Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Lindsay Bullman, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Urinary incontinence is a common occurrence in women. It can be caused by vaginal childbirth, changes due to menopause, or even by being overweight. There are two types of urinary incontinence.
Stress urinary incontinence is when urine escapes due to physical activities such as running or jumping, or it can be provoked by a sneeze or a cough. It is caused by weak pelvic muscles that may be a result of obesity, childbirth, or repeated strains such as lifting heavy objects or high-impact exercise. Urge incontinence is different in that it is an unusually frequent urge to urinate. The cause is unknown, but one possible contributor could be diabetes.
When a patient suffers from both of these conditions, it is known as mixed urinary incontinence. All three types are quite common, especially in older women.
No matter which type of urinary incontinence presents itself, it has been shown to increase with any or all of the following factors: age, menopause, a persistent cough, weight gain, and vaginal childbirth, among others. For some women, the increase is gradual while other women might experience a loss of control immediately after childbirth.
Is there a solution for urinary incontinence or do I just buy stock in pads and diapers?
In the past, the primary method for dealing with urinary incontinence has been surgery or therapies that can be both difficult and embarrassing. Today the solution is primarily physical therapy with a urinary incontinence specialist showing the patient how to do vaginal exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This has proved itself to be an effective treatment, however, many women avoid it because of its intimate nature.
There is some great news for those who suffer from urinary incontinence (both women AND MEN) and don’t want to go to physical therapy for whatever reason. Emsella is an FDA-approved device that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) to stimulate the muscles of the pelvic floor. It is non-surgical and is performed while the patient is fully clothed and seated in a specialized chair.
Emsella has been jokingly referred to as the “Kegel throne” because each 30-minute treatment is equivalent to doing more than 11,000 Kegals. It contracts the muscles by emitting HIFEM to stimulate the muscles of the pelvic floor that have become too weak to control urination. Even with physical therapy and being very disciplined in doing Kegel exercises, it would be humanly impossible to mimic this type of treatment and its results.
What type of results can be expected from using Emsella?
According to the company’s website, btlaesthetics.com, Emsella patients report a 95% improvement in their quality of life and a 75% reduction in the use of pads.
Patients often see results after just one 30-minute session. For maximum results, a minimum of 6 sessions are recommended with a minimum of 2 days between each session. Results will, of course, vary by patient and by the severity of muscle weakness.
What can I expect in an Emsella session?
First of all, it is important to note that patients remain fully clothed during their session. That is usually a relief to most patients. Secondly, there is no work involved on the patient’s part, nor on the service provider once the device has started. The patient simply sits on the “throne” for 30 minutes while HIFEM technology contracts her (or his) muscles 10-11,000 times. Most patients report nothing more than a tingling sensation.
Can MEN benefit from Emsella also?
According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, about 40% of men are affected by erectile dysfunction at age 40 and 70% of men are affected at age 70. Enter Emsella for men.
Emsella has been approved for men suffering with incontinence and erectile dysfunction because of weakening pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support all of the pelvic organs and when weakened, they can result in incontinence, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.
Men will be pleased with the many benefits Emsella affords. The same 30-minute session as the women are sitting through will give them increased bladder control, increased penile rigidity and hardness, increased control over erection, increased time until ejaculation, reduced stress and anxiety and restored confidence.
If you are interested in learning more about Emsella from trusted professionals with years of experience, contact Joyce Vein and Aesthetic Institute in Punta Gorda. JVAI provides non-surgical solutions and skin care, always with compassion and striving for maximum patient satisfaction.
Call 941-575-0123 Today to schedule your appointment!
Lindsay Bullman, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aesthetics
JVAI would like to welcome Lindsay Bullman as our new aesthetic nurse practitioner. Lindsay graduated from West Virginia University and spent her career as a registered nurse working in multiple intensive care units between West Virginia and Florida. Lindsay continued to further her education and became a master’s prepared, board-certified family nurse practitioner. During her clinical rotations Lindsay fell in love with aesthetics and immediately started working in the field upon graduation. Now Lindsay brings her 7 years of nursing experience and expertise in aesthetics to JVAI where she’ll specialize in injectables, RF microneedling, Hydrafacials, Esmculpt Neo, Emsella, and laser hair removal.
JVAI
941-575-0123
www.jvaiaesthetics.com
25092 Olympia Ave., Suite 500, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
