We are all aware that incontinence is a common issue that troubles a lot of elderly people. But, do we know it is not just something related to age? There might be some habits that can lead to incontinence problems in an individual.

Incontinence is defined as the inability to hold urine that results in involuntary leakage. Needless to say that suffering from this health concern makes people feel unpleasant and uncomfortable all the time. There are some ways to seek relief from discomfort, for example, using diapers for elderly women and men, limiting fluid intake, bladder training, etc.

However, apart from ageing, incontinence can be a result of poor habits that we follow in our day-to-day lives. There are certain lifestyle factors that might be affecting bladder function and contributing to incontinence. 

Let us take a look at these habits:

● Poor diet

Everybody knows how crucial healthy eating is. This is because a poor diet not only leads to health issues but can also be a reason behind constipation, which is a potential cause of incontinence.

For instance, eating or drinking too many bladder-irritant foods like coffee, tea, tomatoes, and alcoholic and carbonated beverages can potentially flare up incontinence issues.

● Smoking & drinking

Smoking and drinking alcohol can aggravate an overactive bladder and result in symptoms like urge incontinence. Many people believe that smoking may cause an increase in bladder contractions, which might worsen these symptoms.

● Less or no exercise

Avoiding exercise and physical activities can lead to many health concerns, including reduced bladder control. Staying active and doing physical exercises daily can help you to sustain good health in addition to maintaining control over your bladder.

● Ignoring weight gain

There are many people who do not keep their weight in check and suffer from obesity. As a result, the pelvic floor is put under more pressure when a person is overweight. This might weaken the pelvic floor over time and result in symptoms of incontinence.

The aforementioned habits are the potential factors that might affect bladder control and lead to urinary incontinence. To avoid this, it is suggested that you should follow a healthy diet that is rich in leafy greens, protein, vegetables, and fruits in the right proportions. Moreover, you should avoid smoking and drinking too much and start doing physical exercise to live a healthy life.

However, in case, if you have started to experience the symptoms of incontinence, you must consult your doctor to seek appropriate treatment. Also, do not fear or hesitate as there are products like diapers for elderly women and men which can help you manage incontinence with ease and comfort.