Managing bladder leaks during cold and flu season

Cold and flu season is bad enough. It doesn’t also have to be leak season. It’s no secret that a simple cough or sneeze can lead to leaks. This happens because both coughing and sneezing put sudden pressure of your pelvic floor. Here are some tips to help control leaks this cold and flu season.

When managing cold or flu-induced leaks, the best place to start is at the source: the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor contractions occur naturally when you cough or sneeze but if you’re leaking, those muscles may be weak. The good news is that they can be strengthened in several ways.

There’s one tried-and-true method of strengthening your pelvic floor that you can start doing right now. Kegel exercises tone your pelvic floor muscles and are easy to do anywhere. To perform them, think about stopping a stream of urine; the muscles you tighten and squeeze in order to do this are your pelvic floor muscles. Use this technique over time to tighten these muscles and help relieve those leaks.

To step up the intensity a little bit, try Pilates. It’s a great option to not only stay healthy, but to keep those pelvic floor muscles tight. While you can join a Pilates class and get some 1-on-1 instructions, you can also find some exercises online to do by yourself at home.

Working out, even just doing Kegels, probably isn’t an option when you have the flu. When you’re sick, it’s always best to rest. Your body is in overdrive trying to fight off your sickness, which means it’s weaker than normal: which can lead to more leaks. Easier said than done, of course, but try to get some rest and get your body back to its normal self.

Finally, if you’re experiencing leaks, don’t rely on any old product to get the job done. Period pads, for example, aren’t meant to lock in odours caused by bladder leaks. Poise® products are specifically designed for light bladder leakage and offer protection for outstanding dryness, comfort, and odour control.

Find the Poise® products that fit your cold and flu season needs.