11 tips on how to deal with urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can be an embarrassing and sometimes debilitating condition that many people live with. Many assume that incontinence only affects the elderly, but you will be surprised to know that this is not the case and that people of any age can experience it.
We have put together some top tips on how best to help deal with incontinence to help make your life more comfortable

Stop smoking

Smoking can make you more prone to chronic coughing and this persistent coughing will start to put strain on the pelvic floor making you more prone to leaks. Smoking is also known to be a bladder irritant which can cause overactive bladder symptoms.

Pads

One of the most popular incontinence products are pads. Urinary incontinence pads are absorbent pants which can be worn inside underwear to soak up urine. They are thin and discreet and can really improve quality of life stopping many people from feeling that they are housebound.

Reduce caffeine intake

Caffeine that is found in tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, energy drinks and even chocolate can make irritate the bladder and increase activity which can make incontinence worse with higher urgency to urinate and more frequency in urination. We recommend cutting down on caffeine intake and swapping to decaffeinated options where possible.

Reduce alcohol

Just like caffeine mentioned above, alcohol can also irritate the bladder which can exacerbate incontinence symptoms. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also disrupt the signals to your brain which make you aware of bladder overflow which increases your risk of leaks.

Avoid high impact exercise

Keeping a healthy lifestyle is always a good thing to practice, however certain types of exercise may not be suitable if you suffer with urinary incontinence. High impact exercise such as sit-ups can put pressure on your pelvic floor making you more prone to leakage. We recommend taking part in exercises that can help to strengthen your pelvic floor which will relieve symptoms for example aerobics, gentle jogging and Pilates which is really good for strengthening the core.

Take care when lifting

Lifting heavy items can put strain on the pelvic floor muscles, we recommend tightening your muscles before, during and after your lift to help reduce the risk of leaking or avoid lifting where possible.

Avoid constipation

Constipation causes additional straining which can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and increase the symptoms of urinary incontinence. We recommend eating a fibre-rich diet and making sure you are emptying your bowls regularly.

Keep hydrated

Many people who have urinary incontinence avoid drinking the recommended fluid intake each day as they feel it can cause more problems such as increased frequency to urinate. Limiting your fluid intake can make incontinence worse as over time is will reduce your bladder’s capacity and it can also lead to constipation.

Avoid certain foods

Certain foods are known for irritating the bladder which can make leaks and other symptoms of urinary incontinence worse. These foods include;

• Tomato products
• Chocolate
• Citrus fruits
• Spicy foods
• Processed foods
• Onions

Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises can help to firstly prevent but also control symptoms of urinary incontinence. Also known as pelvic floor exercises, the exercises are often just a simple movement that when repeated as part of your daily routine can really help to strengthen your pelvic floor. Kegel exercises are very discreet and can be performed at any time, whether you’re sitting at your desk or relaxing on the couch.

Emsella

Emsella is a non-surgical treatment that has been FDA Cleared to improve urinary incontinence. The treatment is performed in-clinic and patients remain fully clothed throughout. You are simply required to sit on the Emsella treatment chair where it then applies High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles and restore neuromuscular control. A single Emsella session can bring thousands of supramaximal pelvic floor muscle contractions and it has been reported that one session of Emsella is the equivalent of 11000 kegel exercises.

Benefits of Emsella treatment for Urinary Incontinence

• FDA Cleared to improve urinary incontinence & vaginal laxity
• Patients remain fully clothed throughout treatment
• 75% reduction in pad usage
• Non-invasive & Non-surgical
• Walk-in, walk out procedure
• No recovery or downtime
• 95% of BTL Emsella patients experienced noticeable improvement
• Treats entire pelvic floor area in 30 minutes

Why choose The Private Clinic?

The Private Clinic are a multi-award-winning Cosmetic Surgery provider with over 40 years’ experience in Medical Cosmetic procedures and advanced non-surgical non-invasive treatments. We are proud to have pioneered the widest range of minimally invasive, surgical, medical-cosmetic and aesthetic treatments catered to the individual needs of our patients
To find out more about Emsella treatment at The Private Clinic or to book a free consultation please call 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form. Emsella treatment is available at our clinic in Leeds.