Even in these days when incontinence is coming out of the closet and continence health products are plastered all over our television screens, there is still a group of people who believe that bladder weakness is an inevitable part of growing old. There's no question that the older we get the more susceptible to bladder weakness we become but it is absolutely not a natural part of the aging process.

Obviously the people who think this way are predominantly older. As we age our bodies do go through changes that can lead to a continence problem but we can manage those changes and reduce the chances of experiencing incontinence. Older people also tend to have older perceptions of incontinence and either find it to embarrassing to discuss with their medical providers or just consider it something that has to be dealt with as a result of getting older.

Of course nothing could be further from the truth.

Problems with a weak bladder can be caused by a number of things several of which are purely lifestyle issues. Like all of our muscles, the muscles of the pelvic floor will lose tone if they are not exercised. The older we get the more exercise we require to maintain tone. Kegel exercises, which are a form of isometric exercise, have been found to be effective in restoring strength to the pelvic floor muscles.

This muscle group supports all of the organs in the lower abdomen and play an important part in preventing undue stress on the bladder by keeping the bladder in it's correct position. When the muscles are damaged or weakened the bladder can be influenced by minor stresses as simple as a sneeze or a belly laugh.

Obesity is another cause of stress on the bladder. Extra fat, particularly around the belly places extra stress on the organ which can result in sporadic incidents of incontinence. Exercising and eating a healthy diet are as much a part of maintaining continence health as they are about general overall health.

Overworking or irritating the bladder can be another cause of incontinence. Consuming large quantities of natural diuretics like caffeine and alcohol will obviously impact on bladder performance but so will certain foods. Spicy foods in particular tend to aggravate the bladder creating spasms that result in an involuntary flow of urine.

People suffering from bladder weakness have a number of options available to them to manage and even cure the condition. Consult with your doctor for the best therapy for you.