Top tips to promote a healthy bladder

Did you know that more than 4.8 million Australians experience bladder or bowel control problems?

What is Urinary Incontinence?

The inability to control the release of urine. It is not a disease, but a symptom. Many conditions and disorders can cause the symptom of urinary incontinence, including pelvic surgery, childbirth, injuries to the pelvic region, infections, hormonal changes and changes associated with aging. Other terms used to describe the condition are weak bladder, irritable bladder or over active bladder.

Urinary incontinence affects up to 13% of Australian men and up to 37% of Australian women. Bladder and bowel leakage – no matter how light – is not normal and in most cases, can be prevented, cured or better managed. See below some top tips for promoting a healthy bladder from the team at Absolute Medical Services in Lisarow:

Top tips for a healthy bladder

1. Maintain a healthy weight– the heavier you are, the more weight presses on the bladder. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help to maintain a healthy body weight, reducing pressure on the pelvic floor.

2. Drink plenty of water — about six to eight glasses daily, avoiding too much caffeine. Dehydration can cause constipation or bladder irritation. To prevent dehydration:
– Drink six to eight glasses of fluid each day, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
– Drink more fluids in hot weather or after heavy exercise.
– Take small sips and spread your drinks evenly throughout the day.
– Limit your daily intake of carbonated drinks, alcohol, tea and coffee as they can cause
bladder irritation.

3. Use your pelvic floor– strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and keep active with exercise. Your pelvic floor muscles help you hold your urine. You may leak if the muscles are weakened from pregnancy, prostate surgery, or being overweight. You can strengthen your muscles to improve symptoms. Done regularly and correctly, pelvic floor exercises can help to minimise and stop leakage, ask your health professional for advice.

4. Let it all out– make sure that you urinate completely and take your time on the toilet. Give yourself plenty of time to pass a bowel motion and urine and, don’t strain. Regular straining an cause problems including haemorrhoids (swollen veins in the anus), and can weaken your pelvic floor muscles. Use correct posture on the toilet, this involves placing your elbows on your knees, bulge out your stomach, straighten your spine and put your feet on a footstool if suitable.

5. Watch what you eat-certain food such acidic and spicy can contribute as they can irritate the bladder and make leaking and other incontinence symptoms worse. It is important to eat well to keep your bladder and bowels healthy. 

6. Try cranberry juice- did you know cranberry juice may help keep your bladder safe from infection, if you have any queries or concerns you should speak with your GP.

7. See your doctor– above all always see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment advice.

Your doctor can also assist you in:
– Ceasing smoking- a chronic cough because of smoking weakens the pelvic floor and
contributes to the onset of incontinence.
– Treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) promptly – UTIs irritate the bladder lining. Seek immediate treatment if you have symptoms.

Do you or someone you care for suffer from incontinence?
You are not alone

AMS offer a revolutionary Pelvic Floor Clinic using the ‘wave chair’ to help take back control and get
your continence back.

The “Wave Chair” embraces ExMI ™ Pelvic Floor Therapy System, a non-surgical therapy for the treatment of stress, urge and mixed incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain in women, incontinence and erectile dysfunction in men.

This unique treatment is ideal for patients whose incontinence is caused by a weakening of their pelvic floor muscles. Unlike other therapy options, the Wave Chair exercises all of the muscles in the pelvic floor to help rebuild strength and endurance and restore bladder control and all of this is accomplished simply while sitting down comfortably and fully clothed. The treatment is also fantastic for male patients, having achieved excellent results for men suffering with incontinence
and/or erectile dysfunction.

Do you suffer from incontinence?
You may be suitable for treatment using an accredited pelvic wave chair. Non- invasive and painless, the popular Pelvic Floor Clinic &”The Wave Chair” is available at Absolute Medical Services in Lisarow, 6 days a week and is operated by highly experienced staff who will ensure you are comfortable and informed throughout the entire process.

Get your continence back and try the wave chair for yourself today. Call 02 4328 5200, email mail@abmedical.com.au, or book online at http://www.abmedicalnsw.com.au

If you have any queries or concerns you should speak with your GP.

Resources:
Continence Foundation of Australia
www.continence.org.au