Weight loss, while you are bearing excess weight, might have several health advantages. Remarkably, evidence also hints that maintaining a healthy BMI and remaining active may help women with incontinence problems.
In a research in 2016, 1,500 senior ladies who dealt with tension or urge incontinence were examined. The three-year study’s findings showed that women who maintained a healthy weight and engaged in muscle-strengthening activities had fewer instances of incontinence.
How can weight loss lessen incontinence symptoms?
Pressure is increased in the region as a result of the excessive weight being placed on the postural region. Accidents and mishaps are hence considerably more prone to happen. The strain on the bladder is reduced by losing weight and belly fat, which reduces stress urine incontinence. Higher pelvic floor muscle functioning and endurance are related to improved muscle endurance, which reduces the likelihood of urine leakage. Simply stated, your likelihood of developing incontinence decreases the less strain you place on your bladder. If you’re holding excessive weight, your bladder feels the pressure created by those unwanted weight. The pelvic floor muscles must exert more effort in an overweight individual to keep the bladder securely sealed.
The pelvic floor’s muscles, nerves, and structural support are strained in an effort to stop leaking. Urinary incontinence is more likely a result of this ongoing stress. Being overweight or obese can cause bladder incontinence as the continual stress caused by the additional weight affects the bladder and the surrounding muscles.
Your muscles are under far less stress as you lose weight. They can exert more energy by stabilizing the bladder and pelvic floor. Moreover, an activity promoting weight loss can tighten the muscles in the pelvic region, decreasing the probability of urine flow. It is recommended that women train their pelvic muscles to reduce the symptoms of incontinence, as women have been shown to have weaker pelvic muscles than men.
Prevention is better than cure
For many of us who haven’t yet had urinary or gastrointestinal problems, the good thing is that there are things we can really do from now to lessen the likelihood that we will. This doesn’t imply that incontinence is still a given; as we’ll explore later, some life situations may cause incontinence regardless of how equipped we are,but forming healthy behaviours now can significantly reduce the likelihood of several of the most typical problems that we’re prone to undergo. There are four basic elements you should concentrate on:
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Dietary habits
Many people prefer to concentrate on how much liquids they consume when considering the connection between nutrition and incontinence. However, healthy dietary habits go further than that. We all know that excessive drinking might cause you to urinate more frequently than you’d want, which increases the risk of accidents. However, did you know that incontinence may also be caused by insufficient hydration? This is because dehydration can induce your pee become more concentrated, which irritates your bladder. On a similar issue, restricting your fluid intake can promote constipation, which can upset your bladder and produce an elevated sensation of pressure and regularity of urine in addition to being a problem in and of itself.
We’ve already discussed how urination can aggravate the bladder, but a wide variety of foods and drinks can also upset the bowel, which can increase the frequency of urination. Some of the main offenders are:
- Caffeine
- Liquor
- A sweetener (natural and artificial)
- Carbonated drinks
- Milk products
- Dark chocolate
- Acidic food
- Spicy dishes
That is all the good things, as we are aware. However, restricting or avoiding several of these sensitivities can significantly alter the sensations you could encounter, so it’s important to pay attention to what you eat.
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Regular physical activity
Regular exercise can be a crucial component of your attempts to prevent incontinence in addition to being excellent for your heart. 30 minutes of daily physical activity, such as light brisk strolling or more strenuous aerobics or weight training, can develop the muscles to help regulate the bladder, activate the intestines, avoid certain malignancies, enhance performance, and promote flexibility.
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Avoid constipation
Make sure to drink enough water, consume lots of fibre, and use the restroom whenever you feel the desire to urinate. If you find yourself constipated, laxatives can relieve, however consult your doctor beforehand, particularly if it’s a condition you struggle with frequently.
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Consult the doctor if you experience symptoms
Treating early indications properly is one of the most crucial things you can do to actually prevent the development or progression of incontinence.
Why does that matter? It implies that you should really not dismiss a single instance of light leaking as “simply an accident,” and should therefore think about the possible causes and take steps to correct them in order to prevent future occurrences.
It also implies that you must address urinary tract infections as soon as possible since, in addition to being uncomfortable, untreated UTIs can also result in more severe health issues.
What should you think about before reducing your weight?
Checking your body mass index periodically will help you maintain control of your bodyweight. This evaluates if your weight is appropriate for your height. If your body mass index is undesirable, you might want to think about losing weight as a suitable course of action.
It is crucial to take into account the following information to make sure weight loss is accomplished in a positive manner:
- Be reasonable in your objectives and take your time achieving an ideal weight. Healthy weight reduction should be gradual and consistent.
- Consult a doctor to find out whether losing weight is a good idea for you and is safe.
- Find out if any of your friends or acquaintances who may be experiencing incontinence can join you in your weight loss efforts. It could be helpful to realise that you are not the only individual undergoing incontinence therapy.
Final words
In conclusion, urinary incontinence in Singapore affects many women and men as evidenced from above. If you are one of them, it’s time to seek medical help so that you can avoid the embarrassing situations that may occur when you are out in public or during intimate moments with your partner.
In Singapore, you can easily find a doctor in the local polyclinic near you. You may also find a doctor that specializes in urogynecology at one of the prominent hospitals such as Singapore General Hospital. Remember that there are many support devices and tools that can help you to cope and manage urinary incontinence so that you can continue to live your lifestyle without worrying about these embarrassing incidents.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article! Check out our other blog articles for more additional information on eldercare in Singapore. Meanwhile, if you are searching for the best diapers in Singapore, please contact us for any enquiries regarding our adult diapers or incontinence products.
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