Tag Archives: Bladder Control

Preventing Incontinence

Incontinence is no laughing matter — especially if laughing, sneezing, or coughing makes you leak urine! That’s known as stress incontinence, and is one of several types of incontinence. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who really wants to have trouble controlling their bladder! Here are some tips to help prevent the problem before it starts. Maintain a healthy weight for your height and frame. Extra pounds can put extra pressure on the bladder. Exercise regularly — all over. Exercise can help prevent weight from becoming a problem… and it can help keep your muscles toned. Muscle weakness is … Continue reading →

Incontinence

It’s an embarrassing thing to talk about, but if you have occasional or ongoing trouble controlling your bladder, you’re not alone. There are different types of incontinence, including: Stress incontinence: when pressure on the bladder — like from a sneeze, or laughing — makes you leak a little. This type is common in women, especially those who have had children. Urge incontinence: when spasms in the bladder create the urge to piddle. Overflow incontinence: when the bladder fills up without signaling a need to use the bathroom. Mixed incontinence: when a combination of factors are at play. So what causes … Continue reading →

Menopause and Bladder Problems

You think the hot flashes are bad? Another common symptom of menopause is bladder control problems, also known as urinary incontinence. During perimenopause and menopause, levels of estrogen in the body drop dramatically. Estrogen does things like control the menstrual cycle and body changes during pregnancy; this hormone also helps keep your bladder and urethra healthy. As your body goes through menopause and has less estrogen in action, the pelvic muscles that control your bladder can get weaker. There are different types of bladder control problems that can develop during and after menopause. Perhaps the most common kind of bladder … Continue reading →

The Effect of Pregnancy on Your Bladder

Bladder control problems are common during pregnancy and after child birth. These problems are even more common during a second or subsequent pregnancy. The most common problem is stress incontinence. This happens when you sneeze, cough or laugh and a bit of urine leaks from your bladder. The muscles of the pelvic floor keep the urethra closed until you need to use the bathroom. Problems occur when these muscles are weakened by pregnancy and child birth. There are several causes of a weakened pelvic floor during pregnancy. One is the weight and pressure of your baby on these muscles. This … Continue reading →