Some of the best tips for incontinence control may be timed urination, kegel exercises, and taking extra time in the bathroom to completely empty the bladder. It may also be a good idea for someone with incontinence issues to stop drinking caffeinated beverages and alcohol, which tend to worsen most bladder problems. People have urinary incontinence for different reasons, and the effectiveness of the methods for control may vary depending on the root cause of the problem.
Many people are able to help ease the symptoms of urinary incontinence by going to the bathroom at specific times each day. Making set bathroom appointments the appropriate number of times for an individual's needs might help to keep accidents from happening. Some people do not understand how this method of incontinence control can work because they don't necessarily need to urinate at their set times. This method tends to work because going at set times, whether needed or not, will help to keep the bladder emptied throughout the day and lessen the urges that come on all of a sudden. People who set specific bathroom times every day tend to have less accidents than those who go only when they feel the urge.
Kegel exercises may help many women control their incontinence. These exercises help to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which typically become weaker as a result of aging, pregnancy, and childbirth. Stronger pelvic floor muscles normally mean greater bladder control because they may help to keep the pressure of the bladder off the urethra, thereby making it easier to hold urine inside the body. These exercises are normally done by squeezing together the muscles that control the urine stream repeatedly several times per day. A person who does this on a daily basis for a few months should begin to notice less problems with incontinence.
Another helpful tip for incontinence control may be to stay in the bathroom longer than is needed to empty the bladder. Most people empty their bladders once and leave, but people with incontinence issues may benefit from waiting a few minutes to see if they can further empty their bladders. In most cases, it is possible to urinate again a few minutes after urinating the first time. People who take a few extra minutes in the bathroom each time after urinating may experience a reduced number of sudden urges to urinate throughout the day.
These tips are generally helpful for most people, but it is important for anyone with incontinence to speak with a doctor about various methods of incontinence control. In most cases, the problem cannot be eliminated for good if the cause is not known. A doctor can usually help a person to understand what is causing his or her incontinence and help determine what treatment methods are best in an individual case.