Females need to understand that there is no benefit in hiding their medical emergencies or any of the issues they think can cause them to be a part of ridicule. This fact is utterly true because the fear of embarrassment and judgments can only elevate the chances of the medical case to be at the peak of severity. One of such diseases that accounts for the maximum cases in females is Urinary Incontinence.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is associated with the bladder, and it is generally described as the loss of bladder control. It is identified commonly in females and is considered an embarrassing problem by its patients. But in the medical world, no disease is considered embarrassing because all of them are linked with the issues in the human body. The extremity ranges from leaking urine occasionally when you cough or sneeze and a situation where you experience an urge to urinate but could not reach the toilet in time.
Its occurrence varies from person to person, and the most valid factor is it occurs more often in the elderly age group. Urinary incontinence is a disorder that can hamper your mental, physical and social well being. You don’t need to hesitate regarding seeking medical advice because it is just a disease, and it can be treated in time with ayurvedic treatment for urinary incontinence.
As we know, the function of the kidneys is to form the urine, which is stored in the bladder. When you form an urge to urinate, the bladder muscle tightens. After the tightening of the bladder muscles, the urine is seeped out of the bladder through a tube known as the urethra. During that same time, the sphincter muscles around the urethra let the urine out of the body by relaxing.
Urinary incontinence can occur when the bladder muscles tighten at a sudden note and the sphincter muscles do not have enough strength to pinch the urethra shut. As a result, a strong urge to urinate occurs, out of your league, as you may be unable to control it. Pressure caused by any activity such as laughing, sneezing, exercising can cause you to leak urine.
Your body can experience another episode of urinary incontinence if there is an issue with the nerves responsible for controlling the bladder, muscles and urethra. Urinary incontinence describes the problems of leaking a whole lot of urine simultaneously or a small amount of urine.
Who is at risk of having urinary incontinence?
As stated in the above section, females are at central risk of acquiring urinary incontinence. According to some studies, it affects women more than men. Because of the biological fact, reproductive events like pregnancy, menopause, and childbirth affect the urethra, bladder and other muscles that support these organs. It highly targets older women, and another alarming fact about urinary incontinence is that it can occur at any age. Menopause is the primary reason for the occurrence of urinary incontinence because it can bring hormonal changes.
Why does urinary incontinence affect women more than men?
The health events in men and women differ as women experience changes in their bodies due to pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. These events may affect the urinary tract and the surrounding muscles. The pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder, urethra, uterus (womb), and bowels, may weaken or procure damage. When the support of the urinary tract is weak, the muscles need to work hard to hold urine until you are ready to process urination. This excess stress or pressure on the bladder and urethra can invite urinary incontinence or leakage.
Types of urinary incontinence
Two types of urinary incontinence are stated below:
- Stress incontinence: It is defined as the most common type of incontinence; it is also known for affecting younger women. The term stress incontinence is self-explanatory as the word stress points towards the fact that it occurs due to stress and pressure on the bladder. When the bladder and urethra are pressured to work harder by weak pelvic floor muscles, a person with urinary incontinence can experience urine leakage in daily life actions such as sneezing, coughing or laughing. In simple words, movements or activities that occur on a sudden note can cause you to leak urine.
- Urge incontinence: In this type of urinary incontinence, urine leakage occurs when you have to get to the bathroom or sudden urge to urinate. Some women experience the urge to urinate eight times a day, even after reaching the bathroom in time. There is decreased urine output even after they get to the bathroom in time. Another term for urge incontinence is an overactive bladder. It is commonly detected in older women. It can occur without expectations, such as when you are sleeping, after drinking water, or a sense of urinating when you hear or touch running water.
Many women have both types of urinary incontinence. Such cases are called mixed incontinence.
What indications are associated with urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is not considered a disease by itself. It is an emblem of other health issues generally caused by weak pelvic muscles.
Some women can experience other urinary symptoms along with urinary incontinence.
- Pressure or spasms on the pelvic area triggers an urgency to urinate.
