Doctor, what can be done to help with bladder control?
Twenty-five million Americans suffer from treatable bladder control problems. Do you?
- Do you get a strong, sudden urge to go to the bathroom?
- Do you have to go to the bathroom eight or more times a day?
- Have you been wearing pads for protection?
- Do you know the location of every bathroom in the San Gabriel Valley?
- Have you had an accident?
- Do you get up more than two times a night?
If the above questions hit close to home, it may be time to visit your family physician. Several conditions can cause these symptoms, especially the overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence. There are many things that can be done to help.
Make lifestyle changes. These include changing your diet. Avoid foods that make you go to the bathroom more often, such as: citrus fruits, which can irritate the bladder, alcohol and foods that contain caffeine (cola, coffee, and tea). Drink normal amounts of water (five to six glasses of water each day).
Lose weight. Extra weight, especially around the middle of the body, sometimes makes these conditions worse.
Quit smoking. The chronic coughing due to smoking can exacerbate the leakage of urine. Nicotine can cause bladder contractions that can lead to urinary frequency. This can decrease the blood flow to the bladder.
Retrain the bladder. You can retrain the bladder muscles to hold urine for a longer period of time. A scheduled voiding pattern can reduce the number of trips to the bathroom.
Do pelvic muscle exercises (Kegels). Pelvic muscle exercises can make a big difference when it comes to bladder control. Imagine that you are urinating, then squeeze as if you are trying to stop. These are the very muscles that are needed to maintain control of urine.
If the above suggestions do not help, it is time to visit your family doctor. Daily medicines help treat and manage bladder problems and can greatly improve the quality of life.