Men's Health: Natural approaches for better prostate health Men's Health | Page 32

Men’ s Health: Natural health approaches for better prostate health
fact numerous reasons for this( i. e. food or drink consumed at night). However, where this is not the case, frequent urination should be brought to the doctor’ s attention.
Incontinence Most men do not like to talk about incontinence, but it is very common and millions of men suffer the symptoms of incontinence daily. In simple terms, the definition of incontinence relates to bladder or bowel control and the loss of urine or stools on an involuntary basis. Incontinence is actually a symptom of a condition that could mean that there is an infection, the result of a pelvic injury, a birth defect, or even degenerative changes as a result of aging. In relation to prostate cancer or prostatectomy, up to 63 % of patients experience urinary incontinence for up to a 12-month period following surgery. The more informed an individual is about urinary incontinence, the greater the confidence with respect to decision making. This can help with the management of incontinence.
Incontinence often occurs following surgery due to changes in the shape or size of the urethra and this is due to the proximity of the urethra to the prostate gland. With respect to prostate cancer treatments, radiation therapy or surgical removal are common and those who opt for surgery are more likely to experience stress-related urinary incontinence.
Pelvic Floor Muscles Using the pelvic floor muscles will help with bladder control. They need to be used regularly as with any muscle and this will aid their ability to function. If surgery has taken place because of prostate cancer, there may be damage to the mechanisms that hold urine within the bladder. Thus, incontinence can happen through simply coughing or sneezing. If surgery is required, it is best to practice pelvic floor muscle exercises prior to commencing treatment as this may reduce the impact of surgery or the risk of incontinence later. Exercising can help to increase or rebuild the strength of the bladder, something that is particularly important for any man suffering from stress or urinary incontinence.
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