10 ways to help stop leaks

Urinary incontinence is a highly inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing affliction to suffer from. It can disrupt the order of everyday life and cause anxiety and distress in its victims. Purchasing  incontinence bed pads and products can be an incredibly uncomfortable experience for many, however, it should be noted that millions of people within the UK suffer from its inflictions and it is not a symptom of weakness.

There are many reasons why someone might be subjected to the unintentional passing of urine and, equally, there are many things you can do to help prevent it. Urinary incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and/or urethral sphincter muscles are weakened or damaged, thus obstructing the individual’s ability to prevent urination. The reasons why these muscles might be weakened aren’t necessarily a fault of our lifestyle, for instance, a heavy bout of laughter can momentarily relax our pelvic floor muscles and allow urine to pass if the bladder is full. Pregnancy is another physical state that affects the resilience of our pelvic floor muscles. Such causes are further evidence, if needed, that urinary incontinence is not a dishonorable condition.

However, there are many lifestyle changes we can make that can have a positive impact on the frequency of incontinence. Caffeine and alcohol, for example, are not conducive to a healthy bladder. They cause irritation and will increase your passing or urine, so cutting down on your intake will help you maintain control. Following on these lines, don’t make the mistake of cutting your fluid intake altogether. Whatever you might feel, drinking more water does not encourage incontinence, rather it increases your bladder’s capacity.

Urinary incontinence can be helped, but it is not something to be ashamed of. It is a tell-tale sign that your body is slightly off balance in some way, and can usually be rectified or improved by a simple alteration of lifestyle.