- Multiple bathroom trips (More than eight times a day or twice at the night time)
- Urinating while you are unconscious (sleeping). It is also known as bedwetting.
Causative factors of urinary incontinence
Causes are the foundation onto which the problem stands and worsens over time. Urinary incontinence is caused by muscular problems and damage in the nerves that assist the bladder hold or push urine. Several phases in the female’s life, including pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, can hamper these muscles and nerves.
Other causes of urinary incontinence are stated below:
- Obesity: Being overweight can invite a strike of health issues, and one of them is putting pressure on the bladder. As a result, it can weaken the muscle over time. A weak bladder is unable to hold as much urine.
- Constipation: People who suffer from chronic constipation can experience the problem of bladder control. Constipation or straining to have a bowel movement can pressurize the bladder and pelvic floor muscles, causing the weakening of muscles, leading to urine leakage.
- Nerve damage: Damage in the nerves can mess up the signals and send them to the bladder at the wrong time, or it can provide no signal. Problems such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis can damage the nerves in the bladder, urethra, or pelvic floor muscles.
- Surgery: Any surgery performed on the women’s reproductive organs can damage the supporting pelvic floor muscles, specifically the removal of the uterus. The weakening or damage in the pelvic floor muscles can result in the dysfunction of women’s bladder muscles. As a result, urinary incontinence occurs.
Some cases include a short period of urinary incontinence and happen because of underlying reasons:
- Certain medications such as diuretics can cause urinary incontinence as a side effect.
- Drinking caffeine can quicken the filling of the bladder, causing the urine to leak. People who have more than two cups of caffeine every day are at risk of acquiring urinary incontinence,
- Infections within the urinary tract and bladder can cause incontinence for a short period.
When to consult the doctor?
Several people with urinary incontinence are embarrassed to discuss their problem with the doctor. Incontinence progresses and becomes frequent, and it can take a toll on your life.
You must seek advice if you experience underlying disadvantages associated with urinary incontinence:
- Causing a strain in your activities and social life.
- Causing negative impacts on your quality of life.
- Increasing accidental events due to the urgency to reach the toilet in time.
- Urinary incontinence indicates a severe health condition.
How can Ayurveda treat urinary incontinence?
Ayurvedic treatment for urinary incontinence in females is based on the natural healing system of Ayurveda. Urinary incontinence can affect the mental and physical well being of females. The solution lies within the natural treatment of urinary incontinence in females.
The Ayurvedic term for urinary incontinence is Mutrakriccha which means obstructed urination. It covers the conditions associated with kidney and urinary tract infections. According to the ancient art of medicinal science, the human body is a combination of three vital doshas Vata, pitta, and Kapha, Urinary incontinence is caused by the vitiation of Vata doshas, It is predominantly a Vata disease.
Ayurvedic treatment for urinary incontinence in females includes herbal medications, natural healing therapies, an ayurvedic diet, and lifestyle.
These points are associated with an ayurvedic approach to the treatment of urinary incontinence:
- Ayurveda provides a diet chart that helps manage the messed up system of the body and is filled with nutritional components which work in the betterment of urinary health.
- Ayurveda recommends yoga asanas that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and maintain the health of the urinary system. These asanas include gomukhasana (Cow’s face pose), pawanmuktasana (wind-relieving pose), uttanpadasana (raised leg pose), Ardha matsyendrasana (half spinal twist pose), viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose), Mula bandha (root lock).
- A herbal course of medications can help manage urinary problems as the authentic herbs have natural healing capabilities to help treat the problem. These herbs are associated with the treatment of urinary problems- Shilajit (Mineral Pitch, Asphaltum), Gokshura (Tribulus Terrestris), Chandan (Santalum Album), Varuna (Crataeva nurvala), Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa), Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia).
- Some natural healing therapies are also beneficial in the Ayurvedic management of urinary incontinence in females.
However, Ayurveda can treat urinary incontinence without any side effects and effectively manages the urinary system naturally.
Disclaimer: This information given in this content is for your knowledge. This blog piece’s medical advice should be followed only after the consultation of an ayurvedic medical practitioner and also under his supervision.
