Urinary incontinence is the inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder. Urine is produced continuously by the kidneys. From each kidney the urine passes down a tube called a ‘ureter’ into the bladder, which is a muscular ‘sack’ in which urine is stored until it is expelled from the body. There is a muscular ring, the ‘sphincter’, at the neck (outflow) of the bladder that prevents urine flowing out. When your bladder is full, you have the sensation of needing to pass urine. This sensation occurs through the nerves in the bladder wall. When you pass urine, your sphincter muscle relaxes while your bladder wall muscles contract and the urine passes out through a tube called the ‘urethra’. You can increase the pressure on the bladder by contracting the muscles of your abdomen and pelvis to help expel the urine.

What are the causes, who is at risk and what are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?

This is because the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened during childbirth and, after the menopause, a lack of the hormone oestrogen causes a weakened urethra. Childbirth may also cause damage to the sphincter, urethra and nerves of the bladder. Pelvic surgery may also be a cause of similar damage to these structures. All these problems cause reduced resistance to the flow of urine. Therefore, urinary incontinence in women tends to increase with age and is more common after childbirth and pelvic surgery.

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence involves the leakage of small amounts of urine when coughing, straining, laughing or sneezing. It is the most common type of incontinence in women. It occurs when there is a reduced resistance to the flow of urine so that any activity that increases the pressure within the abdomen, and so on the bladder, causes a leakage of urine.

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence involves the sensation of having a full bladder when the bladder is not full and having to rush to the toilet to pass urine. If you do not make it to the toilet in time, urinary incontinence occurs. Urge incontinence can be caused by a urinary tract infection and, more rarely, by problems with the spinal cord that result in overactivity of the bladder wall muscles, or by problems that affect the brain such as dementia or stroke.

What is the treatment for urinary incontinence?

It is very common and many experts are able to help you.

Self-care action plan

You can do many things yourself to control urinary incontinence. These include: empty the bladder at regular intervals, so it never becomes too full,

avoid drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, which can make you pass more urine,

Wear special pads to protect your skin from any leaking urine.

If you are pregnant, there are pelvic floor muscle exercises that you can do to help prevent urinary incontinence. One simple exercise is to tighten the muscles in your pelvis as if you were stopping the flow of urine.

Physiotherapy

Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor are often very useful. If you have stress incontinence, you can be taught to contract certain muscles when straining, so that you do not leak urine.

Other than the bacterial infection, some of the less common causes of cystitis are drug reactions, especially chemotherapy drugs, radiation of the pelvic area, long-term use of a catheter, and an allergic reaction to certain products like feminine hygiene sprays or spermicidal jellies. Harsh soaps, bubble baths, deodorized tampons, and douches can also contribute to the development of cystitis. Cystitis can also result as a complication of other conditions such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, endometriosis, and various pelvic inflammatory disorders. People with diabetes need to be particularly careful in treating this disorder, since the kidneys are at risk for infection. Keeping the immune system strong and healthy is very beneficial in fighting off bladder infection. Taking a tonic that’s made from natural herbs of echinacea root, goldenseal root, astragalus, cats claw, ginger root, and pau d will help in boosting the immune system and making it easier to fight off infection

More women are plagued with cystitis than men by a sizable percentage. There are two main reasons for this. First, the woman’s urethral opening is closer to the anus than a man’s, so the germs don’t have as far to travel. In addition, a woman’s urethra itself is considerably shorter than a man’s, 1 and 1/2 inches for a woman compared to 8 inches for a man. This greatly reduces the distance bacteria needs to travel to a woman’s bladder. Most men who have healthy urinary tracts very seldom develop cystitis. Men are, however, at greater risk for bladder infection, if they have an enlarged prostate gland. Keep the bladder and kidneys cleansed and nourished with a natural plant formula that includes the benefits of the cranberry, which has been determined to have infection-fighting properties.

There are several steps that can be taken to help reduce the risk of developing cystitis. Some apply to both men and women and some to woman only. For example, holding your urine can cause the urine to begin to grow stagnant and lead to the growth of bacteria, leading to cystitis. Go frequently, try never to hold it. Changing the body’s natural acidity by douching can lead to infection. Avoid douching. Drink plenty of fluids. Your urine should never be dark in color. Always keep the anal/urethra area clean. It’s very important for woman to remember to never wipe from back to front, always from front to back after a bowel movement.

Another lifestyle change that may help reduce the risk of developing infection is to choose underwear made of cotton, which is a natural, breathable fiber. If you do prefer wearing underwear made from fabrics such as silk, nylon, or other fabrics, make sure they have a cotton crotch. Wearing anything tight-fitting such as pants, shorts, or underwear is okay for short periods of time, but they can put you at risk for developing when worn for extended periods of time.

And, finally, add some food sources which will aid in reducing bacteria in the urine. They include oranges, pineapples, tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables. Combine with these foods an herbal formula that will strengthen and vitalize the urinary system. Make sure it includes the most beneficial ingredients for optimum health. Look for herbs such as juniper berries, uva ursi which kills bacteria, parsley leaf, celery seed, asparagus which helps flush out bacteria, and buchu leaf which acts as a urinary tract disinfectant and diuretic.