At this stage of life, we should include experiences to share with our loved ones. If you live positively, it can result in a time filled with joy and happiness.
Urinary incontinence is a loss of bladder control and is a common condition in adults over the age of 60. However, it can occur in both women and younger men. Important for diagnosis: The loss of strength and endurance of the bladder muscles is a symptom, not a disease.
When treating urinary incontinence in older adults, several aspects must be addressed. Not only are medications , exercises , and natural remedies important to help improve this condition, but so is learning how to manage it.
Losing bladder control causes the inability to retain urine, which leads to various physical and psychological consequences that can negatively affect the well-being of the sufferer, inducing depression and shame due to this symptom.
What types of incontinence are there?
- Strain-induced urinary incontinence: This is characterized by urine loss associated with movement or physical activity . It is more common in women, and the patient may not notice any sensation prior to the loss of urine, whether due to laughter, sneezing, sports, or lifting heavy objects.
- Urgent enuresis : This is defined by the pain the patient may feel when holding in their urge to urinate or the fear of urinating on themselves. This type of enuresis is caused by a weak pelvic floor muscle, even if the patient is aware of what is happening.
- Mixed : This condition is caused by a malfunctioning and incompetent sphincter. There are no specific symptoms, although it can be determined by the frequency and number of times the patient goes to the bathroom.
- Psychogenic : This occurs when bladder instability or voluntary contraction of urine develops suddenly without the patient realizing it. It frequently appears after the age of 75 and is more common in men than in women.
If you'd like to learn more about solutions for this health problem, we invite you to explore our family of products. Click here and discover the Theramart line, specially designed for urinary incontinence.
The best remedies for the treatment of urinary incontinence
The appropriate treatment and home remedies depend on the type and severity of the symptoms. A combination of these and medications is often required, with the doctor suggesting whether or not they will be less invasive.
Some remedies and medications that are commonly used are:
- Anticholinergics : These can calm the bladder when it's overactive and are necessary for overactive bladder incontinence. Some of the most commonly used medications are tolterodine (Detrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), fesoterodine (Toviaz), and oxybutynin (Ditropan XL).
- Mirabegron (Myrbetriq) : Works as a relaxant and helps the bladder increase its urine-holding capacity . It may also improve urine emptying when using the bathroom.
- Alpha blockers : This medication is mostly used by male patients. It helps relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate muscle fibers to facilitate bladder emptying. Some of the best-known are tamsulosin (Flomax), silodosin (Rapaflo), and terazosin.
- Topical estrogen : Applying a low-dose estrogen tonic, either in the form of a cream or vaginal patch, can help tone the muscles and rejuvenate the tissues in the vaginal area. However, using systemic estrogen or taking pills is not recommended, as it can worsen the condition.
- Nature's Sunshine : Supports urinary maintenance. Made with extracts of hydrangea, grape, ursi, and hop leaves (key ingredients in natural medicine) that promote urine flow, synthesize the urinary tract, and support the immune system.
Urinary maintenance combines a series of vitamins and minerals that stimulate blood vessels and replenish the supply of potassium excreted in urine.
6. Pelvic floor stimulator : ApexM helps strengthen and tone the pelvic muscles very similar to Kegel exercises but this is done through a personalized probe adjusted to the level of incontinence the patient has.
When the muscles of the urinary system weaken, the patient involuntarily loses some urine. A 15-minute session for a week can help treat symptoms in women.
- Surgery : There are a variety of surgical solutions. This will vary depending on the degree and condition of the bladder and urethra. Some surgical options include:
- Intermittent self-catheterization : This involves inserting a catheter into the bladder through the urethra. It is used by patients with incontinence due to neuronal damage or who have poor urination control. This allows the catheter to completely empty any urine leaks.
- Bladder training : Learning to regain control and urination is key to increasing bladder control. This is achieved through specific exercises that develop the patient's pelvic floor.
- Intravaginal electrical stimulation : Strengthening pelvic floor contractions with an electrode helps the patient retain the urge to urinate longer without any leakage.
- Nutrition : There are a variety of foods, infusions, and spices that can be included in a patient's nutritional plan. They are ideal for combating, improving, and restoring this symptom in a natural and healthy way. Some of these foods are:
- Blueberries, sage, rosemary, cinnamon, onion, garlic, and parsley are some of the options you can include in your diet through infusions or as condiments.
There are some key measures to delay the onset of urinary incontinence . Some tips the patient can consider include:
- Avoid being overweight or obese; this reduces intradominal pressure and prevents the pain the patient may feel from holding back the urge to urinate.
- Reduce consumption of coffee , soda, energy drinks, alcohol, and beverages with chemical stimulants.
- Eliminate excessive consumption of spicy food from your diet.
- Increase your intake of fiber and complex carbohydrates to avoid constipation.
- Reduce consumption of foods or beverages that have diuretic properties such as: watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, melon, green tea, among others.
- Avoid drinking liquids between three and two hours before going to sleep.
- Avoid pushing urine. This weakens your pelvic floor muscles.
Buenos tardes..no duermo nunca ni de dia ni de noche…diagnostico vejiga hiperactiva pase a UROLOGO receto medicamento q.me fio distintas alteraciones ..como taquicardia..mareos..dolor de cabeza..regurguitaciones (tengo hernia iatal) fui mas veces al baño.
Dpues dio otro tbie p.vejiga…las contraindicaciones eran horribles desde infsrtos a mucho mas..no lo compre consulte cardiologo dijo no era p.mi (tengo ESQUENOSIS ARTICA SEVERA) dpues indico tems en tobillo y plant de pie..nada dio resultado..no hay nada .as p.hacer…leo en art.de uds.q.hay algun medica.mento…de dia voy c/3 a 4hrs. Tengo 81años..estoy agotada poca fuerza no dedeo hacer nada..me fatigo mucho caminando 4 a 5 pasos…disculpen olvide mencionar q.tengo Osteoporosis..Escolosis..Tendinitis en codos y hombros…quizas piensen q.es dificil mi caso pero sigo en la lucha p.poder dormir aunque sea 5a6hs.es mi esperanza,del cerebro PERFECTA soy muy independiente y vivo sola. Uds.q.me aconsejan…gracias desde Montevideo..Uruguay