|
Do you find yourself constantly making excuses for your frequent bathroom breaks or laughing off the occasional leakage? Catch yourself saying, “Nooo don’t make me laugh I’m going to pee my pants”? You're not alone. Millions of people in the United States suffer from bladder dysfunction, yet so many of us simply brush it off as a normal part of life.  https://www.urineincontinence.com.au/other/frequent-urination-night-ornocturia#:~:text=Nocturia%20is%20a%20very%20common,once%20or%20more%20at%20night https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/is-urine-incontinence-normal-for-women The truth is, bladder dysfunction is not something to be taken lightly. It can significantly impact your quality of life, causing embarrassment and discomfort, and even leading to social isolation. In this blog post, we'll be shedding some light on this common condition, and helping you to spot the signs of bladder dysfunction in yourself. Types of Bladder Dysfunction There are several types of bladder dysfunction, each with their own unique symptoms and causes. Here are some of the most common: Stress Incontinence: This occurs when urine leaks out during activities such as laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending, or lifting. This is what’s happening when your mom, aunt, or grandma say, “Every time I sneeze, I pee a little!”. It's caused by a mechanical issue where the pressure in your bladder is stronger than the pressure in your pelvic floor. . Stress incontinence can also be due to a timing issue, if your pelvic floor squeezes after the pressure in your bladder increases, you’ll still leak no matter how fit your pelvic floor is. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be effective in treating this issue by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles whether that means lengthening the muscle or working to make it shorter. This will help you to stay dry no matter how funny your friend is and regardless of how intense your workout will be that day.  https://phoenixpt.com/statistics/#:~:text=Urinary%20Incontinence%20affects%20200%20million%20people%20worldwide.&text=One%20in%20four%20women%20over,episodes%20of%20leaking%20urine%20involuntarily.&text=On%20average%2C%20women%20wait%206.5,bladder%20control%20problem(s). Urge Incontinence: This is the classic, key in the door scenario, you’re almost to the bathroom but you just don’t quite make it. You’ll often experience a sudden, intense urge to urinate and are unable to hold it long enough to reach the restroom. This is usually caused by an overactive bladder or irritation in the pelvic floor muscles. Mixed Incontinence: This is a combination of stress and urge incontinence, where you experience symptoms of both conditions simultaneously.  Urgency: This is when your brain is unable to differentiate between the different levels of urgency being relayed from the bladder until it’s too late. Think back to our previous blog post when we discussed the three levels, we want you to be able to hear the bladder’s whispers, not just the shouts. Frequency: If you find yourself going to the bathroom more than every 3-5 hours, this may be a sign of bladder dysfunction. Your bladder should be able to hold urine for several hours before you feel the urge to go again. If you catch yourself running to the bathroom every 45 minutes but you “drink a lot of water,” that’s still a problem driven by your pelvic floor. It’s not that your bladder is small, it’s because it’s not flexible enough. Emptying Troubles: If you encounter challenges initiating or ending your urine flow or experience a weak and inconsistent stream with interruptions or dribbling, it may indicate issues with your pelvic floor muscles. As we previously discussed in a blog post, your bladder and pelvic floor muscles engage in a "red light/green light" game. If they are not working in harmony, this can result in delayed start of stream, difficulty emptying, and other related issues. Discomfort or Burning: If you experience burning or discomfort during urination, it could be due to an infection or issues with the pelvic floor muscles. Frequent UTIs with negative urine cultures may also indicate a problem with the muscles. We work with physicians to help get to the root of the issue, whether that due to the muscle or an infection.  Nighttime Urination: We often hear people say “Oh my gosh I have to pee 3-4 times before I can actually fall asleep cause it feels like there’s still urine left in my bladder,” or “I wake up every night to pee but I always drink a lot of water before bed.” Waking up multiple times to urinate or feeling like there is still urine in your bladder after urinating are both signs of bladder dysfunction.
Treatment for Bladder Dysfunction: Pelvic floor physical therapy is often an effective treatment for bladder dysfunction. Through strengthening exercises and relaxation techniques, your pelvic floor muscles can be trained to function properly and alleviate symptoms. In addition, lifestyle changes such as reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, and maintaining a healthy diet can also improve bladder function. Don't let bladder dysfunction control your life. Seek help from a pelvic floor physical therapist today to address the issue and improve your quality of life.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
RSS Feed