Reasons That Could Be Causing Your Urinary Incontinence And What To Do About It

Written By Anita Ginsburg / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

The inability to control urine release from the bladder is an embarrassing condition that may be cause for medical concern. Although many people begin to experience urinary incontinence as they get older, it is not universal. The problem has several potential causes that can often be effectively treated.

Caffeine

Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine, like several cups of coffee, soda, or tea daily, could increase the urge to urinate or frequency of urination. A full bladder has a harder time holding the fluid, and leaks could occur.

If you notice a connection between drinking caffeinated beverages and running to the bathroom, you might want to reduce the amount of caffeine you consume. This is especially true for older people with other contributing causes to urinary leakage.

Exercise

Athletes who perform strenuous exercise or workouts, and runners in particular, may begin to leak urine occasionally. This happens when the pelvic floor muscles become strained from overuse and can no longer support a full bladder as well as before.

It may help to pace your physical activities with longer pauses between each workout as well as avoid exercises that put pressure on the pelvic floor. For some people, these might include long-distance running, like marathon training, or heavy weightlifting.

Medication

Certain medications, such as water pills or diuretics, can cause you to urinate more frequently. This could cause urinary leakage if you are not used to staying close to the bathroom after taking the medication. Talk to your doctor about any urine leakage that seems to be related to medicines you are taking.

Weight Gain

People who become morbidly obese sometimes begin to experience urine drips that can be uncomfortable physically and socially. This happens when extra weight in the abdomen puts pressure on the bladder and forces it to release urine unexpectedly. Losing weight to reach a healthy level for your build as recommended by your doctor may help to relieve the problem.

Pregnancy

Similar to some of the above issues, pregnancy can put added pressure on the woman's bladder, causing her to leak urine occasionally. Often, the problem is resolved after the child is born. But if it persists, the doctor may recommend Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor for better bladder support.

Loss of bladder control can occur at various stages of life or due to reasons like those above. Talk to your doctor about the best way to address the problem based on your personal health and circumstances.

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Written By:

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colo. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

 Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash