Many factors that weaken the pelvic floor muscles, including childbirth, menopause, obesity, and constipation, can increase the risk of bladder leakage. Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease can also interfere with bladder function, says Arthur Lewis Barnett, professor of urology at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore. Conditions that affect the prostate can also lead to incontinence.
But leaks aren’t a normal part of getting older.
You may be hesitant to bring up the topic, but speaking up can improve your quality of life. Here’s what you need to know to find the fix that works for you.
Before recommending treatment, your healthcare provider will determine the type of incontinence you are experiencing. The most common form is stress urinary incontinence, or leaking urine when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. “Pressure on the abdomen can cause the bladder to lose urine,” says Brian J. Linder, a urologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
If you have overactive bladder or urge incontinence, you may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom more often, or you may have an accident if you don’t make it in time. “Some people have to go every 20 minutes, which limits what they can do,” he says.
Evidence-based treatments for urinary incontinence range from lifestyle changes to surgery. Providers should start with the least invasive options. If your doctor doesn’t present you with different strategies, a professional such as a urologist or urogynecologist can help you find what works for you. You don’t have to deal with ,” says Kim.
lifestyle change It is usually the first choice of treatment. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds will relieve pressure on your bladder.Relief of constipation due to changes in eating habits such as increase fiber intake,or dosage, if desired, can have the same effect. Alcohol and caffeine can irritate the bladder and promote leakage, so limiting their use can also help.
pelvic floor physical therapyAnother non-invasive treatment that helps strengthen the muscles involved in urination. These exercises, known as Kegel exercises, help with both stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. According to Kim, they can take several sessions for work and practice at home.
dosage could be your next option, says Linder. Anticholinergic drugs such as oxybutynin (ditropane and zitropane XL) can help calm an overactive bladder, but research Especially at higher doses, they have been associated with dementia symptoms in the elderly. Beta-3 agonists such as mirabegron (Myrbetriq) could potentially provide some of the same effects without the cognitive risks, he says.
more invasive procedure Often a last resort. Of these, the gold standard for stress urinary incontinence is the sling method, which usually uses mesh to support the urethra and prevent leakage. illness can become serious. Doctors can also inject bulking agents into the bladder. It’s less invasive, but there are few long-term data. American Urological Association GuidelinesBotox injections into the bladder muscles for overactive bladder it might help“It will last about six months,” Linder says. Therefore, repeated treatments are necessary.
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