WOMEN'S HEALTH
Thursday May 19, 2011
Plugging the leak
To reduce the likelihood of urinary leakage, there are steps a woman can take.
BETWEEN a career, chores and children, there is really not enough time left in the day for the average working mother.
A mother has enough to handle without having to deal with urinary leakage as well, but help is readily available.
Even when both parents are fully committed to sharing the assorted tasks of the day, a woman is still more likely to shoulder more of the burden. This is because the children demand her attention more often or because she’s the main breadwinner of the family.
Whatever the cause, these responsibilities are already difficult to juggle without the inconvenience of experiencing light urinary leakage (LUL), which generally affects women more than men.
In fact, a recent global survey by Poise revealed that 70% of Malaysian adults experiencing LUL are women. Adding to the statistical disadvantage, it’s also more commonly experienced by women when they are pregnant and after childbirth, due to the strain on the pelvic floor muscles.
In between coping with work, overseeing the children and looking after the home, urinary leakage can be a cause of emotional distress, ranging from embarrassment to concerns over professional performance and even odour. Even so, many women try to ignore the problem and put other priorities, such as work or family needs, ahead of their own.
Taking the lead on leaks
There are several things a woman can do to reduce the likelihood of urinary leakage, even when things are hectic around the home:
Kegel exercises
Kegel or pelvic floor exercises help to strengthen the pelvic muscles, which in turn help to resist the urge to urinate: breathe in, and as you breathe out, clench your pelvic muscles as though you are trying to stop yourself from urinating. Maintain this for up to 10 seconds while breathing normally, and repeat the exercise 10 times, with 10-second intervals in between. Best of all, it’s discreet and you can do it anytime or anywhere, even when carrying out your household chores.
Dietary modifications
Though it might sound contradictory, it’s important that you continue to drink sufficient water throughout the day. This is particularly important if you are breastfeeding. Furthermore, lack of hydration can place you at increased risk for urinary tract infections, which can also trigger urinary leakage; likewise, common food items can also irritate your bladder, such as caffeine, sugar, and acidic or spicy foods.
Lifestyle modifications
Anything that places a strain on your pelvic muscles can aggravate urinary leakage. Smoking, which often leads to coughing; heavy lifting either at home or while exercising; straining to empty your bowels due to constipation; and excess body weight due to obesity all contribute to the problem. Hence you’ve got another great reason to quit smoking and lose weight.
In addition, you can practise bladder training, which is a conscious effort to extend intervals between relieving yourself. For example, try to control the urge to urinate by waiting for 10 minutes; it can help if you learn to relax and breathe slowly or do something to distract yourself. Ideally, you should plan to relieve yourself every two to four hours and make the necessary arrangements to keep to this schedule, and ensure you completely empty your bladder each time.
While the suggestions above are proven methods to significantly reduce the occurrence of urinary leakage, they aren’t guaranteed “cures”.
There are products that can help get you through occasional situations when you just can’t get to the toilet in time.
Pantiliners like Poise are helpful as they are made specifically to absorb urine quickly. Also, they contain an ingredient to neutralise odour. This way, you can have greater peace of mind to deal with little emergencies like a fussy baby or daily tasks like preparing dinner.
This educational article is brought to you by Poise® to raise awareness on urinary leakage. For details, log on to poise.com.my / consumer careline 1-800-82-1188.
http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/5/19/health/8633378&sec=health
Thursday May 19, 2011
Plugging the leak
To reduce the likelihood of urinary leakage, there are steps a woman can take.
BETWEEN a career, chores and children, there is really not enough time left in the day for the average working mother.
A mother has enough to handle without having to deal with urinary leakage as well, but help is readily available.
Even when both parents are fully committed to sharing the assorted tasks of the day, a woman is still more likely to shoulder more of the burden. This is because the children demand her attention more often or because she’s the main breadwinner of the family.
Whatever the cause, these responsibilities are already difficult to juggle without the inconvenience of experiencing light urinary leakage (LUL), which generally affects women more than men.
In fact, a recent global survey by Poise revealed that 70% of Malaysian adults experiencing LUL are women. Adding to the statistical disadvantage, it’s also more commonly experienced by women when they are pregnant and after childbirth, due to the strain on the pelvic floor muscles.
In between coping with work, overseeing the children and looking after the home, urinary leakage can be a cause of emotional distress, ranging from embarrassment to concerns over professional performance and even odour. Even so, many women try to ignore the problem and put other priorities, such as work or family needs, ahead of their own.
