Prevention of Urinary Incontinence

A book on Indian Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (IC), the first of its kind, hopes to serve as an easy-to-understand guide for patients and caregivers to help manage IC or Painful Bladder Syndrome. Here is an interview with the co-author Neelanjana Singh who is a Nutrition Therapist & Wellness Consultant. Your book ‘Indian Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (Eat Healthy and Protect Your Bladder)’ was released last month. Could you tell us a little about it? Interstitial Cystitis (IC), now known…

Urinary incontinence is a severely under-diagnosed and under-reported problem that increases with age. Dr. Ragini Agarwal Clinical Director-Obstetrics & Gynecology Minimal Access Surgery & Cosmetic Gynecologist of W Pratiksha Hospital Gurgaon answers common questions on management and treatment options Do you leak while sneezing laughing or coughing? Is your marital life affected? Have you started avoiding social gatherings? Urinary incontinence is a severely under-diagnosed and under…

Thousands of Indian women undergo hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, every year, even though most of these cases can be avoided. Dr Shital Raval enumerates some surgical and non-surgical options available that should be considered before opting for hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a surgery that entails partial or complete removal of the uterus in women. In America alone, more than half a million women have a hysterectomy every year. Is it a necessary surgical option? Or are there…

Sixty-five year old Saroj Arya recounts her triumph over Stage III ovarian cancer and says she pumped every cell in her body with positive energy and spirit to help her heal and get back on her feet speedily. In 2016, at 65, a strange turn of events caught me off guard. I was due for a knee surgery as I had osteoarthritis and was in constant pain. I had confirmed the day for the surgery with the doctor. But last minute I got it cancelled. At that time my bladder was acting up. I would get an…

You cannot prevent all cases of urinary incontinence, but there are some steps to reduce your risk of episodes. Try to live a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a healthy weight, avoid smoking, do regular exercise, and eat well. Have enough fibre in your diet, in order to prevent constipation.

Fluid and diet management You have to avoid alcohol, caffeine, acidic foods to regain control of your bladder. Reducing liquid consumption, losing weight, increasing physical activity can reduce the problem. Speak to your doctor about a diet and fluid plan. Physical fitness Doing regular exercises can help to strengthen the muscles that control urination. Tighten the muscles you use to stop urinating and hold for 2 – 5 seconds and then relax for 2 – 5 seconds. Do this exercise at least ten…

Treatment of urinary incontinence depends on the type, its severity and the underlying cause. A combination of treatments may be needed to treat urinary incontinence.  The doctor may suggest some of the following:  Medications Anticholinergics: Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), Tolteridone (Detrol), Darifenacin (Enablex), Fesoterodine (Toviaz), Solifenacin (Vesicare), Trospium (Sanctura). These medications can calm an over-active bladder and may be helpful for urge incontinence. Mirabegron (…

It is important to determine the type of urinary incontinence that you have since it will guide treatment decisions. The doctor may do some of the following tests: Thorough medical history and physical exam  Urine analysis: Sample of urine will be checked for any signs of infection or other abnormalities. Bladder diary: You should record how much you drink, when you urinate, amount of urine you produce and the number of incontinence episodes.  Post void residual measurement: You…

Some people experience occasional minor leaks of urine while others wet their clothes frequently. Complications of urinary incontinence Skin problems: Rashes, sores and skin infections can develop from constantly wet skin.  Urinary tract infections: Incontinence increases your risk of repeated urinary tract infections. Impact on your personal life: Urinary incontinence can affect your social, work and personal relationships.   

Types of Urinary incontinence  a) Stress incontinence: Urine leaks out when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting heavy objects. b) Urge incontinence: You have a sudden intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine. This may be caused by a minor condition such as infection or by a more severe condition such as neurological disorder or diabetes. c) Overflow incontinence: This type occurs when you urinate but do not…