How to Overcome Urinary Incontinence Successfully

Recent research has suggested that approximately a quarter of women in the United States encounter urinary related problems. For instance, a common struggle experienced by women is urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a condition whereby a woman cannot regulate the flow of urine in her bladder, which can lead to stressful and embarrassing situations. Luckily for New York residents, if you have such a problem and are stressing about how to overcome it, it is about time to consult a professional specialized in pelvic rehabilitation and urinary incontinence in Midtown East to have your issue vanquished.

Urinary incontinence develops at any point in life and progressively worsens, especially after menopause. Many women complain about the issue after pregnancy. The condition can vary from releasing urine when coughing to experiencing an urge to urinate that is extremely tough to hold and can consequently lead you to wet yourself. However, this condition can be easily reverted and prevented from affecting you further in the future.

Yakov Levy, MD, provides clients with solutions to get rid of this uncomfortable issue. Dr. Levy has vast experience in helping women with this problem and offers elite and safe expertise to help you get back to your everyday well-being.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is caused by a variety of factors that range from temporary to persistent factors. Some drinks, meals, and drugs may be responsible when you experience short-term urinary incontinence. They include:

  •         Alcohol
  •         Chili peppers
  •         Large quantities of Vitamin C
  •         Caffeine
  •         Sedatives
  •         Chocolate
  •         Carbonated drinks
  •         Citrus fruits

If you periodically experience the condition, it could be time to tone down the intake of the drinks and foods mentioned above. Permanent factors that may lead to urinary incontinence include:

  •         Pregnancy

Generally, pregnant women go through hormonal changes, and also the added fetus weight can combine to bring about incontinence.

  •         Childbirth

During delivery, the vaginal muscles vital for bladder control are susceptible to weakening. Moreover, damage can be experienced in bladder nerves and other supportive muscles that results in a prolapsed pelvic floor. All of these factors lead to incontinence.

  •         Menopause

Menopause is associated with a lesser estrogen production that is vital in ensuring the bladder’s lining stays healthy. Reduced production of the hormone leads to the lining’s depreciation that consequently exacerbates incontinence.

  •         Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is usually a result of pelvic floor muscles getting destroyed, especially after surgery, and can cause incontinence.

Forms of Incontinence

The following are the various types of urinary incontinence:

  •         Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is experienced when pressure is applied to your bladder through exercise, sneezing, laughing, or coughing that subsequently causes urine leaks.

  •         Urge Urinary Incontinence

With this incontinence type, you suddenly feel an intense urge to urinate, but you are unable to regulate your bladder to prevent it from occurring.

  •         Mixed Urinary Incontinence

This is a combination of both urge and stress incontinence, whereby symptoms can arise independently or together.

Treatment

At his private practice, Dr. Levy initially performs a pelvic exam and combines this with your symptom review to verify the type of incontinence troubling you. Dr. Levy provides pelvic rehabilitation, and further treatment may include non-surgical or surgical options, depending on the severity of your condition.

Additionally, you can practice healthier lifestyle habits such as eating more fiber, averting from smoking and drinking, engaging in pelvic floor exercises, and sustaining a healthy weight. All these ensure that your body is in optimal condition and reduces the risks of incontinence.

In case you need assistance with these problems, call the office of Dr. Levy’s private practice or book an appointment online to put your frustrating issues behind you for good.

Everything You Need to Know About Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence problems can be embarrassing. Nevertheless, understanding this condition and seeking help from a medical professional can help you regain your confidence. If you’re looking for help in the area of Wildwood, FL, urogynecologist specialists can help increase your chances of getting the problem under control.

What Is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when your bladder muscles relax or contract involuntarily. The loss of control in the flow of urine may result in either complete urination or minor leakage. Depending on its cause, urinary incontinence can be mild and temporary, or chronic and long-lasting.

Incontinence is not a disease but can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. Such conditions may include kidney stones, cancer, or infections.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

Overall, there are 5 known types of incontinence. You may experience one or more types at the same time. The general types of urinary incontinence include:

Stress Incontinence: Stress incontinence is triggered by increased pressure on your bladder. The stress to your bladder can cause your muscles to relax, making you leak urine. Pressure can result from certain types of physical activity such as exercise, sneezing, laughing, or coughing. Other factors that can result in stress incontinence include:

  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Certain medications
  • Prostate surgery in men

Urge Incontinence: Urge incontinence is also an overactive bladder or OAB. It happens when you experience a sudden and urgent need to urinate but are not able to make it to the bathroom in time. Possible causes of urge incontinence include:

  • Nerve damage in the bladder
  • Nervous system or muscle damage
  • Advanced aging
  • Conditions like:
    • Diabetes
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Stroke
    • Parkinson’s disease
  • Bladder infections and bladder stones
  • Certain medications

Overflow Incontinence: Overflow incontinence, sometimes called dribbling, occurs when you can’t empty your bladder. Some of the remaining urine may leak out later on. This type of incontinence is caused by:

  • Nerve damage
  • Weak bladder muscles
  • Tumors or an enlarged prostate
  • Certain medications
  • Constipation

If left untreated, overflow incontinence may lead to infections and other health problems.

Functional Incontinence: Functional incontinence is the failure to get to the bathroom in time which is caused by physical or mental conditions such as arthritis or dementia.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence: This is a combination of any two types of incontinence. The most common form of mixed urinary incontinence is having both urge and stress incontinence.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Many factors and conditions may lead to urinary incontinence. Some are easily treatable, while others are more severe and persistent. The main risk factors include:

  • Aging, which leads to the weakening of bladder muscles
  • Physical damage to your pelvic floor muscles caused by childbirth, or surgical procedures like hysterectomy
  • Prostate or bladder cancer and their treatments
  • The blockage caused by tumors

Other factors are constipation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), prostatitis, kidney or bladder stones, and interstitial cystitis. Urinary incontinence may also be a side effect of medications such as sedatives, blood pressure drugs, sedatives, and heart medications.

Treatment of Urinary Incontinence

The good news is urinary incontinence is a treatable condition. Your urogynecologist will recommend a treatment plan depending on the cause. If your incontinence is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, your doctor may prescribe medication or recommend surgery. Additionally, most health care providers will encourage you to do specific exercises that help you improve bladder control. They include bladder training or pelvic floor exercises.

Final Thoughts

Up to 10 percent of people over the age of 65 struggle with incontinence. However, with proper medical attention and lifestyle changes, they can lead normal lives.

If incontinence is interfering with your daily life, make an appointment with a Wildwood, FL, urogynecologist, and begin your journey to recovery.