Urinary Incontinence

You can prevent urinary incontinence by adopting the following good habits:

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily unless your doctor has instructed otherwise.
• Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
• Take a balanced diet that includes all food groups and keep within a healthy weight range.
• Include enough fluid and fibre in your diet and exercise regularly to prevent constipation that can lead to poor bladder control.
• Practise good bladder habits by regularly emptying your bladder. Holding back for too long when a bladder is full, or persistently emptying it when it is not, can both cause abnormal bladder function.
• Do pelvic floor exercises regularly to strengthen the muscles supporting the outlet of the bladder.
• Avoid precipitating factors such as obesity, chronic cough, sneezing and heavy lifting etc.