Two types of incontinence are stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence. If everyday actions such as coughing, exercising, laughing, or sneezing cause you to release minuscule amounts of urine, then it is more likely that you may have stress urinary incontinence. This form is more prevalent in women and is treatable. Additionally, physical changes in women associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are the main causes associated with stress incontinence.

Urge incontinence happens when you abruptly feel the need to urinate and then lose control of your bladder. This usually happens for no apparent reason, and like stress continence, urge continence is more prevalent in women. Therefore, there are more cases of female urinary incontinence than there are male urinary incontinence. Improper bladder contractions are the most frequent primary cause of urge incontinence, and can develop when the muscles and nerves that control the bladder’s holding capability are damaged. There are numerous circumstances that can cause such damage, including bladder infections and childbirth.

Natural Remedies For Incontinence

Try to lose weight. It is known that losing even a few pounds can lessen the number of incidents of incontinence.

Empty your bladder on a regular basis. Do not try to hold it until you are finished with a project. Holding too long can lead to problems such as a bladder infection or an overstretched bladder. What’s more, if your bladder is too full and you have a weak sphincter muscle, you will likely experience leaking when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. It is wise to relieve your bladder before and after meals, and especially before turning in for the night.

Kegel exercises were developed to help pregnant women deal with stress urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Consider doing this form of exercise to help with your incontinence. Male, female, and all ages can use Kegel.

Here is how to perform kegel exercises according to the National Association for Continence:

1. Without tensing the muscles of your legs, buttocks, or abdomen, picture that you are trying to hold back a bowel movement by tightening the ring of muscles around the anus. This exercise indentifies the back part of the pelvic muscles.

2. During urination, try to stop the flow, and then restart it. This indentifies the front part of the pelvic muscles. (For women: Picture yourself trying to grip a slipping tampon.)

3. Now, you are ready to do the exercise in its entirety. As you work from back to front, tighten the muscles while counting to four slowly, then release. This should be done for two minutes, at least three times a day. Aim for at least one-hundred repetitions.

Prepare yourself in the case of an impending accident. E.g., if you know you are going to sneeze or cough, squeeze that sphincter ahead of time to prevent an accident.

Try your best not to panic. People with urge urinary incontinence have almost no warning of the need to urinate. Keep calm at all cost. Instead, when you feel the need to urinate coming, just relax. The same muscles used to clench your buttocks can also be used to keep those “got to go” feelings at bay. Clench the muscles as tight as possible and hold for a few seconds. If you do this for a few times it should make the urge “to go” dissipate. After the urge to urinate subsides walk slowly to the nearest restroom.

Breathing deeply is another way to deal with urges. When a sudden urge to urinate hits, calm down and have the confidence to know that you will not have an accident. If you can calm yourself for about thirty to sixty seconds then chances are the urge will go away. The reason for this is to get control of your bladder and not to panic. When you have calmed yourself then you should calmly go the bathroom.

Always be ready for an emergency. If incontinence is a problem for you at nights, then sleep with a bedpan or a commode within arm’s length, just in case you need it.

Keep in mind how long it takes you to get to the bathroom. As we get older, it takes us longer to get places. Make sure you position yourself as close as possible to the bathroom. This is especially important if you are staying with relatives or staying at a hotel.

Buy the necessary supplies that you may need for your condition i.e., absorbent underpants, pads, and shields. These products absorb fifty to five-hundred times their weight in water, neutralize odor, and coagulate fluid to thwart seepage. The type needed varies from person to person and the degree of incontinence you have. It is understandable if you are embarrassed to buy these items. However, if you can find a pharmacist that does not mind pulling your items before you get there, which would allow you to just pay and leave, that would be a big help. Fortunately, there is the internet. These items can be purchased online and delivered right to your front door.

Try to control and reduce stress and tension in your life. When people are anxious or depressed their bodies sensations are enhanced in a negative way. If you are already anxious, then feeling an urge to urinate could push you to a breaking point. Take at least one hour out of every day just to do something for you. Taking walks in the park, watching a favorite movie, or going to a movie or a museum are all activities that can help you unwind.