Taking the lead on leaks
There are several things a woman can do to reduce the likelihood of urinary leakage, even when things are hectic around the home:
Kegel exercises
Kegel or pelvic floor exercises help to strengthen the pelvic muscles, which in turn help to resist the urge to urinate: breathe in, and as you breathe out, clench your pelvic muscles as though you are trying to stop yourself from urinating. Maintain this for up to 10 seconds while breathing normally, and repeat the exercise 10 times, with 10-second intervals in between. Best of all, it’s discreet and you can do it anytime or anywhere, even when carrying out your household chores.
Dietary modifications
Though it might sound contradictory, it’s important that you continue to drink sufficient water throughout the day. This is particularly important if you are breastfeeding. Furthermore, lack of hydration can place you at increased risk for urinary tract infections, which can also trigger urinary leakage; likewise, common food items can also irritate your bladder, such as caffeine, sugar, and acidic or spicy foods.
Lifestyle modifications
Anything that places a strain on your pelvic muscles can aggravate urinary leakage. Smoking, which often leads to coughing; heavy lifting either at home or while exercising; straining to empty your bowels due to constipation; and excess body weight due to obesity all contribute to the problem. Hence you’ve got another great reason to quit smoking and lose weight.
In addition, you can practise bladder training, which is a conscious effort to extend intervals between relieving yourself. For example, try to control the urge to urinate by waiting for 10 minutes; it can help if you learn to relax and breathe slowly or do something to distract yourself. Ideally, you should plan to relieve yourself every two to four hours and make the necessary arrangements to keep to this schedule, and ensure you completely empty your bladder each time.
While the suggestions above are proven methods to significantly reduce the occurrence of urinary leakage, they aren’t guaranteed “cures”.
There are products that can help get you through occasional situations when you just can’t get to the toilet in time.
Pantiliners like Poise are helpful as they are made specifically to absorb urine quickly. Also, they contain an ingredient to neutralise odour. This way, you can have greater peace of mind to deal with little emergencies like a fussy baby or daily tasks like preparing dinner.
This educational article is brought to you by Poise® to raise awareness on urinary leakage. For details, log on to poise.com.my / consumer careline 1-800-82-1188.
http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/5/19/health/8633378&sec=health
Lifestyle That May Affect Pregnancy
Lifestyle can affect pregnant women. It has to do with their food intake, alcohol intake, whether they smoke, how regularly they exercise, etc. They should always take precaution in order to avoid any adverse effect of lifestyle.
Diet
Women who diet extremely or who have had eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia could be risking a low-birth-weight infant who is more susceptible to illness. Appropriate diet modification many months before conceiving can lower that risk.
Smoking
Smoking in women is associated with higher rates of miscarriage, lower infant birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, and infant respiratory illnesses.
Alcohol
Alcohol intake can affect child development. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is now recognised as a cause of serious birth defects, particularly mental underdevelopment. The lowest amount of alcohol that causes defects are unknown, so women are advised to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy and even before.
Exercise
Exercise can be helpful in increasing lower back and abdominal strength. Both areas can cause discomfort throughout pregnancy. Exercise can also improve labour outcome and help maintain well-being.
http://www.malaysia.gov.my/EN/Relevant%20Topics/Society%20and%20Life/Citizen/Family/FamilyPlanning/Prepregnancy/LifeStyleAffectPrePregnancy/Pages/LifeStyleAffectPrePregnancy.aspx
Diet
Women who diet extremely or who have had eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia could be risking a low-birth-weight infant who is more susceptible to illness. Appropriate diet modification many months before conceiving can lower that risk.
Smoking
Smoking in women is associated with higher rates of miscarriage, lower infant birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, and infant respiratory illnesses.
Alcohol
Alcohol intake can affect child development. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is now recognised as a cause of serious birth defects, particularly mental underdevelopment. The lowest amount of alcohol that causes defects are unknown, so women are advised to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy and even before.
Exercise
Exercise can be helpful in increasing lower back and abdominal strength. Both areas can cause discomfort throughout pregnancy. Exercise can also improve labour outcome and help maintain well-being.
http://www.malaysia.gov.my/EN/Relevant%20Topics/Society%20and%20Life/Citizen/Family/FamilyPlanning/Prepregnancy/LifeStyleAffectPrePregnancy/Pages/LifeStyleAffectPrePregnancy.aspx
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