It can chase you out of bed at night…
Cause embarrassment if you’re out at dinner with friends…
And turn road trips into a desperate hunt for the next rest stop.
It can even make you feel like a prisoner in your own home.
I’m talking, of course, about bladder control issues or “pee problems.” You know, the need to go suddenly or what feels like all the time.
Some people will tell you it’s just part of aging. And it’s true, bladder control issues do tend to pop up more as we grow older.
But it doesn’t HAVE to be that way. And drugs aren’t your only option either.
There are ways to help show your bladder who’s boss so you can live better and with more confidence. And you won’t have to touch a risky drug to get the job done.
The problem with bladder drugs
Some bladder control meds can supposedly make it easier to “hold it in” so you can go longer between bathroom breaks. But, frankly, taking them is a lot like playing with fire.
Most belong to a class of medication called anticholinergic drugs. They work by blocking a key chemical in the brain. And that can lead to some issues a whole lot worse than the risk of an accident.
Anticholinergic medications can increase your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease by a stunning 50 percent in some cases. Plus, the drugs can also cause other troubling side effects, including constipation, confusion, vision loss, hallucinations, and more.
In fact, I included them in my earlier report of 5 drugs seniors should stop taking.
The more anticholinergic drugs you take, and the longer you take them, the higher your odds of facing these life-wrecking disturbances.
You can search for a complete list of drugs in this class online. If you find you’re taking any of them, talk with your doctor about other options.
And if you’re taking one for an overactive bladder, you definitely have some other choices to consider.
3 easy ways to better bladder control
Some bladder control drugs are just too risky to try. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
Other non-drug approaches could help you dial down those desperate urges, end the mad dashes, and even help you go hours without having to worry about finding a toilet.
Bladder training:
You can picture bladder training like Rocky running up the steps. Well, except you’re training for bladder control. And the goal is to NOT be running anymore (at least not to the toilet).
The simplest approach is to time how long you typically go between toilet dashes. Then, set a timer and try to hold out for a little longer the next time, say five minutes.
It’ll be challenging at first. But many folks find they can keep adding minutes, going longer and longer over time. Until eventually, they’ve gained far more bladder control and can go hours between bathroom trips.
Weight loss:
Some urinary urgency comes from the pressure your body places on your bladder. And if the rest of your body is a little bigger than it used to be, you could basically be squeezing your bladder like a sponge without realizing it.
Dropping even 10 pounds could take some of the pressure off, giving you greater bladder control and eliminating those urgent bathroom runs.
Supplements:
Natural therapies can often do what meds can’t. And in this case, that is delivering real relief from an overactive bladder without the dangers of anticholinergic drugs.
Many folks find that combining several natural remedies is far more effective than one alone when it comes to bladder control. And three herbs that are top contenders for bladder support are …
- lindera
- three-leaf caper
- horsetail
One study in 2017 found that, in combination, they helped significantly reduce leaky bladder incidents in older women. And for one in four lucky ladies, it eliminated the problem entirely.
For your best shot at bladder control success, don’t just choose one strategy. Instead, try combining two or all three of these at once.
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