September 27, 2024
How Do I Stop Leaks When I Laugh, Cough, or Sneeze?
Urinary leaks often happen when you least expect them, and they can be both inconvenient and embarrassing. This common condition, known as stress urinary incontinence, affects both men and women, particularly as they age.
This blog post is designed to provide understanding and support. We’ll overview the causes of urinary incontinence and offer effective solutions to help you manage and prevent unexpected leaks.
Understanding Incontinence
Urinary incontinence happens when you lose partial or complete control of your bladder function. It’s not a one-size-fits-all issue; there are many types of urinary incontinence, each with unique triggers and treatment strategies. Stress incontinence, as mentioned earlier, is triggered by pressure from activities like coughing, laughing, or exercising. It more commonly happens to people with weakened pelvic floor muscles, which can be caused by age or childbirth.
Urge incontinence, on the other hand, involves a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary leakage. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder fails to empty completely, leading to constant dribbling. Most people experience a combination of one or more types of incontinence. Speaking with a doctor is the best way to diagnose urinary incontinence and nail down which treatment methods will be most beneficial.
Ways to Stop Peeing When You Laugh, Cough, or Sneeze
Here are 5 effective methods to stop leaking urine when you laugh, cough, or sneeze.
Kegels
Kegel exercises are crucial for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and urethra. To perform Kegels, tighten the muscles you would use to stop urinating midstream, hold for several seconds, and then release.
It's recommended to perform these exercises three times a day, doing at least 10 repetitions each time. Consistency is key, and you’ll typically see some improvement in urinary control after several weeks of regular practice.
Strengthening Exercises
In addition to Kegels, you can incorporate other pelvic floor strengthening exercises to further enhance muscle tone and control. Exercises like squats, bridges, and pelvic tilts are beneficial.
Squats strengthen the buttocks and lower back, bridges target the lower pelvic region, and pelvic tilts focus on tightening the pelvic floor muscles. Integrating these exercises into your regular fitness routine can significantly improve pelvic health and reduce incidents of leakage.
Lifestyle Changes
Making specific lifestyle changes can profoundly improve your symptoms of urinary incontinence. Limiting fluids at certain times of the day, reducing the intake of diuretics like caffeine and alcohol, and avoiding spicy and acidic foods that irritate the bladder can help.
Medications
For some individuals, medications can help manage the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Anticholinergics can help with urgent urination, while topical estrogens can strengthen tissues in the urethra and vagina.
Beta-3 agonists can relax the bladder muscle, allowing it to store more urine. It’s important to discuss these options with a healthcare provider to consider potential side effects and interactions with other medications.
EMSELLA
The EMSELLA chair treatment uses electromagnetic energy to deliver roughly 11,000 pelvic floor muscle contractions per session, effectively strengthening and re-educating these muscles. It’s particularly beneficial for those who find traditional Kegel exercises challenging.
Typically, a complete treatment includes six sessions, each lasting about 30 minutes. This painless procedure allows patients to remain fully clothed and requires no recovery time. This makes it a convenient option for improving pelvic floor strength and reducing urinary incontinence.
Find Long-lasting Relief From Leaks
At Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, we specialize in providing the latest treatments, including EMSELLA, to help you stop bladder leakage effectively. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a leak-free life.
