1. Urinary Incontinence in Women Slideshow Pictures
2. Urinary Incontinence in Men Slideshow Pictures
3. Food & Drinks That Make You Gotta Go Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Urinary incontinence affects about 13 million people in the United States, predominantly women. This includes 10% to 35% of adults and 50% of the 1.5 million residents in nursing homes. As many as 60% of nursing home patients are incontinent, while 30% of elderly people living at home are incontinent.

Urinary incontinence is an underdiagnosed and underreported medical problem. About 50% to 70% of women with urinary incontinence do not go to the doctor for treatment because of the social stigma. People with incontinence often live with this condition for six to nine years before seeking medical therapy. Living with urinary incontinence puts people at risk for rashes, sores, and skin and urinary tract infections. Effective treatments for this common problem are available in many cases.

Urinary Incontinence Nonsurgical Treatment

Dietary Measures

Some foods can worsen symptoms of urinary frequency and urge incontinence. Changes in diet can help improve some people's symptoms. Monitoring the diet often requires reading food labels and avoiding foods and drinks that contain stimulants. Stimulants worsen the symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency.

Foods

• Foods that contain heavy or hot spices can contribute to urge incontinence by irritating the bladder. Some examples of hot spices include curry, chili pepper, cayenne pepper, and dry mustard.
• A second food group that may worsen symptoms is citrus fruit. Fruits and juices that are acidic can aggravate urge incontinence. Examples of fruits that have significant acidity include grapefruits, oranges, limes, and lemons.
• A third food group that may worsen urinary bladder incontinence is chocolate-containing sweets. Chocolate snacks and treats contain caffeine, which is a bladder-irritating agent. Excessive intake of chocolate may worsen pre-existing bladder symptoms.

Drinks

• The quantity and type of drinks consumed can have an effect on urinary symptoms.
• Drinking too much water can worsen pre-existing bladder symptoms. The exact amount of fluid needed depends on a person's lean body mass and so varies from person to person.
• Many drinks contain caffeine. Caffeine-containing products produce excessive urine and worsen symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency. Caffeine-containing products include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and colas. Chocolate milk and many over-the-counter medications also contain caffeine. Even decaffeinated coffee contains a small amount of caffeine. If a patient consumes a large amount of caffeine, he or she should slowly decrease the amount of caffeine to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as headache and depression.
• Drinking carbonated beverages, citrus fruits drinks, and acidic juices may worsen pre-existing voiding or urge symptoms.
• Artificial sweeteners may contribute to urge incontinence.

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