Loss Of Bladder Control Can Happen As We Age

Have you ever laughed so hard that you peed in your pants? As we age, the muscles in and around our bladder may not work the way they used to, but it’s important to discuss with your healthcare provider if you’re noticing changes in the way your bladder is functioning.

Also known as incontinence, loss of bladder control can occur in both women and men but for different reasons. For woman, pelvic floor muscles can become weaker and less able to support the bladder over time. A urinary tract infection or constipation can also affect bladder performance. For men, incontinence is usually associated with the prostate gland, which can become inflamed and enlarged as men age and affect their ability to urinate.

Types of incontinence

There are four different types of incontinence, according to the National Institute on Aging:

1. Stress incontinence, when pressure builds on the bladder during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting heavy objects and causes urine to leak.
2. Urge incontinence, when the urge to urinate comes on suddenly and there isn’t time to reach a toilet.
3. Overflow incontinence, when small amounts of urine leak but the bladder remains full; this is more common for men.
4. Functional incontinence, when another health problem, such as arthritis or mobility challenges, prevent an older person who has normal bladder control, from reaching the bathroom on time.

In some cases, your provider may recommend that you do bladder control training. The bladder muscle, like any muscle, can be trained to stretch, so the idea of bladder control training is to increase the time between trips to the bathroom by sticking to a schedule and monitoring what and how much you’re drinking throughout the day, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Your provider may also recommend medications and behavioral or lifestyle changes to improve bladder control.

Tips for good bladder health

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends the following tips for good bladder health:

• Follow a healthy eating plan, avoiding foods that can cause bladder irritation and inflammation. Examples are spicy foods, as well as high-acid foods such as tomatoes, citrus or carbonated beverages.
• Drink enough water and/or liquids to be properly hydrated. How much liquid should you drink? Your healthcare provider can recommend a daily amount based on your size, health conditions, the climate you live in and your level of exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight to prevent developing urinary incontinence and other health conditions.
• Go to the bathroom more frequently. Frequent urination can be better for your bladder muscles and also reduces the chance of bladder infection.
• Avoid getting constipated, as this can affect urinary tract health.
• Do pelvic floor muscles, also called Kegel exercises. Strong pelvic floor muscles can help hold urine in the bladder.