It’s finally summertime! Beaches, amusement parks, festivals, and vacations are all on the schedule. But if you’re struggling with bladder control issues, you might be dreading those summer invites. Who wants to worry about bladder leaks at a holiday picnic, or even worse, at the beach?
Incontinence can ruin your day, whether it’s just a little leak when you sneeze or the sudden urge to go right now. If you find yourself running for the bathroom on the regular, you may even be planning to skip out on the warm weather fun this year.
But you don’t have to resign yourself to the sidelines for another summer. With a bit of knowledge and the right lifestyle changes, you can manage your bladder control issues and stay in the game! Keep reading to learn more about incontinence–what causes it, how to live with it, and potential solutions.
Urinary Incontinence: What You Need to Know
Summer festivals can be a lot less fun when a sneeze, hearty laugh, or too many drinks and not enough bathrooms can all lead to bladder leaks. Urinary incontinence, or accidental urination, is extremely common, with more than 25 million experiencing bladder leaks.[1] While anyone can experience incontinence, it is more common in women and among people over 50.
Urinary incontinence can range in severity from a little leak here and there to frequent embarrassing accidents. It can be temporary or chronic. Family history, lifestyle, diet, pregnancy, and certain diseases can all play a role in bladder leaks.
It may seem like bladder leaks are just a part of aging, but in reality they are a health condition that can be treated. Don’t skip out on summer fun because of bladder issues! You do not have to let your bladder control your life!
Living With Incontinence
Bladder control issues can affect your general health and well-being year round. People suffering with incontinence may plan their outings around bathroom availability. This can be especially challenging in summer, when outdoor activities are plentiful and bathrooms may be scarce.
Besides the inconvenience of multiple bathroom trips, urinary incontinence can lead to:
- Rashes and skin irritation
- Urinary tract infections
- Psychological consequences such as worry, embarrassment, and shame
- Reduced quality of sleep due to repeated bathroom trips
Skin problems, infections, worry, and poor sleep can all add up, and together they can significantly reduce your quality of life.
But don’t worry! We did the research and found the solutions to urinary incontinence. Keep reading to learn how to manage this common condition. With the right tools and information, you can hit the beach without fear this summer.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Not all bladder leaks are the same. Incontinence has multiple causes and types. It is important to determine what category your incontinence falls into. Armed with this information, you can approach your bladder control issues in the most effective way.
Stress Incontinence
Do you experience urine leakage when you laugh, sneeze, cough, or lift something? This may be stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is caused by a weak pelvic floor. This condition is common in those who have given birth vaginally and also in people with enlarged prostates.
Urge Incontinence
If you have the sudden, urgent need to urinate and fear you may not make it to the toilet in time, you may be suffering from urge incontinence. Urge incontinence may sometimes result from diseases such as diabetes or infection. Lower estrogen levels and higher body weight can also cause frequent, intense urges to urinate.
Functional Incontinence
This type of incontinence is caused by a physical or mental impairment, such as being unable to move quickly to the bathroom because of disability. Reduced mobility can prevent you from getting where you need to go, and lead to bladder accidents.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is only partially emptied during urination. This leads to frequent leaks of small amounts of urine. Because the bladder is never fully empty, the risk of leaks is constant.
Mixed Incontinence
Some people struggle with more than one type of incontinence. Often, stress incontinence and urge incontinence can occur together. In cases of mixed incontinence, it is important to determine which types of incontinence are active so that they can be effectively treated.
Determining the type and cause of your bladder control issues is an important first step toward getting the leaks under control and getting you back out in the sun.
What Causes Incontinence?
The many potential causes of incontinence can make finding a solution feel overwhelming. Keep reading to learn all about the causes and risk factors for urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can have multiple causes. Women are significantly more likely than men to experience urinary incontinence. Being over the age of 50 also increases your risk of having an accident.
In addition, there are a handful of conditions that may increase your likelihood of experiencing incontinence.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a painful infection of the urinary system. Frequent urination is very common with UTIs. The urgent need to urinate sometimes leads to incontinence. This type of incontinence typically improves once the infection is treated. See your doctor if you believe you have a UTI!
Pregnancy
Due to pressure on the bladder from the growing fetus, many people experience bladder leaks during pregnancy. Fortunately, this type of incontinence often resolves after childbirth.
Childbirth
Childbirth can really do a number on the body! Vaginal delivery can cause the pelvic floor muscles to drop and weaken, causing bladder leaks. Some people also experience nerve damage after childbirth, which can lead to incontinence.
Menopause
After menopause, women experience a significant drop in estrogen. This hormone fluctuation can lead to deterioration of bladder and urethra tissue, which can contribute to bladder leaks.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological conditions such as stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, or spinal cord injury can disrupt nerve signals, leading to leaks and accidents.
Prostate Issues
An enlarged prostate or prostate cancer can put pressure on the bladder, increasing the likelihood of developing incontinence. If you have incontinence, prostate issues could be contributing!
Constipation
Make sure your summer menu includes fiber rich-foods! Constipation may irritate the bladder and lead to frequent urination and leaking. Keeping your system moving smoothly can help reduce urges to urinate.
