What are Urinary Bladder Control Issues?

Urinary bladder control issues, also known as bladder dysfunction or urinary incontinence, refer to the inability to control the release of urine from the bladder. This condition can range from occasional leakage of urine to a complete inability to hold urine. Bladder control issues can affect people of all ages and genders, but they are more common in older adults, particularly women.

There are different types of urinary incontinence, each with its own causes and symptoms. The main types include:

1. Stress incontinence: This occurs when there is increased pressure on the bladder, leading to leakage of urine. Activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects can trigger stress incontinence.
2. Urge incontinence: This involves a sudden and intense urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. Individuals with urge incontinence may not have enough time to reach a restroom.
3. Overflow incontinence: This occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty properly, leading to constant dribbling of urine. It can be caused by an obstruction or nerve damage.
4. Functional incontinence: This type of incontinence is not due to a bladder problem but rather to physical or cognitive limitations that make it difficult for a person to reach the restroom in time.
5. Mixed incontinence: Some individuals may experience a combination of different types of incontinence, such as stress and urge incontinence.

 

Why do Urinary Bladder Control Issues Occur?

Urinary bladder control issues can occur due to various factors, and the underlying causes may differ based on the type of incontinence. Here are some common reasons why bladder control issues may arise:

1. Muscle Weakness: The muscles of the pelvic floor and sphincters play a crucial role in controlling the release of urine. Weakness in these muscles, often associated with ageing, childbirth, or certain medical conditions, can lead to urinary incontinence.
2. Nerve Damage: Nerves play a vital role in signalling the bladder muscles when to contract and relax. Conditions that damage or interfere with the nerves involved in bladder control can lead to incontinence. This damage can result from conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or spinal cord injury.
3. Hormonal Changes: Women may experience urinary incontinence due to hormonal fluctuations, especially during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. These changes can affect the strength and elasticity of the tissues supporting the urinary bladder and urethra.
4. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Infections in the urinary tract can irritate the bladder and cause a sudden urge to urinate. UTIs are more common in women and can contribute to temporary bladder control issues.
5. Medications: Certain medications, such as diuretics, antihypertensives, and sedatives, can affect bladder function and contribute to urinary incontinence as a side effect.
6. Obstruction: Any physical obstruction that blocks the normal flow of urine can lead to bladder control issues. This can include conditions like bladder stones or tumours.
7. Lifestyle Factors: Certain lifestyle factors can also contribute to urinary incontinence. For example, obesity, smoking, and chronic constipation can put extra pressure on the bladder and contribute to stress incontinence.
8. Neurological Conditions: Conditions that affect the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease, can disrupt the signals between the brain and the bladder, leading to incontinence.
9. Genetics: There may be a genetic predisposition to urinary incontinence. If close family members have experienced bladder control issues, an individual may have a higher risk.

 

How to Identify Whether You Have Urinary Bladder Control Issues?

The symptoms of urinary bladder control issues, or urinary incontinence, can vary depending on the type of incontinence a person is experiencing. Here are the main types of urinary incontinence along with their characteristic symptoms:

1. Stress Incontinence:
   • Leakage of urine during activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising.
   • The leakage is typically a small amount of urine.
2. Urge Incontinence:
   • Sudden, intense urges to urinate.
   • Inability to reach the restroom in time after feeling the urge.
   • Frequent urination, often both during the day and at night.
3. Overflow Incontinence:
   • Constant or frequent dribbling of urine.
   • Difficulty emptying the bladder completely.
   • Weak or interrupted urine stream.
4. Functional Incontinence:
   • Inability to reach the restroom in time due to physical or cognitive limitations, even if the bladder is not the primary issue.
5. Mixed Incontinence:
   • Combination of symptoms from more than one type of incontinence (e.g., stress and urge incontinence).

It is important to note that urinary incontinence is a symptom itself, and its underlying causes can vary. Additionally, the impact of incontinence on an individual’s life can extend beyond the physical symptoms and may include emotional and social aspects.

Other signs and symptoms associated with urinary bladder control issues may include:

• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• A strong and persistent urge to urinate.
• Pain or discomfort during urination.
• Nocturia (frequent urination at night).
• Feeling a constant need to be near a restroom.

 

What are Some Natural Ways to Manage Urinary Bladder Issues?

