Risk Factors And Prevention

Risk Factors And Prevention

Urinary incontinence has a variety of risk factors and ways to prevent it, which vary depending on the specific condition.

Risk factors

Common risk factors are:

Age: Men and women of all ages can experience incontinence, but menopause and aging can both change the strength of your muscles and reduce the capacity of your bladder, increasing the likelihood of incontinence.
Body weight: Being overweight increases pressure on the bladder.
Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of developing many medical conditions, including urinary incontinence. The coughing associated with smoking can also contribute to stress incontinence.

Prevention

You may not be able to prevent some types of urinary incontinence since the condition is often caused by something else, such as pregnancy. In which case, you can try and avoid common triggers. Other than the risk factors mentioned above, here are some other things to consider:

Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your bladder muscles and pelvic floor.
Avoid foods and drinks that trigger urinary incontinence, such as caffeinated beverages, chocolate, spicy foods and acidic food.
Attending regular appointments with your doctor for the most up-to-date advice.
Seeking treatment for urinary tract infections, constipation and other conditions that can trigger incontinence.

If you have any further questions about incontinence, please find us on the contact us page and we’d be more than happy to assist.