Best Natural Remedies For Urge Incontinence: According To Doctors
Urge incontinence happens when you feel like you really need to pee, even if your bladder isn’t full. It can be frustrating, but there are simple ways to manage it naturally.
Let’s talk about three easy remedies that can help you feel more in control.
1. Drink More Water (Yes, Really!)
I know what you’re thinking: “If I’m rushing to the bathroom all the time, why would I drink more water?” It might sound odd, but staying hydrated is super important. Here’s why:
When you don’t drink enough water, your body gets dehydrated. This can irritate your bladder, making you feel like you need to pee more often.
Plus, dehydration can cause constipation, and that puts extra pressure on your bladder. So, drinking enough water actually helps your bladder work better.
How much water should you drink? Try sipping small amounts throughout the day instead of gulping a lot at once. This keeps your bladder happy without overwhelming it.
2. Teach Your Bladder New Tricks
Your bladder is like a muscle, and with a little training, you can teach it to work better. This is called bladder training, and it helps you control when you go to the bathroom. Here are some easy ways to do it:
Delay Your Bathroom Trips
The next time you feel like you need to pee, don’t rush to the bathroom right away. Instead, try waiting for a little while. Start with just a few minutes and gradually add more time. This can help your bladder learn to hold more urine. (But check with your doctor first to make sure this is safe for you!)
Set a Schedule
If waiting doesn’t work for you, try using a bathroom schedule instead. Pick specific times to go, like every hour or two, even if you don’t feel the urge. As you get comfortable, slowly increase the time between bathroom trips. This helps your bladder get used to a routine.
Skip the “Just-in-Case” Pee
You might have been told to “go before you leave the house,” but this habit can confuse your bladder. Peeing when you don’t really need to go can mess up the signals between your brain and bladder. Instead, try to wait until you genuinely feel the urge.
3. Calm the Sudden Urges
Sometimes, the urge to pee hits out of nowhere. When this happens, don’t panic. Here’s a simple trick to manage it:
- Stay calm and sit down if possible.
- Start doing quick, repeated Kegel exercises. (These are like squeezing the muscles you’d use to stop yourself from peeing.)
- Keep doing the Kegels until the strong urge fades.
- Once you feel more in control, head to the bathroom calmly.
Practicing this technique can help you manage those surprise moments when you feel like you can’t hold it.
Bonus Tip: Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor muscles play a big role in bladder control. Exercises like Kegels can make these muscles stronger. To do a Kegel, tighten the muscles you’d use to stop your pee midstream. Hold for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat this several times a day.
Why These Tips Work
These remedies are simple but effective because they focus on building good habits and supporting your body naturally. Drinking enough water keeps your bladder healthy, bladder training teaches it to hold more, and calming techniques help you handle sudden urges.
If you stick to these tips, you’ll likely notice a difference over time. But remember, everyone’s body is different. If you’re still struggling, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out what’s best for you.
Now you know how to take charge of your bladder and reduce those frequent bathroom trips. It’s all about patience and practice—you’ve got this!
How to Calm Sudden Urges to Pee
Sometimes, the need to pee sneaks up on you, and it feels like you can’t control it. It’s frustrating, right? But don’t worry—you can manage this with a simple trick called the urge-suppression technique.
Think of it like a superpower to calm your bladder when it’s misbehaving.
Step 1: Stay Calm
First, don’t panic. If you feel like you need to rush to the bathroom, try to stay calm. Remember, feeling anxious can actually make the urge stronger. If you can, sit down or lean against something steady. Taking a deep breath helps too. Tell yourself, “I’ve got this!”
Step 2: Do Fast, Repetitive Kegels
Here’s where the magic happens. Start doing Kegel exercises quickly and repeatedly. A Kegel is when you tighten the muscles you’d use to stop your pee midstream. Imagine squeezing and letting go as fast as you can, like flicking a light switch on and off.
Doing these quick squeezes sends a signal to your bladder to calm down. It’s like telling your bladder, “Hold on, I’m in charge here!”
Step 3: Wait for the Urge to Fade
Keep doing those fast Kegels until the strong feeling to pee goes away. This might take a minute or two, so be patient. Focus on the exercises and try not to think about the urge.
Step 4: Head to the Bathroom Calmly
Once you feel the urge fade, it’s time to go to the bathroom. But don’t run—walk there calmly and confidently. This helps reinforce to your brain and bladder that you’re in control, not them!
Why This Works
When you do Kegels during a sudden urge, it helps distract your bladder and gives your muscles time to regain control. Staying calm also helps reduce the intensity of the urge. With practice, this technique can make those “out of nowhere” moments much easier to handle.
Practice Makes Perfect
The more you practice this technique, the better you’ll get at it. At first, it might feel tricky, but over time, you’ll learn to manage these sudden urges like a pro. So, don’t give up—your bladder is just learning to listen to you again.
You’ve got this! Just take it one step at a time, and soon you’ll feel much more in control.
