Urinary incontinence, an uncomfortable problem that can affect up to 60% of women

Throughout life, women have a 30% risk of developing urinary incontinence, a condition that usually increases after menopause , reaching up to 60% in old age.

There are different types of urinary incontinence: stress is that in which loss of urine occurs when laughing, coughing, sneezing or making a force, so it is more frequent in the postpartum and around the menopause; the urge incontinence that is the imperious and sudden urge to urinate, so that often the patient does not reach the bathroom (problem that is more frequent in post-menopausal women and the elderly); and mixed incontinence, which includes both situations.

Fortunately, in many cases urinary incontinence can be prevented, improved and / or treated when it has already appeared. "Stress urinary incontinence occurs, in most cases, due to anatomical defects produced as a result of vaginal births, overweight, chronic cough, constipation, among some of the most frequent causes , " explains Dr. Víctor Miranda. , urogynecologist of Health Network UC CHRISTUS.

The specialist says that while the woman is in her reproductive age, produces estrogen's that help maintain the tone of the pelvic floor musculature. But when menopause arrives, the production of these hormones ceases, therefore, the problem of urinary incontinence can begin to manifest itself.

Although it is a common problem, it is not normal

The urogynecologist of Health Network UC CHRISTUS points out that although the loss of small amounts of urine is a common problem in many patients, it is not normal that this happens. Therefore, Dr. Miranda emphasizes prevention.

"Ideally before pregnancy, the muscles of the pelvic floor should be prepared with preventive exercises aimed at maintaining tone and strengthening muscles, in order to better cope with the weight that gestation exerts in that area," he says.

Likewise, it affirms that from the 34th week of pregnancy, the woman can combine exercises with perineal massage, whose objective is to favor the elongation and the elasticity of the pelvic floor tissues, facilitating the passage of the fetus. In some cases, it could decrease the likelihood of tears or the need to perform an episiotomy to expand the birth canal.

"If with the change of habits and exercises we can not reduce the episodes of escape and improve the quality of life of the patient, then we evaluate the possibility of treatment with a pelvic floor kinesiologist and, later, the feasibility of incorporating drugs . If none of this results, the option of a surgical intervention is evaluated, "says Dr. Víctor Miranda.

5 tips to avoid urinary incontinence

1. Reduce the consumption of irritating bladder foods, such as coffee, tea, cola drinks, and alcohol.

2. Avoid tobacco use.

3. Urinate every 4 hours (ideally you should not postpone it when you want to urinate).

4. Encourage fluid intake in the morning and avoid them after 20 hours.

5. Prefer fiber-rich foods because they help prevent constipation.

Source: BBCL | Mujer https://goo.gl/ekCrr2 T  

Google Translation