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How Do I Choose the Best Remedies for Urinary Incontinence?

Nicky Sutton
Nicky Sutton

Choosing the best remedies for urinary incontinence depends upon the type of urinary incontinence you have. Incontinence is often a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles as a result of, for example, childbirth. Pelvic floor exercises can be performed to strengthen the muscles. Stress, an overactive bladder, or overproduction of urine, can also cause urinary incontinence. Both natural remedies and prescription drugs are available to combat these problems, as well as various medical interventions and procedures.

The best remedies for urinary incontinence depend upon the type of incontinence you have. For example, stress incontinence is a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles, so performing pelvic floor exercises can improve the condition.

The human urinary tract.
The human urinary tract.

Urge incontinence, which also may be referred to as overactive bladder, is when muscle contractions in the bladder cause urine to escape. People with this type of incontinence suddenly need to urinate but have little time to get to a bathroom. Overflow incontinence is a condition when the body produces too much urine for the bladder to comfortably hold, it therefore leaks out in small amounts. Mixed incontinence is when both of these conditions affect a person.

Urge incontinence, which is the constant need to urinate, may be controlled with medication.
Urge incontinence, which is the constant need to urinate, may be controlled with medication.

Visit your doctor to discuss the type of incontinence you have and possible remedies for urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor exercises can often fix stress incontinence. To perform these, imagine you are trying to stop urinating and pull up your muscles in this way. Hold the muscles for three seconds and then release. Repeat 10 times and then rest. As these muscles strengthen over time, you should be able to better control your urine flow.

Bladder training can be performed to help overflow incontinence. It is used to lengthen the time between trips to the bathroom and helps individuals to hold their urine for longer periods of time. Scheduling trips to the toilet can also be useful for some people by setting bathroom trips at regular intervals.

As with any type of urinary incontinence, some factors can make it worse. Caffeine and alcohol cause more frequent urination. By regulating your intake of these substances, your need to urinate may be reduced. Other lifestyle changes such as frequent exercise and losing weight are also known remedies for urinary incontinence.

Natural remedies exist for urinary incontinence, such as dandelion, which can help to cleanse the kidneys and urinary tract. Some people experience incontinence when they are nervous; parsley is known to relieve this. Medications that may be prescribed by your doctor include anticholinergics, which can treat an overactive bladder, and Duloxetine which treats stress incontinence.

There are also medical interventions that can help with urinary incontinence, such as Botox which helps control an overactive bladder when injected into the bladder muscle. In more extreme circumstances, surgery can be performed which helps to keep the urethra closed, preventing urination.

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    • The human urinary tract.
      By: 3drenderings
      The human urinary tract.
    • Urge incontinence, which is the constant need to urinate, may be controlled with medication.
      By: Budimir Jevtic
      Urge incontinence, which is the constant need to urinate, may be controlled with medication.