Women often have many questions about their health and that's why we've created this site. We aren't medical professionals but since we have the same concerns as other women, we decided to do some research on our own. In this blog, you'll find many informative articles about obstetrics and gynecology. These include the subjects of pregnancy, childbirth and the reproductive system.
The articles on our site aren't meant to take the place of advice from your own doctor, but instead to offer you knowledge on these subjects. We hope these posts will give you insight on the different aspects of female health so you can discuss any concerns you may have with a medical professional.
Suffering from urinary incontinence? If you answered yes then you know how embarrassing and inconvenient it can be to suffer from this condition. Fortunately, there is no need for you to despair because there are several easy things you can do to help prevent this problem from spiraling out of control. Here are some suggestions.
Watch What You Consume
Caffeine will irritate your bladder and make it harder for it to hold urine. You will need to give up coffee and stop drinking green tea and energy drinks. Eliminate alcohol from your diet as well. It is time to stop having that glass of wine in the evening or that one beer. You should also avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods are known to irritate the bladder and make incontinence worse. If you previously enjoyed curries or any other type of spicy cuisine, you will have to give that up.
Drink Water
When many people hear that they have urinary incontinence, their first thought is usually that they need to cut their water intake. However, this is not the case. Limiting the amount of water you drink actually makes the condition worse because it will reduce the capacity of your bladder. A lack of fluid may also lead to constipation which can give you an additional problem. Deal with constipation swiftly if it occurs. If you have to strain in order to get a bowel motion, it will make your incontinence worse. Eat foods with fiber, and change the way you sit or position yourself to clear your bowels. You may find that just sitting in a more upright position makes it easier to have a bowel motion.
Avoid Lifting
Lifting heavy objects will strain your pelvic floor, so try to avoid it whenever possible. If you need to lift shopping bags or even a small child always tighten your pelvic floor muscles ahead of time so as to reduce the strain. You should be doing pelvic floor exercises every day regardless of whether you are lifting heavy objects or not. You will see great results in a few months. Make sure that you are doing other exercises that will help shed excess weight as well. Being overweight can increase the pressure of fatty tissues on your bladder and make incontinence worse.
Having urinary incontinence is never easy. However, if you are smart about trying to control it, you can have a normal life. Try the tips given above and visit with an OB-GYN to begin dealing with urinary incontinence.