Have you noticed an unexpected change in how frequently you need to urinate? Bladder control and continence is something that can fluctuate throughout your life. There are a number of reasons that you might feel like you need to urinate more often or are experiencing bladder leaks.
Bladder incontinence is not necessarily a permanent issue, and there are a number of ways to manage it, depending on the cause. Read ahead to learn more about what is happening in your body when you are experiencing incontinence.
According to the National Institute on Aging, your body controls the bladder, including storing and disposing of urine, with a specific network of muscles. If you’re experiencing incontinence, there is likely an issue with the muscles around your bladder. They might be weaker than they need to be to do the job properly, or they might be overactive, sending signals to your body that it’s time to urinate even when your bladder isn’t full.
The good news is that there are a number of effective ways to manage incontinence and, in some cases, reverse or lessen the effects.
Your body controls the bladder with a specific network of muscles.
There are a few different kinds of incontinence, and your doctor can help you determine which kind you are experiencing. Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder, occurs when the bladder contracts more often than it should, forcing urine out and causing leaks.
According to Healthline, urge incontinence could be caused by a bladder infection, diseases of the nervous system or an enlarged prostate in men. Your doctor is the best source for information regarding any medical diagnosis.
Stress incontinence, on the other hand, occurs when an external physical stressor causes bladder leaks. Activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting something heavy could cause weakened bladder muscles to let out urine.
Stress incontinence is caused by weakened bladder muscles that might not be able to keep things under control when you’re exerting yourself physically. Although incontinence affects older individuals generally, stress incontinence is sometimes seen in women who have given childbirth or men who have had prostate surgery.
In some cases, stress incontinence is a temporary issue that can be remedied by strengthening the bladder muscles through exercise.
Stress incontinence is sometimes seen in women who have given childbirth.
One of the most effective ways to get the muscles around your bladder in good working order is to perform Kegel exercises. To do Kegels, tighten your pelvic floor muscles for a few seconds and then release them. Repeat that hold and release 10 times, three times a day or more. Kegels are best done sitting or laying down.
If you are worried about bladder leaks, another tool to help you make it to the bathroom on time is the DFree. This wearable ultrasound device tracks bladder fullness and patterns on when you normally need to use the bathroom before having an accident. The DFree sends data straight to your phone or device so you always know what is going on with your bladder.
The best first step when dealing with any health changes is to see your doctor and get their recommendation. If you are experiencing a sudden urge to urinate, there are a number of options in helping to manage or treat the symptoms to help you get control over your life.
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