Your Bladder – Who’s in Control?
Maintain a good bladder function
One in three women over 40 experience inconveniences, while it affects one in two women over the age of 60. For women aged 80 and over, it’s rare not to have some type of discomfort.
Whilst it becomes more prevalent as you age, it’s not a normal side effect of the aging process and you don’t have to accept and live with it. It can be controlled – by you.
Basics of Bladder Function
• Most women begin to experience signs of bladder inconvenience in their 40s and 50s, after childbearing. This applies to vaginal, not caesarean births
• In some cases, however, discomfort can start earlier, particularly for those predisposed to urinary conditions
There are three main types of urinary incontinence:
1. Stress incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when weakened pelvic floor muscles cause you to leak urine when you cough, sneeze, jump, or laugh. Intensive physical exercise or sudden movements can also set it off.
2. Urge incontinence
Urge incontinence typically occurs in older women and is when you feel a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate. Also called ‘overactive bladder’, urge incontinence is caused by the bladder contracting when it shouldn’t, allowing urine to leak through the sphincter muscles. It can strike at any time or anywhere, even during sleep. For some, the mere sound or touch of running water can have you running to the nearest loo.
3. Mixed incontinence
Mixed incontinence as its name suggests, is a combination of both urge and stress incontinence.
Simple changes could change your life…
• Avoid drinking after 10pm. If thirsty, take tiny sips of water
• Limit coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol after 6pm
• Identify personal triggers – cold weather or proximity to water – and plan loo breaks
• If planning a day/night out, a work meeting or occasion – limit liquids beforehand and plan loo time to avoid panics
• Look at your diet: avoid processed foods, eat more fruit and veg, lose weight if you need to
• Join a Pilates or yoga class – both can work wonders on pelvic floor muscles
• Relax before bedtime
• Take your daily Femaxeen® capsule
Other types of incontinence require further medical examination:
Overflow incontinence
When you’re unable to fully empty your bladder completely, causing frequent leaking.
Total incontinence
When your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or experience frequent leaking.
Why Do We Lose Control?
• Being overweight, which adds pressure to the urinary tract muscles
• Surgery e.g. hysterectomy
• Too much caffeine or alcohol, as they increase the need to urinate
• Certain medications e.g. diuretics
• Conditions affecting the spinal cord, such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis
