Stress incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine that occurs when a person coughs, sneezes, laughs, carries a heavy load or exerts herself physically in other ways. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), the ratio of women to men suffering from stress incontinence is 2 to 1. Medications may be used in some cases to treat incontinence, but many people prefer a natural remedy. A number of lifestyle changes can help people take a natural approach to treating stress incontinence.
Step 1
Develop a weight-loss plan with your doctor if you are overweight and experience stress incontinence. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that losing some weight (therefore reducing the pressure on your bladder) may help eliminate symptoms in some people.
Step 2
Evaluate the amount of water and other beverages you drink during the day. If you drink significantly more than 64 oz. each day, you may want to cut back on your fluid intake to help treat stress incontinence.
Step 3
Avoid drinking alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both caffeine and alcohol can irritate your bladder and may cause an increase in symptoms.
Step 4
Strengthen your pelvic muscles as a natural remedy for stress incontinence. One of the common causes of stress incontinence is having a weak pelvic floor. Perform Kegel exercises by tightening the muscles that you use to stop the flow of urine. You may have an easier time learning the exercises when sitting on the toilet at first, but Kegels can be done anywhere at any time.
Step 5
Try timed voiding as a natural approach to reducing stress incontinence. Timed voiding is simply urinating on a regular schedule to ensure that your bladder is empty for much of the day. Develop a schedule that fits into your daily routine, yet allows for frequent visits to the restroom.
Step 6
Eat a healthy, fiber-rich diet to avoid becoming constipated. Incontinence of any kind, according to the NIH, may worsen during times of constipation.
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