Tag Archives: Bladder Control

Women, Trauma & Addiction with Dr. Stephanie Covington

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Dr. Stephanie CovingtonThis weekend Adam & Cristy will be joined by Nationally Recognized Clinician, Author, Organizational Consultant, and Lecturer, Dr. Stephanie Covington to talk about Women, Trauma & Addiction.

Please tune in! This show will air:
• Saturday, June 23rd at 9am
• Sunday, June 24th at 9am and 5pm
• Monday, June 25th at 6pm and 10pm
 
 
 
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Download the episode from the Carolina Digital Repository
 

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A Journey Back from Opioid Addiction (YOUR HEALTH Radio July 2018)

An incredible story of recovery from Rabbi Mark Borovitz, an ex-con who found a new calling (YOUR HEALTH Radio January 2017)

Marijuana Use & Abuse with Dr. James Finch (YOUR HEALTH Radio August 2014)

Substance Abuse Recover, TROSA, and Your Health with Kevin McDonald (YOUR HEALTH Radio March 2014)

Inside Rehab with Anne Fletcher (YOUR HEALTH Radio February 2013)

Teen Substance Abuse with Gary Sauls (YOUR HEALTH Radio July 2010)

Biofeedback- Mind over Matter?

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Three questions:

1)      Do you know any child with leakage of urine or incontinence of bladder, or constipation?

2)      Do you know anyone who believes that biodfeedback, regulating your body with your mind, is valuable to help live a healthier life?

3)      Do yo know a kid who likes to play video games?

Well, if you (or your children) would answer yes to any of the above three questions, we have a great research study to share.  This research, in the Journal of Urology, shows that biofeedback is a useful method to help young children who wet their pants or leak urine, even those with constipation. 

These kids can learn to control such problems better than if they do not use biofeedback.

Researchers published a study looking at animated biofeedback, using video game technology and pictures of animals, with kids to teach them the biofeedback technique of controlling the muscles of their pelvis. Half the kids (8-9 years old) had multiple sessions of animated feedback and half got the traditional messages about behavior change and diet.  Kids in the animated biofeedback improved a great deal, reducing their bed wetting from 28% to 8%, more than the traditional approach.

These kids did not experience any bad side effects or bad drug reactions, although we do not know if this technique can be taught more widely in our current health care system without changes in health reimbursement and insurance.  But, we strongly support more research and exploration of this safe alternative that might help these children and their families.

Coffee, Bladders, Either, Neither or Both?

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Do you suffer from or know someone who suffers from an overactive bladder?  If you do, conventional wisdom is that you should not drink coffee or caffeinated beverages, as this will make your bladder worse.  Overactive bladders are found in both women and men and are common.  Surveys have shown that 20% of women have some weekly leakage of their bladder. Often times this issue is the result of child bearing, weakness in the pelvic floor or lack of estrogen.

A new study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology looked at 14,000 Swedish twins (We didn’t even know there were that many!) and their caffeine consumption habits, as well as their urinary incontinence (leakage) symptoms. Using twins in a research study is always interesting because you can control for genetic influences, which makes for a rare and unique situation.  The study took into consideration factors such as age, weight and smoking habits.  The results showed a decreased, not an increased, risk of incontinence or leaky bladder by about 22% in people who drink coffee.  So, the moral of this research (or story) is don’t believe everything you hear- this story can have a happy ending.

"New Life after Cancer" . . . A Story on Health & Healing with Dr. Carolyn Sartor

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Carolyn SartorDr. Carolyn Sartor will join us on YOUR HEALTH® this weekend on “New Life after Cancer” . . . A Story on Health & Healing. Dr. Sartor is a breast cancer survivor and former Chair of Radiation Oncology at UNC.

Please tune in! We’re on the air:
– Saturday at 9am
– Sunday at 9am & 5pm
– Monday at 6pm & 10pm

Listen to the Show!

 

ADD & bladder problems in children-Why all parents should care

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Image of the brain with the words such as inattention and distracted surrounding it.

We just reviewed research from Turkey of a study of 62 children with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and 124 children who did not have the disorder.   Researchers had the children’s parents complete questionnaires about their children’s voiding symptoms and any problems with bed-wetting or bladder control.  The research showed that the children with ADHD suffer from more and more severe bladder related problems.

We know from previous research that children who had ADHD had more issues with bed-wetting, but this new research looks at all kinds of bladder issues, not just the most severe things, including much more common issues like children’s ability to just control their bladder or to go to the bathroom more frequently.

It’s not quite clear why this relationship exists.   It could have to do with the medications that children with ADHD may be taking or it may have to do with some of that impulse control that such children have. So we are not quite sure why, but it sure looks like kids who have ADHD have more problems with their bladder.

This research should serve as a valuable take-home message for teachers, parents, administrators, therapists and clinicians.  Caregivers, family members and even doctors need to know that a child with ADHD who is fidgeting may have to go to the bathroom. Teachers should not think a child with ADHD just wants to get out of the classroom.  New strategies can teach better bladder control.  Flexibility, education and understanding all the way around are really needed.

Image courtesy of Psyc3330 w11

Bladder Problems with Dr. Catherine Matthews

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Catherine Matthews

Dr. Matthews is the Division Chief for Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at UNC.

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Download the episode from the Carolina Digital Repository