One in three women will suffer from urinary incontinence/ShutterStock
The cold days have arrived and here it is in the winter that he may run away from you and leave you really embarrassed.
Many women suffer from urinary incontinence and involuntary urination, and the reasons for this are many.
This phenomenon is common during pregnancy, after childbirth (when the pelvic floor weakens), during menopause and among older women.
In fact, women of almost any age can suffer from this unpleasant phenomenon.
Statistics show that one out of three women will suffer from urinary leakage on a daily basis.
The winter season is more prone to disaster when it comes to urinary incontinence and the reasons for this are different.
Due to the cold weather, women sweat less in winter and when the body loses less fluid through sweating, it produces more urine instead, thus increasing the urge and frequency to relieve the bladder.
In addition, many women suffer from involuntary stress during the winter season.
The gloomy atmosphere of this season gives its signals, especially among women, with more or less mild symptoms of "winter depression".
This of course creates high levels of stress and unconscious tension.
Increased stress overexerts the muscles and can make it difficult to prevent bladder leaks.
Another reason is related to increased consumption of food and drink in the cold season.
These increase the activity of the bladder, and also the risks of leakage.
The symptoms accompanying the urinary incontinence
• Sudden strong urge to urinate (forces you to rush to the bathroom).
• Urine leakage and dribbling before you manage to get to the toilet.
• More frequent need to urinate.
• Accidental bladder leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing or straining.
• Avoiding activities (sports, for example) for fear of a leak that will cause embarrassment.
• Bladder emptying feels incomplete.
An extra pair of underwear in the bag or leak pads will calm the situation/ShutterStock
Urinary incontinence - all ways to prevent it
Fluid balance in the body:
When the temperatures outside are cold, we tend to drink less.
But especially in the winter, one must make sure to drink enough water for the body.
The warm clothing, the heating that runs non-stop in the workplace and at home - all these increase the evaporation of fluids from the skin, and it is very easy to become dehydrated, especially in the winter.
Dehydration thickens the urine, increases its irritation to the bladder and causes urinary incontinence.
Making sure to drink enough will also help maintain the health of the urinary system.
Water and decaffeinated herbal tea are recommended for drinking in winter.
Coffee and alcohol, on the other hand, may increase the urgency of urination, and with it the leaks.
Correct clothing:
the winter wardrobe for women suffering from urinary incontinence should consist of warm, comfortable and practical clothes for frequent trips to the bathroom.
Choose clothes with easy-to-operate fasteners, pants with elastic at the waist and fewer buttons and zippers.
It is also important that the fabric be the type of fabric that breathes, and not dense and pressing.
Keep the stomach warm:
Cold weather tends to put stress on the muscles and the bladder and contract them, which leads to urinary incontinence.
Keeping the body warm, especially in the abdominal area, can help counteract this by relaxing the muscles.
Strategic planning:
When you go to places outside the home, it is important that you always know where there are toilets and what is the easiest way to get to them.
That way you can be calm when you know where to go in stressful minutes.
Strengthen your muscles:
a strong pelvic floor will prevent urine leaks.
You can find hundreds of videos on the net with easy-to-use instructions for strengthening the pelvic floor.
These exercises strengthen the muscles responsible for controlling the flow of urine, which leads to improved bladder control.
A strong pelvic floor will provide better support for your bladder, reducing the likelihood of leakage.
Bag protection:
Always keep a pair of underwear in your bag.
This will contribute to your peace of mind.
Vaginal laser treatment:
in many cases when none of the natural methods are successful, you can consider laser treatment, an easy and effective innovative solution for urinary incontinence.
The laser rays will gently heat the muscle tissues that control the activity of the bladder and encourage their regeneration.
This is an easy treatment, painless and does not require recovery time.
Botox for urinary incontinence:
vaginal injections of botulinum toxin - a short and easy temporary treatment that causes a delay in bladder muscle contraction.
Weakening the bladder muscle reduces the involuntary contractions, and consequently prevents urinary incontinence.
The treatment is one-time and effective in solving the problem.
The author, Dr. Fani Bar Levy, is an expert in gynecology
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