Incontinence is a real issue, and contrary to what the advertising agencies might have us believe, it isn’t relegated just to the aging. Pregnancy can also cause bladder-control issues, leaving many young women looking for a solution. Luckily for those who suffer from the symptoms of incontinence, there is a drug-free solution that can keep you out of the adult diaper aisle of the supermarket: acupuncture. Now we can talk about ‘How Acupuncture Can Control Incontinence.’
Who’s Affected and Why
Although aging doesn’t cause incontinence, the issue does increase with age. Nearly 1 in 10 of those aged 65 or older and 1 in 3 women over the age of 60 are affected with some sort of bladder control issues. There are four different types of incontinence:
Stress Incontinence
When stress is placed on the muscles around the bladder, leaking can occur. This typically happens when sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting objects. This type of incontinence is usually associated with childbirth and menopause and tends to affect younger women.
Urge Incontinence
In this case, the affected person cannot hold the urine long enough to reach the bathroom in time. Often, this type happens with people who have diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s, or nerve problems associated with multiple sclerosis. Urge incontinence may also be an early indication of bladder cancer.
Overflow Incontinence
Just as a tub of water that still has the tap on is likely to overflow, so will a full bladder. The urethra may be blocked, causing the bladder to remain full. This often occurs in conjunction with an enlarged prostate.
Functional Incontinence
The age we age, it’s just more difficult to move quickly. When an older person cannot make it to the restroom in time, due to arthritis or other motor issues, bladder control can become a problem.
Treatment and Control of Incontinence
There are many ways to approach the treatment of incontinence. Of course, there are medications, such as Detrol, DitropanXL, Enablex, Oxytrol, Urispas, Vesicare, Oxytrol, Detrol, Ditropan XL, Myrbetriq, and Vesicare, that help with overactive bladder or muscle control. Exercising the pelvic muscle, also known as Kegel exercises, contributes to strengthening it. Most doctors will suggest a set number of hold-and-release exercises a few times daily. In extreme cases, surgery can be used to tighten the bladder. And there are always adult diapers, which are much more inconspicuous than they once were.
Acupuncture Treatment
[tweet_dis]According to the Healthcare Medical Institute, acupuncture has been successfully used to control an overactive bladder[/tweet_dis], which in some cases can lead to incontinence. A study showed that 79% of patients had considerable improvements after being treated with acupuncture. In the study, however, only three points were included, which is standard to ensure that results are accurate. In a real acupuncture office outside of a clinical study, the acupuncturist will take time to assess you as an individual and determine exactly what your presenting issues are and where to place the needles so they’ll make the biggest difference.
Why does acupuncture work? Sometimes, it’s about releasing energy. Sometimes, it’s about relaxing muscles. Mostly, though, it’s about giving the body the jolt it needs to heal itself. Acupuncture may work alone or in conjunction with other treatments prescribed by your naturopathic or allopathic physician. It has also been proven to help patients cut back on their medication levels in many instances, so if you’re already taking meds for incontinence, there is still a good chance that acupuncture can help.
Call us at Harmony and Health Acupuncture to schedule your appointment. We’ll discuss all of the options to treat your incontinence and see if acupuncture will help you move forward with
