It’s Time to Talk About Urinary Incontinence
More than 33 million U.S. adults, or 17 percent of the population, have bladder issues, like urinary incontinence (UI).
Four signs you may have urinary incontinence or another bladder issue:
- You often have a sudden urge to urinate but find it hard to get to the bathroom in time without leaking.
- You pee eight or more times in a day.
- You wake up one or more times during the night to go to the bathroom.
- You leak urine when you cough, sneeze or exercise.
Making do with urinary incontinence can affect your health in several ways. For example:
- Fear of leaking urine while in public can keep you from doing things you enjoy and isolate you from others. Urinary incontinence has been linked to depression and anxiety.
- Having to wake up at night to go to the bathroom robs your body of the rest needed to be productive and alert during the day. Without enough sleep, you’re at risk of falling and hurting yourself.
- Urinary incontinence pads alone can cost $200 to $300 a month.
Six Lifestyle Changes to Ease Bladder Issues Like UI
1. Keep a journal of your bathroom trips for several days to share with your doctor when discussing your urinary incontinence. Note in the journal things like time of day, volume and if there was a leakage episode.
2. Reduce urinary incontinence episodes by paying attention to what, when and how much you’re drinking. Alcohol and caffeine irritate the bladder, so try to limit these kinds of fluids to improve urinary incontinence. Smoking also annoys the bladder—just one more good reason to quit.
3. Talk with your doctor about medications that can help improve urinary incontinence and other bladder issues. That includes drugs you’re already taking that may be causing problems as well as any new meds you might take to improve your condition.
4. Do pelvic floor muscle exercises to improve bladder issues like UI. Pelvic floor muscle exercises, also known as Kegels, can be done throughout the day.
5. Ease bladder problems by practicing “time voiding.” When you feel the urge to urinate, try waiting 15 minutes before relieving yourself to force the bladder to stretch and have better capacity. Tip: It’s best to work on this when you’re at home.
6. Lose excess weight to improve urinary incontinence. If you’ve been meaning to lose weight, doing it now could help reduce the number of times you need an emergency trip to the restroom.
If lifestyle changes alone don’t improve your bladder issues, see your primary care doctor to identify your problem and the right treatment plan, which may include referring you to a doctor specializing in bladder health issues.
SCAN Health Plan is dedicated to supporting the health, well-being and independence of its Medicare members. If you have don’t have a Medicare Advantage plan, look at the comprehensive coverage, award-winning service, and extensive network of caring physicians, offered by SCAN Health Plan.