There are several natural and lifestyle approaches that can help manage symptoms and improve overall bladder health. Here are some suggestions:

1. Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel exercises): Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can be particularly helpful for stress incontinence. Kegel exercises involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. Regular practice can improve muscle tone and control. To do Kegel exercises, contract the pelvic floor muscles as if trying to stop the flow of urine, hold for a few seconds, and then relax. Repeat this several times a day.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can put additional pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and the bladder. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise may help alleviate symptoms of urinary incontinence.
3. Stay Hydrated: While it may seem counterintuitive, staying adequately hydrated is essential for bladder health. Dehydration can lead to concentrated urine, which can irritate the bladder. However, be mindful of specific triggers such as caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder and worsen incontinence symptoms in some individuals.
4. Bladder Training: This involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to train the bladder to hold urine for longer periods. Over time, this can help improve urinary bladder control.
5. Scheduled Bathroom Breaks: Establishing a regular schedule for bathroom breaks, even if there is no immediate urge to urinate, can help prevent accidents and train the urinary bladder to empty at specific times.
6. Dietary Modifications: Avoiding certain foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder can be beneficial. Common irritants include caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, citrus fruits, and artificial sweeteners. Keeping a urinary bladder diary may help identify specific triggers.
7. Herbal Supplements: Some herbs, such as pumpkin seed extract or saw palmetto, are believed by some to have potential benefits for bladder health.
8. Quit Smoking: Smoking is a known risk factor for bladder issues. Quitting smoking can improve overall bladder and urinary tract health.
9. Maintain Regular Bowel Function: Chronic constipation can contribute to urinary incontinence. Eating a high-fiber diet and staying hydrated can help maintain regular bowel movements.
10. Yoga and Relaxation Techniques: Stress reduction techniques, such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, can help manage urinary bladder control by reducing overall muscle tension.

 

The ten modern lifestyle root causes for hormonal imbalance related to PCOS that may on some level lead to problems with Urinary Bladder Control Issues are:

• Food Related Causes– Inflammation, toxicity, acidity, excess male hormones, insulin resistance.
• Exercise Related Causes: Sedentary lifestyle, lack of muscle strength, excess ovarian fat.
• Sleep Related Causes: Poor sleep quality (Lack of Deep Sleep).
• Stress Related Causes: Chronic Stress.  Addressing these triggers through an integrated approach can naturally restore hormonal balance.

 

 

How can the Five Pillars Integrated Lifestyle Approach Help You to Have Hormonal Balance and Help With Taking Care of Urinary Bladder Control Issues?

 

• Eat Right: Embrace living, water-rich, whole, plant-based foods that nurture our genetic potential. By opting for local and seasonal choices, we honor nature’s wisdom. Eliminating packaged and processed foods liberates us from epigenetic imprints, elevating our hormonal health.

 

• Move More: Embark on a journey of holistic lifestyle changes, where staying active transcends mere exercise. Embracing constant movement throughout the day optimizes epigenetic expression, igniting hormonal balance. Engage in pleasurable physical activities, dance, or even mindful walks to unlock the power of epigenetic triggers.

 

• Breathe Aware: As we deepen our understanding of Pranayama, the science of breath, we access a profound gateway to support gland function and harmonize hormones. Harnessing the breath’s epigenetic influence, we transcend the ordinary and elevate our hormonal well-being.

 

• Sleep Better: Unlock the secrets of deep sleep, a transformative practice for healing and regeneration. With the art of Yog Nidra to avoid being sleep deprived, we embrace epigenetic potential, unearthing hormonal harmony in the realm of dreams. Rejuvenate your entire being through this exquisite dance with the epigenetic clock to stop feeling sleep deprived.

 

• Mind Free: Journey into the realm of emotions, thoughts, and stress resilience, where journaling, gratitude, and emotional practices become our guiding compass. Embracing epigenetic intelligence, we shift our narrative from stress to serenity, empowering our hormonal landscape.

 

UTI is an abbreviation for Urinary Tract Infection. It is an infection that can affect any component of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), and urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder). The lower urinary system, which contains the bladder and urethra, is the most usually affected by UTIs.

UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria, the most common of which is Escherichia coli (E. coli). These bacteria can enter the urinary tract via the urethra and grow, causing illness. UTIs can produce symptoms such as frequent urination, urinating with a burning feeling, murky or bloody urine, and a strong desire to urinate.

How can you know that you have UTI?

The symptoms of a UTI vary depending on which portion of the urinary system is infected, however the following are common:

1. Urinary pain or a burning sensation: This is a typical symptom of this infection and is often one of the first indicators.
2. Urination: You may feel the need to urinate more frequently than normal.
3. Urgency: You may experience a strong and sudden desire to urinate.
4. Cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine: Changes in the appearance or odor of urine can be a sign of a UTI.
5. Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or back: Some patients who have UTIs suffer pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or back.
6. Fatigue or shakiness: This infection can produce fatigue or a general feeling of being sick in some circumstances.

What causes UTI?

UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria entering and proliferating in the urinary system. The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is generally found in the gastrointestinal system, is the most prevalent cause of these infections. The following are some of the most common causes and risk factors for UTIs:

1. Bacterial Entry: Bacteria, most commonly E. coli, can enter the urinary tract and migrate upward through the urethra. This might occur as a result of insufficient wiping after a bowel movement, sexual activity, or poor hygiene.
2. Female Anatomy: Women are more prone to UTIs than males because their urethras are shorter, allowing bacteria to enter the bladder more easily.
3. Sexual activity can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, resulting in a urinary tract infection. This is sometimes known as “honeymoon cystitis.”
4. Urinary Catheters: Users of urinary catheters are more likely to develop these infections because the catheter might introduce bacteria into the urinary system.
5. Obstruction: Anything that obstructs the flow of urine, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate in men, can increase the risk of these urinary infections.
6. Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can make bacteria in the urinary system grow more easily, increasing the risk of infection.
7. Pregnancy: Urinary tract changes during pregnancy can render women more susceptible to urinary tract infections.
8. Weakened Immune System: Immune-suppressive conditions or drugs, such as HIV/AIDS or chemotherapy, might increase the incidence of UTIs.
9. Dehydration: Drinking insufficient water can cause urine flow to decrease and bacteria to grow in the urinary system.
10. Menopause: Changes in the female genital and urinary tract after menopause can increase the risk of these urinary infections.

Is there any link between PCOS & UTI?

PCOS and urinary tract infections are two separate medical illnesses that affect different regions of the body, yet there can be indirect links between them. Here’s some information about how they might be related:

1. Immune system weakness: Some PCOS sufferers may have undiagnosed medical issues that compromise their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections like UTIs. It may be more difficult for the body to fight against diseases if the immune system is weak.
2. Lifestyle Factors: Obesity and insulin resistance are frequently linked to PCOS. The risk of UTIs may rise as a result of several conditions. Obesity may cause poor hygiene habits or make it more difficult to maintain healthy urinary tract function, both of which raise the risk of UTIs.
3. Medication: The urinary system may be affected by several drugs used to treat the symptoms of PCOS, such as oral contraceptives or drugs to control menstrual cycles. Changes in urine pH or hormone levels may occasionally make urinary tract infections more likely.
4. Hormonal Changes: Insulin resistance and high levels of androgens (male hormones) are two aspects of PCOS that are associated with hormonal abnormalities. The urinary system may be indirectly impacted by these hormonal changes, although a direct connection between PCOS and UTIs has not been proven.

How one can prevent UTI?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be avoided through a variety of lifestyle and hygiene habits. These urinary infections are primarily caused by bacteria, most commonly Escherichia coli (E. coli), entering and proliferating in the urinary system. Here are some precautions you may take to lower your risk of UTIs:

1. Keep Hydrated: Drinking lots of water helps your urinary tract be free of bacteria. If you’re active or living in a hot climate, aim to consume at least 8 glasses of water each day.
2. Urinate frequently: Do not hold your urine for long periods of time. Urinating whenever you feel the need aids in the removal of microorganisms from your urinary system.
3. Wipe front to back: Always wipe from front to back after using the toilet to prevent bacteria from the anal area from spreading to the urethra.
4. Maintain Good Hygiene: Keep your genital area clean and avoid using harsh soaps, douches, or feminine hygiene products, which might upset the natural balance of microorganisms.
5. Urinate Before and After Sexual Activity: Urinating before and after sexual activity will help flush out any bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex.
6. Select the Appropriate Birth Control: Certain kinds of birth control, such as diaphragms or spermicides, can increase the risk of UTIs. If you have recurring UTIs, talk to your doctor about your choices.
7. Wear Breathable Underwear: Cotton underwear allows air to circulate and keeps the vaginal area dry, which can aid bacteria flourish.
8. Avoid Irritants: Avoid potential irritants such as tight-fitting jeans, thong underwear, and excessive use of genital powders or creams.
9. Maintain Immune Health: Having a robust immune system allows your body to fight infections more efficiently. Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, minimize stress, and get adequate sleep.
10. Don’t Hold Urine Too Long: Delaying urination when you feel the need to go can allow bacteria to develop in your urinary tract.
11. Consider Probiotics: According to some research, consuming probiotics may help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in the urinary tract.
12. Avoid Antibiotic Overuse: Antibiotic overuse can disturb the balance of microorganisms in your body, making you more prone to urinary imfecitons in the long run. Antibiotics should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor.

Consult a healthcare physician if you get frequent UTIs. Depending on your unique situation, they may offer extra preventive measures or drugs, such as low-dose antibiotics or cranberry supplements. To properly treat recurring UTIs, it is critical to seek professional help.