Beverages
Some beverages, such as those high in acid, are especially risky if you’re prone to bladder leaks. Examples are coffee, soda, and alcohol. Reducing your consumption of these beverages can also reduce the need to urinate frequently.
Risk Factors
Although urinary incontinence can happen to anyone, there are a few factors that increase your risk of experiencing bladder leaks.
Sex
Women are significantly more likely than men to experience bladder leaks. Bladder control can be affected by estrogen, childbirth, pregnancy, and menopause, making women the primary sufferers of incontinence. However, it is still common for men to struggle with incontinence, especially if they are experiencing prostate issues.
Age
The risk of urinary incontinence increases significantly after age 50. The natural weakening of the bladder muscles over time means the likelihood of leaks increases as we age. That does not mean you should accept bladder leaks as a normal part of aging, though! Treatment can help.
Disease
Diabetes and some neurological conditions can cause incontinence. Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and brain injury can all contribute to the problem. Ask your doctor if any health conditions you have might be contributing.
Family History
If Mom had a leaky bladder, chances are you might too! This is another one of those runs-in-the-family things.
Additional risk factors include being overweight and smoking. Taking stock of your risk factors can help you determine what is behind your leaky bladder. And that gets you one step closer to conquering bladder leaks this summer!
Take Control of Your Bladder!
While bladder leaks can be daunting, there is hope. With lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and help from your doctor, you can conquer urinary incontinence and get the most out of those warm summer days. Read on to learn how!
Lifestyle Changes
Decreasing your risk for bladder leaks should start with assessing your lifestyle. This may include:
- Strengthening pelvic floor muscles with exercises
- Getting lots of fiber in your diet
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking cigarettes
Implementing these lifestyle changes can help reduce bladder leaks, especially when combined with other natural remedies or medications from your doctor.
Supplements and Herbs
There have been some promising developments in natural remedies for bladder control in recent years. While more research is needed, preliminary studies are showing what medicinal herbalists knew all along. Herbal medicines and supplements can help reduce bladder accidents, allowing you to pursue summer adventures without fear.
Herbs
The impact of several herbs on urinary incontinence is currently being studied. A few of the most promising are:
- horsetail
- crataeva nurvala
- cornsilk
- lindera aggregata
- buchu
- capsaicin
While the research and anecdotal evidence for incontinence are promising, consult your doctor and do your research to make sure you are using the right remedy for you. Although more research is needed, the above herbs seem effective in reducing the symptoms of incontinence.
Supplements
Scientists are now able to isolate the key components of some of these herbs to create powerful natural bladder control supplements. A high-quality supplement, when taken consistently, can vastly improve symptoms and quality of life.
Confitrol24
If you want to start the summer with an effective bladder control supplement, look no further than Leading Edge Health Confitrol24. Confitrol24 contains Urox, a patented blend of potent herbal components. Urox has been clinically shown to improve bladder control[2]. The secret to Urox’s3 success lies in its powerful natural formulation.
Urox contains three powerhouse components well known to help improve urinary tract issues.
- Raw horsetail has been used to treat urinary and kidney issues since ancient times. Today its benefits are being actively studied, and the results are clear: raw horsetail can help improve the symptoms of urinary incontinence by improving muscle tone.
- Cratevox is derived from Craeteva Nurvala. Craeteva Nurvala, an ancient Ayurvedic herb, has been valued for centuries for improving elasticity in the bladder. Cratevox has been called the “bladder restoring miracle.”
- Lindera Aggregata has antioxidant properties. This powerful herb’s anti-aging and antioxidant qualities can help rejuvenate your urinary system.
These three natural ingredients work together to make clinically proven Confitrol24 a seriously effective bladder control booster.
Medical Solutions
If incontinence is severe and affects your day to day life, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will run tests to check for any underlying conditions. They may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as the ones described above. For very severe cases, medications and surgery may be recommended. For some, a nerve stimulating device may provide relief.
There are so many options for treating your leaky bladder these days that there is no reason to suffer and stay home. If bladder control problems are keeping you from living your life, it is time to take control.
Conclusions
Urinary incontinence can be a real summer bummer. Now is the time to make changes to improve your quality of life. You don’t have to spend another summer on the sidelines, living in fear of an embarrassing accident.
While incontinence may be common, that doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Talk with your doctor to assess any contributing factors or underlying conditions. Lifestyle changes, such as eating lots of fiber, staying active, and doing pelvic floor exercises can improve symptoms.
When it comes to bladder control, a quality herbal supplement can yield significant results. Make sure you choose a clinically proven, high-quality supplement so you can get maximum efficacy.
With the right tools, you can make it to every summer party without fear of incontinence ruining the fun!
Up next, find out how to “Minimize Unwanted Stretch Marks Before Swimsuit Season Hits” to get the most out of your summer.
Endnotes
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3821987/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355721
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793427/
[1] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/urinary-incontinence/urinary-incontinence-in-women#:~:text=Over%2025%20million%20adult%20Americans,stress%2C%20functional%20and%20overflow%20incontinence.
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793427/
