New Treatment for Incontinence
Meena Malhotra, M.D., at Heal n Cure, is using Emsella at her functional medicine clinic. She will hold an open house on Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., where attendees can experience a demo of Emsella. Call 847-686-4444 to RSVP (attendance by preregistration only) or visit HealnCure.com. Photo credit BTL
Incontinence is the loss of bladder control, varying from a slight loss of urine after sneezing, coughing or laughing to a complete inability to control urination. It’s twice more common in women than in men due to pregnancy and trauma to the pelvic floor during childbirth. Even if they did not give vaginal birth, menopausal women can lose tone of pelvic floor muscles due to an imbalance of hormones which can cause incontinence.
Treatments for urinary incontinence include behavioral techniques such as going to the bathroom at scheduled times to train the bladder, cutting down on fluids and strengthening pelvic floor muscles. Treating incontinence with surgery is invasive and may involve inserting mesh to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Kegel exercises are a common option to strengthen and contract the muscles used to control and stop urinating. The basic method is to tense and hold the muscles for five seconds, and then relax them for five seconds. Work up to holding the contractions for 10 seconds and aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions each day. Use of electrodes can enhance the effects marginally.
The new, state-of-the art technology Emsella uses high-intensity, focused electromagnetic technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscles and restore neuromuscular control. A single Emsella session of 28 minutes is equivalent to 11,200 Kegel exercises.
Lower urinary symptoms are caused by estrogen deficiency in 70 percent of women. Vaginal estrogen hormone application can be used as an adjunct to strengthen pelvic floor muscles along with Emsella treatments.
Commonly used anticholinergic medications have many side effects, including constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision and cognitive impairment.
A pill is not an answer to all ills, and surgery doesn’t cure all problems. We are fortunate to live in times when we can adapt the best practices from Western and Eastern medicine, and this is one area where Western medicine has provided a great solution. When Emsella is integrated with optimization of hormones along with lean versus fat mass in the body, results are effective.
Meena Malhotra, M.D., is the medical director and owner of Heal n Cure, 2420 Ravine Way, Ste. 400, in Glenview. For more information, call 847-686-4444 or visit HealnCure.com.
