Incontinence can be daunting, worrisome, embarrassing: you name it. Natural remedies for incontinence in women, and in men, are out there. Here are some natural treatments for incontinence that you can try at home to help manage it:

Kegel exercises

These can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Lose weight

If you have some weight to lose, do your best to try and lose it – it will take pressure off the bladder.

Keep a voiding diary

Write down what you eat, drink, and when you go to the bathroom. This can help you to see what foods and/or drinks can be triggering or exacerbating incontinence.

Magnesium

This mineral can help with muscle function. Magnesium-rich foods include pumpkin seeds, spinach, corn, bananas, and beans.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a vitamin that promotes bone and muscle strength. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to incontinence. Vitamin D can be found in fish, dairy, and also by exposure to sunshine.

Quit smoking

Any way you look at it, smoking is unhealthy. Smoking can even cause incontinence because of chronic coughing, which can be a risk factor for developing stress incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Stay away from soda, coffee, and alcoholic drinks. They are diuretics, meaning they stimulate muscle contractions and can irritate the bladder. Carbonated drinks can also worsen bladder irritation.

Check your medications

You may be taking medication, which can make your incontinence worse. This can include blood pressure medication and sedatives. Read up on all the side effects.

Drink enough water

Hydration is important to health, even when suffering from incontinence. Not drinking enough can lead to constipation, dehydration and kidney stones. Record your water intake in your voiding diary.

Find Relief with the Incontinence Institute

If you can’t find the best solution with natural remedies, it may be time to reach out to a healthcare professional. Our team of doctors at the Incontinence Institute in Middle Tennessee is here to help. Contact us today.

Incontinence affects millions of people and it is unfortunate that so many do not want to talk about it. This can lead to misinformation circulating around. There are a lot of myths about incontinence. These myths about urinary incontinence are pervasive, and mostly untrue. It is time to face the facts about bladder control, and dispel the myths.

Myth #1: Incontinence only affects older women.

Incontinence can affect younger women, childless women, and men. Though it is most common in older women, incontinence affects both sexes, and people of all ages.

Myth #2: It’s normal to have frequent urine leaks.

Unfortunately, many people suffering from incontinence convince themselves that these symptoms are normal. Leaking urine on a regular basis is not normal. Losing control of bodily functions can be embarrassing, but it does not have to keep happening. Take our quiz to see if incontinence is affecting you more than you think.

Myth #3: You should avoid drinking liquids as much as possible.

It makes some sense to think that if you don’t drink anything, you won’t have any urine leaks or accidents. But in reality, not drinking can lead to another set of health problems. It is important to stay hydrated, even when suffering from incontinence. Not drinking enough can lead to dehydration, constipation, or even kidney stones. Try to drink mostly water and avoid alcohol, soda, and coffee.

Myth #4: If you try really hard, you can control it.

Some people think that if they try hard enough, they can control their incontinence. After all, it is their body and bodily function. But by definition, incontinence is an involuntary leak of urine. It cannot be controlled and it was not planned. Losing control of your body and feeling like your body is betraying you can be very difficult. It can make you feel helpless, but there is help.

If you are suffering from incontinence, contact us at the Incontinence Institute. You can also call our discreet, professional Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 if you have questions or to set up an appointment. The Incontinence Institute offers individualized treatment and a variety of surgical and non-surgical options based on your specific needs.

A new study shows that surgery beats physical therapy in stopping severe stress urinary incontinence in women. Surgery improved the condition and had a higher cure rate, says the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Stress urinary incontinence can negatively impact life and happen during everyday actions such as laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Many women suffer in silence but there is help. The first line of treatment is often pelvic floor muscle training, or Kegel exercises. However, for more severe cases, this study shows that surgery is a more successful solution to incontinence.

Muscle training for incontinence works the pelvic muscles with the goal of stronger muscles closing the urethra and holding back urine. But, these exercises were not as effective in more severe cases of stress urinary incontinence. Urethral sling surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that involves inserting a sling under the urethra to give additional support and compression to help it stay closed. It has been proven to better treat and cure stress urinary incontinence.

The Incontinence Institute offers this procedure. According to the American Urological Association, approximately 8 out of 10 women are cured of urinary incontinence after this surgery. As with all surgeries, there are potential risks. But 91% of women from the study reported subjective improvement with surgery, compared to 64% treated with pelvic floor muscle exercises and physiotherapy. Urethral sling surgery is a viable option for those who do not improve after non-surgical treatment.

If stress urinary incontinence is affecting you and you want to learn more about solutions, contact us. Or call 1-800-771-1953 to speak with one of our dedicated Medical Concierges to ask questions or set up an appointment.