popular brands available that have been tried and found useful.

5. He should consult the doctor if the incontinence persists. Medications like Vesicare and Ditropan can quieten the bladder. For extreme cases of incontinence, electrical stimulation and surgery are good choices for handling the problem.

is not a disease but only a symptom. By noting the facts given above followed by the advice of the doctor, the problem can be faced with confidence.