Many men and women struggle with maintaining good health habits. Poor habits can lead to many health conditions and can also impact incontinence. In addition, if you already have incontinence, poor habits may worsen the symptoms. Here’s a list of healthy habits to start with, some ideas you can try to improve your health, and some tips on how to make the habits stick.
It’s important to keep your physical and mental health in check because they affect your overall well-being and quality of life.
Physical health refers to the condition of your body, including factors such as your fitness, nutrition, and disease prevention. To have and stay in good physical health, you need regular exercise. This helps you feel better, have more energy, and reduces your risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, physical exercise produces your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Endorphins help improve your self-esteem, ward off anxiety, feelings of depression, and many other mental health benefits.
A healthy dose of physical activity also plays a vital role in maintaining the strength and function of the muscles and tissues that control the bladder and bowel. When physical activity decreases, such as in cases of prolonged bed rest or a sedentary lifestyle, these muscles and tissues can become weaker, leading to incontinence. It can also lead to constipation, which can also contribute to incontinence. When stools are hard and difficult to pass, they can put pressure on the bladder and further weaken the pelvic floor muscles, making it harder to control urine and feces.