Just found out you have urinary incontinence? Or maybe you just want a quick refresher. Here's a quick guide of what you need to know about incontinence.
What is incontinence?
Incontinence is the loss of bladder control, so you lose urine when you don't want to.
What causes incontinence?
There are a variety of causes of incontinence, including but not limited to:
- constipation
- urinary tract infections
- blockage in the urinary tract, such as urinary stones
- weak pelvic floor muscles
- weak urinary sphincter (the valve that controls urine flow)
- certain medications (e.g., diuretics, heart and blood pressure medications)
- certain foods (e.g., caffeine, alcohol)
- pregnancy or childbirth
- diseases and conditions that affect your nervous system, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia, or diabetes
- surgery to the area (e.g., bladder, reproductive organs)
Read more about the causes of incontinence.
What are the different types of incontinence?
The most common types of incontinence are:
- Stress incontinence. With stress incontinence, you leak urine when you put pressure on your abdominal muscles (thereby increasing bladder pressure), such as when you laugh, cough, or lift a heavy object.
- Urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is when urine leaks because of a sudden, intense urge to go to the bathroom, even when the bladder is not full.
- Overflow incontinence. Overflow incontinence is when there is a constant or frequent dribble of urine, which occurs when the bladder is overfilled. This can be caused by a blockage that stops urine from exiting the bladder or an underactive bladder muscle.
- Functional incontinence. With functional incontinence, your urinary tract and bladder are functioning normally. However, the symptoms are a result of external causes such as medication side effects, dementia or other health issues (e.g., poor vision, hearing or speech) that impair your ability to access a toilet when you are in need of one.
Some people experience a mix of different types of incontinence. For example, they may have urge incontinence but also experience stress incontinence.
How common is incontinence?
Incontinence is a lot more common than you probably think. It’s estimated that about 10% of Canadians experience some form of it. Among people over age 40, 16% of men have symptoms of urinary incontinence and 33% of women have symptoms of urinary incontinence. Yet only a quarter of those with incontinence will discuss it with their healthcare professional, despite the fact that it can be treated and even cured in some cases!
What management options are available?
Incontinence can be managed, treated, and even cured in some instances. The management options include:
- Absorbent products, which are designed to trap and hold urine.
- Behavioural treatments, including lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss) and pelvic floor muscle exercises (called Kegel exercises).
- Medical devices, including pessaries for women (the device is inserted into the vagina to support the bladder, rectum and/or uterus) and penile compression devices for men (a clamp placed around the penis to compress the urethra).
- Medications, often used together with behavioural treatments to treat urinary incontinence. Your doctor will determine which medication is best for you based on the type and severity of incontinence you have.
- Surgery.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Incontinence-101
