5 Myths About Bladder Issues (And How To Retrain It Naturally)

Bladder control problems are a lot more common than you think; in fact, there are over 13 million people in the United States who are affected by urinary incontinence. The misnomer is that this is an "old woman problem" because the truth is that 10 percent of women between 19 and 30 years old have experienced bladder leaks. Urinary incontinence is twice as prevalent in women as men, and left untreated, it can be debilitating. Women of all ages should be proactive about implementing lifestyle changes and habits to improve bladder health, in addition to consulting physicians for recommended treatment plans.

Sphincters—or a muscle surrounding a bodily opening that helps it open and close—help keep urine from leaking. The sphincter muscles close tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder into the urethra, the tube that allows urine to pass outside the body. Nerves in the bladder tell you when it's time to empty your bladder (use the bathroom). As the bladder first fills with urine, you may notice a feeling that you need to urinate. The sensation to urinate becomes stronger as the bladder continues to fill and reaches its limit. At that point, nerves from the bladder send a message to the brain that the bladder is full, and your urge to empty your bladder increases. When you urinate, the brain signals the bladder muscles to tighten, squeezing urine out of the bladder. At the same time, the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax. As these muscles relax, urine exits the bladder through the urethra. When all the signals occur in the correct order, normal urination occurs.

A recent national survey by Always Discreet found that half of women admit bladder leaks affect their personal confidence when they’re doing things they enjoy. The reality is that one in three women ages 18 to 75 experience bladder leaks of some sort.

There are different treatments based on the type of incontinence you have. There are exercises, changes in the types of fluids you drink, bladder training, etc.

As mentioned previously, there are treatments that do not involve surgery, and there are a lot of options to try before you consider something invasive.

Many ladies believe that decreasing their fluid intake will prevent urinary incontinence, but severely limiting fluids leads to more concentrated urine, which irritates the bladder and makes the problem worse.

Typically, when women think about bladder leak protection, their minds immediately go to the diaper-looking products on the market. But the truth is that there are a lot of options these days that aren't bulky or embarrassing.

Stay hydrated: It may seem counterintuitive, but staying hydrated can help keep the bladder functioning properly.