How To Manage Incontinence When Coughing: Tips And Tricks For Ultimate Relief

Are you holding in your coughs to the point of turning red? Or maybe you find yourself crossing your legs tightly when you feel a tickle in your chest? If these scenarios sound familiar, you've probably experienced the discomfort of leaking urine when you cough.

While this is uncomfortable, there's no need to feel ashamed. Rather, dealing with incontinence when you cough should motivate you to take control of your bladder health and get to the bottom of it.

After all, finding the root cause of why you're struggling with incontinence is the first step towards total bladder freedom. Plus, there are ways to manage this condition and tips to help you find relief in no time.

So, let us at Jude walk you through the connection between coughing and urine leaks.

A Closer Look At Stress Incontinence

If you're leaking urine when you cough, then you're likely dealing with a condition known as stress incontinence. While that may sound daunting, it's a manageable and surprisingly common issue among women between the ages of 35 and 70. In fact, some research studies suggest that around 1 in 3 women will experience this condition in their lives.

But, what exactly causes stress incontinence?

Stress incontinence is mainly caused by sudden physical pressure on the pelvic floor (which supports the bladder), leading to urine leakage. Although it can happen when you cough, it can also occur during other everyday activities that put a strain on your body. For example:

• Sneezing

• Laughing

• Physical activities like running, jumping, or skipping

• Lifting heavy objects

When these activities increase the pressure on your abdomen, it can overwhelm the muscles that keep your pee in(pelvic floor muscles). As a result, it can cause unexpected (and uncontrollable) bladder leaks.

Causes and Risk Factors

Stress incontinence usually happens because the pelvic floor muscles or the muscles around the urethra are weak or damaged.

These muscles help support the bladder and keep the urethra closed to prevent leaks. So, when these muscles can't handle the pressure from activities like coughing, you may be more likely to leak urine. This is because the sphincter muscle that controls the flow of your pee opens for a brief moment, letting the pee through.

Generally, weaker pelvic muscles can occur for a few reasons, including pregnancy and physical stress. In turn, this prevents them from functioning properly.

Who is at risk of stress incontinence?

There are a few things that can influence your risk of developing stress incontinence. For instance, pregnancy and childbirth (particularly vaginal deliveries- although C-section doesn’t eliminate the risk) can stretch and weaken your pelvic muscles or cause hypertonic pelvic floor disorder.

Additionally, menopause can affect muscle and tissue strength because of hormone changes.

Although it's common for menopausal women to experience female urinary incontinence, it's important to remember that stress incontinence is not a normal part of ageing. Luckily, with the help of your GP or urologist, you can improve your symptoms and manage the condition. Plus, getting help early on means you'll experience relief even quicker and may even prevent it from becoming more severe.

Management And Treatment Options

For most cases of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), there are a range of treatment options available. Of course, how your doctor treats your stress incontinence will depend on how severe your condition is.

If you have mild stress incontinence, you may be able to stop urine leakage through exercise and lifestyle changes. However, if it's more severe, your doctor may suggest other medical treatments to stop bladder leaks and give you your confidence back.

Pelvic floor exercises

One of the best methods for treating stress incontinence is to focus on your pelvic floor weakness that may be causing the problem. Since this is a common cause for SUI, exercises like Kegels can really come in handy.

Kegels are designed to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. They're also partially responsible for controlling your bladder. When your pelvic floor muscles are too weak, they may not be able to support your bladder enough to withstand any abdominal pressure. As a result, you're more likely to experience urine leaks.

As mentioned some women experience leakage as a result of a hypertonic pelvic floor and they need to learn how to relax their pelvic floor. That’s why before considering pelvic floor exercises, it is beneficial to consult a pelvic floor physiotherapist who can advise you on what your pelvic floor needs.

Lifestyle changes

Another way to manage mild incontinence is to make a few adjustments to your lifestyle. In fact, it may be a good idea to implement some of these changes in conjunction with other treatments.

Firstly, if you're a smoker, try to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke or stop altogether. This can lower the chances of coughing due to irritation or breathing in smoke.

Additionally, avoiding heavy lifting can also be beneficial as it reduces the strain on your pelvic floor. If your job requires you to do heavy lifting you should consider obtaining a medical note to make reasonable adjustments to your role so the strain on your pelvic floor is reduced.

