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5 incontinence Tips for a better night’s sleep
In this blog, we’re going to honour World Sleep Day by delving deeper into the topic of night-time urinary incontinence. So if you, your child, or any other loved one suffers from this condition, keep reading for useful tips on how to have a better night’s sleep.
19th March 2021 is World Sleep Day (and no, that doesn’t mean you get to spend 24 hours in bed). Instead, it’s an opportunity to think more about the impact that sleep has on our quality of life and overall health. At WFIPP, we understand the importance of a good night’s sleep, as it’s a frequently discussed topic between the members of our Support in Continence community. In this blog, we’re going to honour World Sleep Day by delving deeper into the topic of night-time urinary incontinence. So if you, your child, or any other loved one suffers from this condition, keep reading for useful tips on how to have a better night’s sleep.
Tip 1: Be understanding
Bedwetting (also referred to as nocturnal enuresis) can cause shame and embarrassment for sufferers. That’s why it’s important to be sensitive when discussing the subject, especially with children. Try to be understanding and co-operative if they wet the bed, and reward them when they don’t. Most children grow out of bedwetting, but if they still wet the bed once or twice a week at the age of 5 or 6, then it may be that some form of treatment is necessary.
Tip 2: Learn about the condition
Understanding the symptoms and causes of urinary incontinence is the first step to finding a treatment for nocturnal enuresis. On our platform, you can find all the important information, including some facts and figures that may surprise you. For example, did you know that more than 36 million people suffer from urinary incontinence in the EU? So if you’re losing sleep worrying that you’re the only one out there dealing with this condition – don’t!
Tip 3: Tweak your pre-bedtime routine
Both adults and children can help reduce the likelihood of nocturnal enuresis by preparing a little before going to bed. For example, you might want to avoid drinking too much liquid in the hours leading up to bedtime, especially drinks that you know increase the need to urinate. For some people that’s coffee and tea, for others it is fizzy drinks or flavoured waters. Keeping a journal of triggers can be useful here. And of course, it’s a good idea to visit the bathroom before getting into bed.
Tip 4: Find a suitable treatment
Nocturnal enuresis is not something that anyone just has to ‘live with’. There are effective urinary incontinence treatments available for both adults and children – from simple lifestyle changes to more advanced medications and surgeries. All of the details can be found on our platform which explains ‘Who it is for’, ‘What does it involve’ and ‘How can I find out more’, for each type of treatment.
Tip 5: Speak to a healthcare professional
If the tips included here don’t help, then it could be time to speak to a healthcare professional. This is especially important in the case of children, as it could be that they need psychological guidance to ensure that the behaviour does not continue into adulthood. If you worried about how to start the conversation, take a look at our guide entitled ‘How can I get help’.
Together, we can stop dreaming about Continence, and start to find solutions to deal with it.
WFIPP
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