Home Remedies to Ease Incontinence

Home Remedies to Ease Incontinence

Dealing with incontinence can be a complex issue. This is especially true is you are the caregiver, for a senior with incontinence. There are many different decisions and challenges that need to be dealt with. However, the good news is that there are things that you can do at home, that can help to better manage incontinence. Many of these things are not proven to cure incontinence, but all of them have been shown to ease the symptoms of incontinence and make it easier to manage.

Here are some home remedies to ease incontinence:

• Take off some weight – It has been shown that anyone who has a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher is at increased risk for incontinence. This is because the heavier you are, the more pressure is being put on the pelvic floor muscles and the bladder. Keep in mind that however, that drastic weight loss is not called for. By simply losing between 5-10% of your body weight, you can make a significant difference in managing incontinence.

• Add fiber to the diet – It surprises many people to learn that constipation can contribute to incontinence. Having enough fiber, helps to make bowel movements regular and soft, so that there is no need to for additional pressure or straining, since this can bring on incontinence. Eating food that is high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains can help to relieve the pressure and reduce incontinence.

• Watch your diet – Many people are surprised to learn that there are certain foods that can irritate the bladder. These foods include but are not limited to spicy foods, foods with high amounts of processing or additives or foods that are pickled. However, is the senior find that there are certain foods that make the incontinence worse, they should be avoided. In addition, there are certain drinks that make incontinence worse, as well. These include but are not limited to: alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and certain kind of teas.

• Maintain the right amount of fluid intake – Many people make the mistake of thinking that if they quit drinking so much, they won’t have incontinence. This is a dangerous situation, which can bring on dehydration, and other problems. Seniors with incontinence should take care to drink the right amount of fluids every day, without overdoing it.

• Don’t smoke – If you are a senior with incontinence and you smoke, you should stop. There are several reasons for this which includes: smoking can lead to chronic and severe coughing, which can aggravate stress incontinence. In addition the smoke and other chemicals found in tobacco can actually aggravate the bladder and make the incontinence worse. The bottom line is that if you smoke, quit today, and if you don’t smoke, don’t start.