MAILBAG: Ease Bathroom Misses NATURALLY
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted September 27, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“I’ve been dealing with urinary incontinence for a little over a year. Are there any natural remedies to keep it from happening?”
– Rosemary from Tallahassee, FL
Hi Rosemary,
Urinary incontinence (UI) can have many different causes. It’s essential to see a doctor to have UI properly diagnosed.
Before we talk about what has helped some folks manage their symptoms without drugs, let’s go over some of the most common triggers for this frustrating condition.
UI is often caused by an overactive bladder. When stimulated, the bladder releases a bit of urine. The question is, what’s causing the over-activity?
UI can be the result of certain health conditions, including…
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- nerve damage
- weak pelvic muscles (especially in women who have had children)
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Certain medications can stimulate UI. These include…
- diuretics (water pills)
- muscle relaxants
- narcotics
- antihistamines
- some blood pressure medications (alpha-adrenergic antagonists)
Anyone battling urinary incontinence who hasn’t seen a doctor yet should make an appointment. Your doc can help you rule out medications and medical conditions to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.
Now let’s talk about a few drug-free solutions. Keep in mind no solution works for everyone, but you may find one or more of these simple approaches helps ease your own symptoms:
Kegel Exercises: Kegels are pelvic floor exercises. Contracting the muscles of your pelvic floor can help make them stronger.
The Mayo Clinic has some simple instructions for doing these easy-to-master exercises.
The key is to do Kegels regularly. They only take a few minutes and can dramatically reduce urinary incontinence.
Avoid Triggers: Many foods can irritate your bladder wall, stimulating urinary incontinence. This list includes caffeine (coffee, chocolate, and soda), alcohol, citrus foods/juices, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, and sugar.
To find your own triggers, try an elimination diet. You remove each group of potential trigger foods one at a time for two to three weeks.
If there are any improvements, remove the offending foods permanently. If there’s no change, you can go ahead and add it back into your diet.
Double–Voiding: Double-voiding is just what it sounds like. You urinate, wait a few minutes, and then go again.
Double-voiding is a great technique to use before going to bed.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture certainly doesn’t work for everyone with UI. But for some folks, it’s a game changer.
So it may be worth giving this ancient practice a try to see if it helps ease your own symptoms.
P.S. Need a bit more help avoiding those bathroom dashes and unfortunate misses? Researchers say this crucial vitamin can help RELIEVE overactive bladder symptoms.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Take the SHORTER Path to Dramatically Better Health
Are you tired of fitness gurus preaching the virtues of 5 AM workouts and pushing Olympic-level training regimens? Their narrative can feel exhausting and entirely unattainable. But before you toss in the towel completely, I’ve got news that might just put a spring back into your step. A groundbreaking new study reveals that the key...
Unexpected Perks of Your Coffee Habit Revealed!
We all know that the first cup of coffee in the morning can FEEL like a lifesaver. But what if it might actually BE saving your life? A groundbreaking new study suggests that your daily coffee habit could be protecting you from not just one but multiple chronic diseases. Let’s pour over this fascinating research…...
The TRUTH About Diabetes Drugs and Brain Aging
You’ve probably seen the gushing headlines… Most say something like, “Common diabetes drug protects the brain against aging!” And let’s face it, that sounds fantastic. After all, who doesn’t want to keep their brain young and in tip-top shape? The headlines refer to the results of a new study that suggests the widely prescribed type...
Hidden Smartphone Danger Puts You at Risk
Remember when we thought cell phones were just something for young folks to obsess over? Back when we were convinced they were nothing more than a passing fad? Well, times certainly have changed. Now, most people… including many of us older folks… have jumped on the smartphone bandwagon. Heck, some of us are practically as...
Preserve Your Mobility with “Agile Aging” Exercises
Aging has a way of humbling us. You lose hair where you want to keep it—and often end up growing it where you don’t. With every passing year, your eyesight fades, and your waistline expands. And as your once quick pace begins to slow, you fear developing the dreaded “senior shuffle.” But here’s the thing....
Yes, Lazy Saturday Lie-Ins Can BOOST Your Health
Are you burning the midnight oil during the week and catching up on sleep on weekends? Well, I’ve got some news that might help you feel less guilty about those lazy Saturday mornings. A new study suggests that weekend lie-ins might be doing far more than just helping you feel refreshed. Experts say they could...
Mailbag: 7 Hidden Culprits Behind Your Weight Gain
“Why am I gaining weight, even though I am watching what I am eating?” – Battling the Bulge Dear Battling, Gaining weight when you’re not trying to is frustrating. And it just gets worse as we age… often regardless of our diet. The truth is that various factors can promote weight gain even when you’re...
Popular Artificial Sweetener Linked to Dangerous Heart Risk
Remember when erythritol was the darling of the health food world? Well, this popular sugar substitute might not be as sweet a deal as we were led to believe… A shocking new study reveals a dark side to this widely used artificial sweetener. It turns out erythritol is associated with a dangerous—and even deadly—heart risk....
Cracking the Code on Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation and obesity are the evil tag team at the heart of nearly every major disease we face—from diabetes to obesity. What starts as a normal, healthy process to fend off dangerous invaders can quickly fan into the flames of chronic inflammation… and that includes in your gut. The trouble is almost no one has...
Dreaming of Better Sleep? Your Gut Holds the Key
Do you toss and turn at night? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, if you’re a senior over 65, you join nearly 17 percent of your peers who ALSO struggle with poor sleep quality. But science has uncovered a natural supplement that not only could help you catch more Z’s but can also give...