You can also train your pelvic floor in other ways such as hula-hooping, pilates or even belly-dancing.

Medical treatments

For women, there are several medical treatments available if lifestyle changes and pelvic floor exercises aren't enough. These may include:

• Vaginal estrogen therapy: Vaginal estrogen therapy is designed to strengthen the vaginal/ pelvic floor muscles, including those that control the bladder. It's particularly useful for women who have gone through (or are actively going through) menopause.

• Medication: Typically if pelvic floor exercises have failed to help

• Vaginal pessaries: These devices are inserted into the vagina to help support the bladder and urethra to reduce urine leakage. These are particularly used for women who are also experiencing vaginal prolapse

• Urethral injections: This involves injecting the urethra with bulking agents to help it close more effectively.

• Surgery: In more severe cases of stress incontinence, it may be necessary to undergo a sling surgery. During these surgeries, a sling is inserted under the urethra to give it extra support, reducing the chances of leaks.

It's important to remember that your GP will be able to suggest the best course of action depending on how severe your stress incontinence is, your age, and your medical history. So, if you're struggling with stress incontinence, it's always best to schedule a visit with your doctor to identify the cause of your SUI and the best treatment plan for you.

Tips And Tricks For Daily Management

If you're waiting for your doctor's appointment or want to combine some good practices with lifestyle changes or pelvic floor exercises, then you're in luck. There are some incredibly helpful products you can use to not only manage your symptoms but also to rebuild your confidence.

For example, you can use incontinence pads at night to catch any leaks that may happen before you wake up. You can also wear them to the office or on the go if you don't experience severe leaks. If your leaks are more than a 'trickle', why not try out some incontinence pants? They're comfortable and discreet and can be used just like any other pair of pants.

Many women enjoy taking bladder care supplements to support their bladder health. Our range is designed to reduce leaks and doesn't require a prescription. However, as with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before taking them to ensure they are suitable in the context of your medical history.

They also contain natural ingredients and many of our customers have seen an since starting their regime. So why not add your name to the list of women who no longer worry about bladder control with Jude?

FAQs

What is the difference between stress incontinence and urge incontinence?

Although the two terms may sound similar, there are some distinct differences between stress and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence is when you experience leaks because of sudden pressure on the bladder. It's usually caused by strain, physical exercise, sneezing, laughing, and coughing. This type of incontinence is also linked to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.

Urge incontinence is the sudden and really intense need to pee, which can cause leaks before you reach the toilet. Unlike stress incontinence, this type of incontinence is typically caused by an overactive bladder (OAB). This means the bladder muscles contract too often, causing the feeling of needing to pee.

Can stress incontinence get worse over time?

Unfortunately, stress incontinence can get worse over time. However, this is usually because the risk factors or underlying issues causing the condition aren't managed. Additionally, lifestyle factors like smoking can make stress incontinence worse.

Luckily, you can prevent your stress incontinence from getting worse with a treatment plan and things like pelvic floor exercises. These will strengthen your pelvic floor and control those uncomfortable leaks. In fact, with proactive management, plenty of women see a significant improvement in their leaks.

When should I see a doctor about incontinence?

Ideally, you'll want to schedule a visit to your GP as soon as you notice that you're struggling with urinary incontinence. The quicker you consult with your doctor, the quicker you'll find relief from the discomfort that often goes hand-in-hand with this condition.

Your doctor will help you pinpoint the root cause of the problem and put a treatment plan in place that works for you. The type of plan will depend on the severity of your stress incontinence, which is why it's best to book an appointment as soon as it starts happening.

Final Thoughts

Involuntary urine leakage when coughing is an uncomfortable condition for plenty of women. But it doesn't have to be. At Jude, we don't believe in the stigma surrounding our bodies and bladder health. Rather, it's our mission to work together with other women to be healthier and feel better than ever.

Using our tips, you can get a grip on your stress incontinence and learn how to manage it like a pro. Plus, with our handy incontinence pads and pants, you can step out on the town in total confidence and stay dry all day long.

Jude’s clinically proven supplements give you better bladder and pelvic floor control, helping you sleep through the night and regain the freedom to live life on your own terms. With just one capsule morning and night, you'll have relief from need-to-go urgency in just 12 weeks.