Some people welcome the colder weather with open arms as it means more warm sweaters, cozying up by the fire, and grabbing hot chocolates with the people they love. The change of season should bring excitement and anticipation for many reasons, but for 1 out of 3 women, cold weather and bladder control do not go hand-in-hand. The onset of winter reminds many of us of our challenges with bladder leaks as female incontinence worsens in the cold. Thus, it is important to learn about some important winter health tips regarding incontinence so you can stay dry in colder months.
The last thing that we do in cold weather is break a sweat, right?
Women experience more incontinence in the winter because they sweat less in the cold, which leads to more urine production. This is unavoidable, but for women with incontinence, more frequent urination likely means more severe symptoms of incontinence as well. Alcohol, tea, and coffee are all staples for the winter. For some of us, the holidays involve fun alcoholic drinks. The cold weather also makes everyone want to snuggle up with a hot caffeinated beverage.
Everyone wants to enjoy the festivities that come in the winter months and warm themselves up with their favorite drink. However, be mindful that caffeine and alcohol exacerbate symptoms of incontinence, which is why leakage increases in the winter among women. Finally, studies show that colder weather makes all of our muscles tighten up, including those around the bladder. Control becomes more difficult and it becomes harder to hold your urine, which leads to increased bladder leakage. The winter months definitely pose a challenge for women with incontinence. However, there are certain ways to make managing incontinence easier.
Your pelvic floor muscles have a lot to overcome in colder months, so they definitely need some extra exercise. Now is the time to finally get serious about strengthening them. Ways to tone your pelvic floor include:
Coffee, tea, and alcohol are great in the winter, but is it really worth the extra leakage? Caffeine and alcohol are bladder irritants that likely increase the severity of female incontinence. Your bladder will thank you for opting for decaf or non-alcoholic beverages for the remainder of the season. Find a more extensive list of foods you should eat and avoid with incontinence, on our incontinence diet guidelines page.
Grab that stylish coat, your favorite turtleneck neck, and your hats and mittens! The warmer you are, the more relaxed your muscles will be and the more control you will have over your bladder. So, it is time to bundle up! Remember to dress in layers and plan for the cold, because your pelvic floor is worth it.
We all urinate more in the winter because we aren’t sweating as much, so it is more important to empty your bladder frequently. Incontinence usually happens when we least expect it and when we are least prepared for it. So, before leaving the house or going on a long car ride, make it a point to empty your bladder to decrease the likelihood of experiencing leaks.
The next time it snows, do not hesitate to take your family outside to enjoy the weather! Try going on a walk with snowshoes, helping your kids build a snow fort, or even shoveling the driveway. Your incontinence might make these activities sound rather uninviting, but it is important to get out there and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. These activities will help you to stay motivated while reminding you of how much you love to be active and live life on your terms, not on incontinence’s terms.
Pairing these activities with daily Kegels or sessions with a urinary incontinence treatment like Elitone will allow you to treat incontinence while still not missing out on the best moments that life has to offer this winter.
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