Tips for dealing with incontinence

Millions of people suffer from urinary tract disorders. This is more than just an inconvenience. It can limit how they live their lives and cut down on their activities. It’s no fun when incontinence seems to interfere with many areas of your life. Still, there are ways to deal with the problem. Here are some tips on how you can free yourself and keep incontinence from ruling your life.

You should drink enough water. This may not seem logical at first and the desire might be to cut down water intake to lower the amount of urine. However, this isn’t always a good idea. Frequent urination without replenishing water can cause dehydration which can bring on other physical problems. Also, not enough water can cause urine to concentrate and irritate the bladder, thereby increasing the need to urinate. Therefore, never go thirsty. It can actually cause more problems than it “solves.”

Another trick is the practice of double voiding, that is, urinating twice when you visit the bathroom. In this way, you make certain that your bladder is completely empty and reduce incontinence. Just wait a little after the first urination then urinate again, as completely as possible. You should also do this before any exercise or strenuous activity.

Be aware of the side effects of medications. Some medicines are diuretics that can increase the need to urinate and can aggravate incontinence. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about any medication you are taking. Also, the fact that the medication may be a diuretic will probably be listed on the brochure you received with your medicine. You should also avoid other diuretics like coffee or tea or at least reduce consumption. Some teas are less diuretic than others, so it might be a good idea to do a little research. And soft drinks aren’t much better. They contain sugar and caffeine, both of which can be bladder irritants.

Stay calm. Avoid putting yourself in physical locations where finding a bathroom would be difficult or impossible. This can cause anxiety and actually stimulate the need to urinate. When you go somewhere new, find out where the bathroom is. Even if you don’t need it, this will reduce stress and apprehension. Wearing protective clothing may also reduce anxiety, depending on the severity of the problem.

With a little foresight and self-discipline, it is quite possible to deal with incontinence and live a happy productive life.