Dealing With Overactive Bladder

Women have a higher risk of having an Overactive Bladder.

Women deal with a lot of medical conditions and have a higher risk for certain diseases, from heart disease to menopause. Another medical condition that women often have a higher risk of than men is an overactive bladder. This affects millions of people in the U.S. alone, and can be really frustrating to live with. The following information helps you understand overactive bladder and get a better handle on it.

About Overactive Bladder

First of all, it helps to know a little more about what an overactive bladder is and how it might affect you. In the United States alone, about 33 million men and women suffer from an overactive bladder, even more when you are looking at the worldwide numbers. There are about 10% more women than men with this condition, looking at approximately 40 percent of adult women with the condition. Since this is often an embarrassing affliction, many people will not visit their doctor and instead look for natural and home treatments. It is essential that you understand what happens when you have overactive bladder so you know if a visit to your doctor is warranted.

How it Affects You

Having an overactive bladder means that you will get an urge to urinate immediately. There are often no warning signs, and if you can’t get to a bathroom fast enough, you may suffer an accident. This is also known as urine incontinence. This can create feelings of severe panic and anxiety any time you are not at home or not near a restroom. Aside from the sudden urge to urinate, you may find that with an overactive bladder you also urinate more frequently and that as soon as you feel the need to urinate, you have an accidental leak of urine involuntarily. If you wake up multiple times at night to urinate consistently, that can be another very common sign of this condition.

What Can Be Done About it

If you are dealing with incontinence or an overactive bladder, you should talk to your doctor. There are a variety of medical treatments available. Aside from that, there are also some things you can do at home. This includes getting to a healthy weight, reducing alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking. Having a healthy, active life can also be good for you, so don’t shy away from it just because of your overactive bladder.

Be A Blessing To Others

When life changes impact someone’s life, show them their light in the midst of change.

One of the most difficult aspects of having a chronic illness can be a feeling that you no longer have anything to contribute. Maybe you once provided for your family through a job, but you can no longer do that job. Perhaps you kept the household running, and now you can barely get out of bed.

It’s hard to face the loss of abilities and skills as you get sick. But there are still ways that you can contribute and bless those you love. They can be small like an encouraging word, a pat on the shoulder, or even a simple note tucked in a lunchbox.

You still have value and you still have plenty to offer others. Each day you wake up, aim to bless one person. It’s a simple goal and it’s a wonderful way to feel like you’re making a difference.

As a caregiver to someone with a chronic illness makes sure to highlight the things that they are still able to do. This will not only bless them, but bless others. We value ourselves from the aspect of who we were, but know you are still beautifully and wonderfully made now with the changes in your body. You still have value, and you are still a wonderful light to this world!

Period and Menstrual Cycle Health

Leslie at her OBGYN appointment about her cramps.

As a woman, your menstrual health is something you should always be concerned about. When you are between 11 and 14 (on average), you will get your first period, which then starts your regular menstrual cycles. If you are currently an older woman, you are well aware of how this works, but might not be aware that what you are experiencing is abnormal.

A Normal Menstrual Cycle

The term ‘normal’ is a little subjective when it comes to your menstrual cycle because it can vary between different women. What you are really looking for is your own patterns, and whether they change suddenly or not. Many people like to say a menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but it is not unusual for it to be considerably longer or shorter. The important thing is to look at changes that happen suddenly, such as missing a period completely or having several months where the length keeps changing dramatically. In a ‘normal’ menstrual cycle, you should ovulate around the same time each month and have the same type of flow.

Healthy Menstrual Period

When you get your period, there are more things to look at to ensure it is a healthy menstrual period. Typically, you will bleed for 4-6 days, but again, this can vary. However, if you have a month where the flow is shorter or less overall than usual, you might want to tell your gynecologist. Some common issues that might warrant a visit to your doctor include a lighter or heavier flow, blood that is much darker than it typically is, blood clots, and excessive pain when you did not experience it before.

Don’t Ignore PMS Symptoms

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, can also vary based on the woman. Some women start experiencing PMS symptoms around the time they get their period, while others have it worse on random months. This latter is what you are looking for. If you have always gotten a little moody and headaches before your period, it is nothing to be concerned about. However, if you are suddenly getting severe cramps, extreme mood swings, aches and pains, and migraine headaches when you never did before, that is something to tell your doctor. These PMS symptoms might be from hormonal changes, stress, and other factors that need to be addressed. PMS changes are also signs that your menstrual cycle may change as well.

5 Reasons Every Woman Should Exercise

You may not want to hear it, but exercise is very important for you. Everyone should be fitting regular fitness into their routine, but you also have some unique benefits as a woman. Here are 5 different reasons to start exercising on a regular basis.

1. It Gives You a Natural Mood Boost

One of the great things about exercising regularly is that it makes you feel so much better. It is high on the list of the best ways to naturally make you happier and reduce stress at the same time. This is all thanks to endorphins, which are happy chemicals you already have in your brain. When you exercise, it helps you release those endorphins, helping you to feel happier and more energetic. Exercising for around 30 minutes or so a day really boosts your mood.

2. You Can Reduce Certain Health Risks

Exercise is wonderful for so many reasons, from weight loss to giving you more energy. Another reason you should exercise is because it helps to reduce your risk for serious medical conditions. This includes physical conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease, both of which are a high risk if you are a woman. Exercising has also been shown to reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. There is no cure for dementia, so prevention is your best chance.

3. It Helps with Your Sex Life

If you feel like your sex life has been lacking as of late, why not feel sexier and get more confidence with exercise? There are many ways exercising can improve your sex life. First of all, it will give you more confidence due to becoming fit, healthy, and losing weight. It can also improve your sexual desire thanks to the natural mood boost and increase in energy you get. This is great for both women and men.

4. You Can Lose Weight

The reason many women choose to exercise regularly is to help them lose weight. While you should still follow a healthy diet, exercise definitely helps you manage your weight. It is important at any age, from teen and young adult years, to being an older adult and senior. Weight loss also has other benefits, like improving your confidence, helping with your sex life, and reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

5. Exercise is Great for Mental Health

While your physical health is very important to pay attention to, you should also be focusing on your mental health as well. It is imperative that you not forget about your stress level and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Exercise can help you manage these types of mental health conditions.

God Loves You and Sees You

Being a Caretaker can make you feel unseen. People forget to invite you out to parties. Friends may not call to check up on you. You are so busy taking care of everyone else, know one is taking care of you. And in the middle of it all, you feel so lonely.

But God sees you. That’s why Hagar called God “El Roi” or “the God who sees me”. The same God who saw a scared, runaway slave and loved her deeply sees you, the scared Caregiver who feels all they do is give, but never receives; He loves you deeply.

Can I say a prayer for you today, friend? God, I know my friend feels unseen and ignored by the rest of the world. Caretaking can be so isolating. But You see my friend. You love them deeply and You care about their pain. Remind them that You are close to them today. In Jesus’ name, Amen