Incontinence
Most of us take bladder control for granted — until the day we lose it.
Anyone experiencing urinary incontinence knows it is not merely a medical condition. It’s an all-consuming everyday challenge that can affect your social interactions, self-esteem, intimate relationships and overall well-being. It can make you feel isolated and desperate for answers. But you’re not alone, and more importantly, you don’t have to live with it forever.
At the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, we understand the physical and emotional toll incontinence can take. That’s why we approach this condition with compassion, expertise and innovative solutions tailored just for you.
Let’s Get Real: The Lowdown on Incontinence
Incontinence may not be a topic you’re prepared to discuss loudly over brunch, but it’s more common than you might think. It can impact anyone, anywhere, and right now millions of women around the world are wondering if there’s a solution that actually works.
Three of the most common types of urinary incontinence are:
Urge Incontinence — Gotta Go Now
This form of incontinence suddenly tells you, “I gotta go now!” and you have no choice but to listen. Urge incontinence is characterized by a sudden and intense need to urinate, often followed by leakage of urine and a rush to get to the bathroom in time. This is caused by the bladder muscles contracting involuntarily, even at times when your bladder isn’t full.
Stress Incontinence — Laugh, Sneeze, Oops
Stress incontinence, despite the name, has nothing to do with mental or emotional stress. It’s more about those “Oops!” moments that can happen when you laugh, sneeze, cough or exercise. This type of incontinence happens when the muscles and tissues supporting the bladder become weakened, often due to pregnancy or menopause.
Mixed Incontinence — Blend of Urge and Stress
Mixed incontinence combines the symptoms of urge and stress incontinence, creating a unique blend of challenges. You might experience sudden urges to go, like with urge incontinence, along with leakage when you laugh or sneeze, as with stress incontinence. Understanding which symptoms are more dominant can help in tailoring the right treatment plan.
Causes, Risk Factors and Common Triggers
Incontinence isn’t just a random occurrence; it’s often the result of underlying health conditions or physical changes. These include:
Weakness in the pelvic muscles that support the bladder
Nerve damage that sends incorrect signals to the bladder
Use of certain medications
Certain medical conditions
Some people are more prone to developing incontinence. The following factors can tip the scales:
Age: as we age, our muscles get a little lazy, including those in charge of bladder control
Gender: thanks to pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, incontinence is more common in women
Obesity: extra weight can put pressure on the bladder, kind of like a poorly placed elbow on a water balloon
Medical History: certain surgeries or treatments may alter the bladder’s normal function
Some things can trigger or worsen incontinence without warning, particularly if you are already at risk:
Spicy foods, alcohol and carbonated drinks can make the bladder more active
Emotional stress may lead to urge incontinence
Physical activity, such as sudden movements or heavy lifting, may lead to leakage
Understanding the Naturopathic Approach to Incontinence
Here at the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, we’re not afraid to take the bull by the horns or, in this case, the bladder by the… well, you get it. We don’t believe that you should suffer in silence. We believe in tackling the often hush-hush subject of incontinence head-on, with empathy and expertise in equal measures.
Our doctors look at incontinence from a naturopathic perspective. That means we don’t just tackle your symptoms — we aim to get to the root of the issue. We delve deep into your lifestyle, health history and that sneaky genetic lottery to understand what might be causing your incontinence.
Armed with this comprehensive knowledge, we design a tailor-made treatment plan that may include a combination of dietary advice, exercise guidance, pelvic floor therapy or lifestyle changes. Some patients see improvement with behavioral changes and pelvic floor exercises alone, but our treatment options don’t stop there.
Meet Emsella, the Revolutionary Noninvasive Incontinence Treatment
Imagine sitting on a chair, fully clothed, while it does all the work to help you regain control of your bladder. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, welcome to the future! Emsella is a noninvasive treatment that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate muscle contractions in the pelvic floor. It’s like doing thousands of Kegels without breaking a sweat.
During a session, you sit on the Emsella chair and let the device do its job. A session takes about 28 minutes, during which you remain dressed and have nothing to do but relax. Grab a magazine or chat with our friendly staff — before you know it, you’re done. Each session is equivalent to about 11,200 Kegel exercises.
Typically, a course of six sessions, twice a week, is recommended for optimal results. Of course, this can vary depending on your individual condition and needs, and our expert team will help determine the best approach for you.
Enjoying Life After Emsella
You may start noticing results from as little as one session on the Emsella chair, but we recommend a three-week protocol to maximize the treatment’s benefits. Over the course of those three weeks, Emsella helps to re-educate your pelvic floor muscles and restore neuromuscular control.
Imagine stepping out of your house without a second thought. No mental mapping of bathrooms. No fear of an unexpected sneeze. Grace and confidence taking the place of embarrassment and anxiety. That’s life after Emsella, and we at YNC are here to guide you toward it.
Results typically last for six to 12 months. Like any muscle, your pelvic floor muscles need ongoing exercise to stay strong and healthy. Regular Kegel exercises and maintenance sessions with Emsella can help keep your incontinence issues a bay.
Start Your Leak-Free Life Today
Incontinence may be common, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. With a naturopathic approach and treatments like Emsella, you can regain bladder control and all the joy, spontaneity and vitality that come with it.
Change is just a phone call away. Reach out to the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness at 408-761-6781 to schedule a consultation. Prefer to type it out instead? No worries! Contact us here and a member of our team will get in touch.
