The Benefits of Treating Light Bladder Leakage

Can you laugh without leaking? 

Over 13 million people suffer from some degree of incontinence. There are many types and levels of severity. Urge incontinence when the bladder muscle controlling the release of urine is overactive and contracts involuntarily, and stress incontinence, when the closure of the bladder neck is inadequate are the two most common forms.

For many women who have had children, stress incontinence is a part of daily life. Laughing, sneezing, jumping, or even yelling can cause little leaks of urine to occur. For some this happens infrequently and episodes are minor. This may be considered light incontinence.

Treating light bladder leakage may involve getting a diagnosis to understand the cause and to address treatment options. This means talking to your doctor, tracking symptoms, and taking tests. It can be a personal, and often embarrassing process, so why bother? Why bother seeking treatment if the urine loss is minor and infrequent? What are the benefits of treating light bladder leakage?

The biggest benefit is possible cure. Many people suffer unnecessarily. Often incontinence can be both managed and treated. Some cases are temporary or easily reversible if the individual suffering from the condition will take the time to seek help and start treatment.

Treatment options may include medicinal treatment or minimally invasive treatments. There are drugs that can be used to tighten the bladder neck, and reduce urges. Other options also include pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, and fluid management.

Medical treatments often produce faster results, however it could be up to 4 weeks before results are seen. The minimally invasive therapies take longer to provide results. This is not an overnight treatment option. Pelvic floor exercises may be used for up to six months before results are noticeable. So while the benefits are great, treatment plans are best paired with management plans.

Managing light bladder leakage well involves the following:

1. Choosing products designed for the type and severity of the incontinence. There are many options available, from pads, to full briefs. For example, Fannypants are designed for women with light incontinence, they are active wear underwear that provide a reusable absorbent pad that fits into the panty for comfort and stylish protection.

2. Choosing products that are designed for the body type. No longer do sufferers need to settle for generic and bulky, women can choose products designed specifically for men that look and feel like traditional underwear while providing protection, and the same holds true for men.

3. Managing risk factors. Weight, age, gender, health, and diet, as well as many other things can impact the severity of incontinence. Manage your symptoms better by learning what contributes to them and what risk factors there are and finding solutions. For example, losing a little weight can often improve stress incontinence.

Don’t ignore light bladder leakage, treat it! 

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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