With Bladder Health Month this November, our team at AFC Urgent Care Springfield wants you to start paying attention to a part of your body you might not think about until you go to the restroom—your bladder. There are several bladder problems out there, including cystitis, overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about urinary incontinence, an incredibly common medical condition.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence?
Both men and women can experience urinary incontinence. However, women do tend to be diagnosed more often than men.
Due to certain health events that women go through, such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, they’re at an increased risk of urinary incontinence, which occurs when the muscles and nerves that hold urine in the bladder are no longer as strong as they once were.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress incontinence
- Urge incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
- Functional incontinence
- Mixed incontinence
What Can Be Done to Treat Stress Incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence affects more than 15 million women living in the United States.
Fortunately, some steps can be taken to help treat stress incontinence, such as performing pelvic floor muscle exercises, drinking enough fluids, making healthy lifestyle changes, and learning how to train your bladder.
Ways to Keep Bladder Healthy
- Drink enough fluids, especially water.
- Limit alcohol and caffeine.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid constipation.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Perform pelvic floor muscle exercises.
- Use the bathroom when you need to.
Experiencing urinary incontinence or another bladder health issue? Visit our medical team at AFC Urgent Care Springfield for a medical evaluation and treatment plan!
