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Arthritis, diabetes, stroke, chronic heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, severe depression, and even constipation are all conditions that can contribute to incontinence. So can medications such as muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, narcotic painkillers, anticholinergics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, calcium-channel blockers, and some cough and cold remedies. But this doesn’t mean you have to “live with” leakage.
“Treating incontinence has a profound affect on your quality of life,” says Jeanette S. Brown, MD, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and the director of the University of California, San Francisco Women’s Continence Center. “And women with urge incontinence are at increased risk of falls and fractures,” says Dr. Brown. Here’s what you should do when you’re treating multiple health conditions, including incontinence: |
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Tell your doctor about ALL of your symptoms. |
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If your doctor doesn’t know that you are experiencing bladder and/or bowel leakage, she can’t help you work to improve it. Your doctor can determine if your medications may be affecting your continence. If not, she can still help you modify your diet and lifestyle to help you manage incontinence symptoms. |
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Ask about medication side effects. |
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Diuretics for high blood pressure can worsen urine leakage, and postmenopausal women on estrogen therapy are more likely to experience incontinence than those who aren’t taking hormones. Although you should NEVER stop taking a medication without your doctor’s permission, it may be time to ask if any of your medications could be adjusted to help improve continence. |
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Be good to your body. |
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Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your overall health, including continence. “In a recent study, we found that a 200-pound woman who loses 10 to 15 pounds not only lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes but also improves bladder control,” says Dr. Brown. Low-impact exercise such as walking can help you lose weight and lower your risk for a host of health conditions from heart disease to cancer. Also, start following a healthy eating plan that’s high in nutrients and fiber and low in foods that trigger incontinence. Ask your doctor to help you develop a daily menu that takes all of your health concerns into account. |
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Consider seeking a continence specialist. |
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“If you aren’t seeing improvement in incontinence symptoms after working with your primary care physician, consider visiting a continence center,” advises Dr. Brown. To find a urogynecologist, visit the American Urogynecologic Society Web site at www.augs.org (click on the “Information for Women” tab), or search for a urologist at www.UrologyHealth.org. |
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