An important step in dealing with urinary incontinence is actually understanding what you’re up against.  You should understand that this is a condition that many people face, and you are not alone.  There is no shame in losing control of your bladder the older you get, but there are ways to control the situation.  By understanding the reasons for your urinary incontinence, you may have a better chance of reducing embarrassing episodes.  There are a few different types of incontinence, and each type might be controlled with different remedies.

First, there is stress incontinence, where urine is passed after pressure is placed on the bladder.  Sneezing, laughing, coughing, and excessive lifting can all produce problems for you.  This type of urinary incontinence is most common in women who have given birth several times, and can affect up to fifty percent of women.  Stress incontinence is not as common in men, but can be found in males who have a history of prostate problems.  With specific strengthening exercises, called Kegel’s exercises, you can develop more control over the muscles that fail during stress to the bladder.

Urge incontinence is the hardest form of urinary incontinence to control.  This is a sudden need to urinate, and can lead to loss of control before you have a chance to get to the bathroom.  There are training exercises that you can attempt to try and control the situation with your mind.  This involves taking regular trips to the restroom every thirty minutes, whether you need to or not.  Gradually increase the time between your trips and see if you can control the urges long enough to make it three or four hours between visits.

Controlling functional incontinence can be tough, since it is usually a result of lack of mobility.  If you can train the muscles necessary for controlling urine flow, you could buy yourself enough time to get to the restroom in a dire situation.  The behavioral training could also work in this situation.  If nothing else, you will have a regular restroom schedule, which should help you control the number of trips that you need to take.

The hardest to control is overflow incontinence.  This is usually due to a blockage, though weak bladder muscles could be a cause.  If muscle control is the problem, there are possibilities.  If there is a blockage, you may need to consider surgery.  The important think is to remain positive and seek solutions.