Urinary Incontinence In The Winter

We all have that friend who constantly has to pee! It seems like every time you’re out, they need to find a bathroom and that can be somewhat of an annoyance. Unfortunately, there is no perfect outing with someone who constantly has to use the bathroom, especially in the winter. Don’t fret though, your friend could be experiencing a medical condition called urinary incontinence. In the winter months incontinence can be even more challenging!

Urinary incontinence is defined as the loss of bladder control. Causes range from getting older, having a baby, nerve damage or other conditions. Your friend may leak urine occasionally or without any warning at all have the urge to urinate.

So the question is, how do you deal with winter if you have urinary incontinence? Many people identify winter with hot chocolate, hot coffee, warm foods and sitting around a fireplace having a few beers. It's easy to forget that hot chocolate and coffee has caffeine which is known to irritate the bladder. Alcohol is also known to increase the risk of leaking from urinary incontinence.

Here are a couple precautions that can be taken to help live with incontinence during the winter months:

• Drink water - The idea of drinking water to reduce incontinence sounds crazy but it’s actually not! Staying hydrated plays a key role in maintaining the health of your bladder.

• Empty Your Bladder: Sounds pretty reasonable right? Most people don't remember to use the bathroom before you leave the house! This is especially important in the winter as symptoms of urinary incontinence comes without warning.

• Avoid Diuretics - We all know how nice that warm cup of coffee and hot chocolate can be when it’s cold outside. The types of fluid you drink, can and will worsen incontinence episodes.  Try drinking a hot decaffeinated tea when you are craving a warm beverage.

• Keep warm - When you are exposed to the cold for too long, bladder muscles will tense up and potentially cause loss of bladder control. Keeping warm will help to relax the bladder muscles and lessen the effects of incontinence in the winter.