The colder it is, the easier it is to urinate… Is doing Kegel exercise ‘like this’ counterproductive?

It will be mostly cloudy across the country and mostly clear in the metropolitan area and Gangwon-do, but there will be a lot of clouds from the afternoon. Rain or snow will fall until early morning in the western Jeolla region and Jeju Island. The lowest morning temperature is forecast to be -6 to 7 degrees Celsius, and the highest daytime temperature is forecast to be 6 to 14 degrees Celsius.

Today’s health = Urinary incontinence refers to a condition in which urine leaks without one’s knowledge. When you sneeze, laugh loudly, or lift a heavy object, even the slightest strain on your stomach causes urine to leak, reducing your quality of life.

Urinary incontinence begins to worsen at the change of seasons when temperatures drop rather than in the hot summer, and tends to be most severe in the winter. Even if abdominal pressure is not particularly high, urine leakage may become more frequent.

When the body is exposed to cold, the sympathetic nervous system is activated to maintain an appropriate body temperature. At this time, the muscles and tissues around the bladder contract rapidly, making the bladder more sensitive. Additionally, in cold weather, sweating tends to decrease and urine output tends to increase. As the amount of urine increases, the bladder fills more frequently and urinary incontinence symptoms can become more severe.

To manage urinary incontinence, which gets worse the colder it gets, you need to strengthen your pelvic muscles. A representative method is Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are exercises that contract and relax the muscles of the pelvis and sphincter, and help improve urinary incontinence symptoms by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and urethra.

Remembering the feeling of stopping in the middle of urinating, slowly tighten your muscles and hold for 5 to 10 seconds, then slowly relax your muscles for 5 to 8 seconds. You can see results if you consistently perform this 8 to 10 times at a time, at least 3 times a day. However, applying too much force is not only ineffective but can also cause lumbar disc herniation. Be careful because doing too much at once can have the opposite effect as your muscles become fatigued.

Sitz baths are also very helpful in managing urinary incontinence. Taking a sitz bath while sitting in warm water relaxes the muscles related to urination, including the bladder and urethra, making you comfortable and improving blood circulation, thereby reducing muscle tension. Especially in winter, when it is difficult to maintain body temperature, taking a sitz bath consistently can have the effect of slightly raising body temperature and stabilizing the muscles related to urination.

Other ways to help improve urinary incontinence include taking sitz baths, avoiding alcohol and coffee, and maintaining an appropriate weight. If these lifestyle changes do not improve urinary incontinence symptoms, surgical treatment may be considered. However, it is a good idea to continue doing Kegel exercises and managing your lifestyle habits even after surgery.