As a Women’ Health Nurse Practitioner I’ve seen many women with urinary problems at various stages of their lives. Either before during or after pregnancy, menopause or adolescence. At the time I didn’t think anything of it- it was just another condition for which I needed to provide a method of treatment  that would provide relief for the patient. Since I no longer practice obstetrics and my primary focus is creating wellness lifestyles, I decided to look at bladder problems from a preventative and wellness perspective.

Bladder Health and Urine Control 

 Poor bladder control is something that happens to women of all ages.  The medical terminology is “incontinence” and is commonly referred to as “leakage”. The problem is more common in women than men;  this is because of the changes that occur in her body over the lifespan and the structure and location of the urinary tract in women.  Bladder leakage can happen when women exercise, laugh, cough or sneeze.

Another common term, used in T.V. commercials, for urine leakage is “overactive bladder”.  Women who are in the  menopausal or postmenopausal  stage of their  life often report bladder control problems. The bladder control problems usually occur as a result of  decreased hormonal stimulation, which can assist in the muscle control of the pelvic floor.  Women who have been pregnant will also report an increased incidence of bladder leakage related to pelvic stretching and the additional weight they carry during pregnancy.

 Bladder leakage  usually starts as a slow process and continues to increase over time.  There are two types of incontinence, the most common of which is stress incontinence described above.  Although this condition is most common in older women, one third of women can develop the problem before the age of 35.

 Another cause of bladder leakage is urge incontinence, when a person has a sudden urge to urinate and may not get to the restroom in time.  The good news for individuals who suffer from both types of bladder leakage is that there are treatments and medications to help decrease or eradicate the problem.

 It is  important to recognize that bladder leakage is not a normal part of aging and should not be accepted as such.  Women who suffer from stress incontinence can perform simple exercises which will strengthen the pelvic floor and the muscles which control the bladder and urethra.  Through better muscular control women are often able to stop stress incontinence in its tracks.

 6 -Easy self help  tips to improve your bladder health

 1. Kegel exercises to improve pelvic floor muscle strength.

2. Decrease and eliminate caffeinated beverages.

3. Eliminate alcohol or if you must drink, drink a glass of water to every ounce of      

alcohol.

4. Aromatic massages with specific  high quality essential oil massage oil blends.

 5. Schedule your  trips to the bathroom.

6. Eat a fiber rich diet with adequate intakes of water to prevent constipation. 

 A series of  articles were written regarding the benefits of a fiber rich diet . Subscribe to the newsletter here for specific information.