Verified By Apollo Doctors November 1, 2021
2956When you cannot control urination, you might have a pathological condition known as ‘Urinary Incontinence’. This condition is also known as “Leaky Bladder or Enuresis.”
Urinary Incontinence is common, although often underreported. Urinary Incontinence has major impact on the quality of life and overall health. You may experience depression and social isolation when you have Urinary Incontinence. But, a variety of treatment options exist that can significantly improve the symptoms. Lifestyle modifications, medications, and surgical options also improve incontinence episode frequency and ultimately the quality of life and general health for those individuals impacted.
Urinary Incontinence is defined as loss of bladder (where urine is stored) control or unintentional voiding. Urinary Incontinence may be of many types such as stress, urge, overflow, functional, or mixed variety of incontinence. Determining the underlying cause of incontinence episodes is critical for appropriate treatment.
If you, or any loved one suffers from urinary incontinence, you are not alone. Any person(at any age) can experience urinary incontinence. However, the issue is essentially more common in women because the urethra is shorter, with a high probability of childbirth weakening the urethra and bladder’s muscular support. There are five types of incontinence that are categorized by the cause as well as severity of symptoms within the urinary tract.
Stress incontinence: In this type, urine spills out in abrupt sprays when you cough, sneeze, strain, twist, lift or laugh. Every one of these movements presses the abdomen and bladder, making urine to flow out unexpectedly. It is most commonly the consequence of debilitated or overstretched muscles that help the bladder store urine.
Vaginal delivery past pelvic medical procedures, being overweight, and having a family history of stress incontinence are risk factors. The loss of estrogen, related to menopause, can also cause stress incontinence. Stress incontinence regularly doesn’t happen in men and might be seen post a prostate medical procedure.
Urge incontinence: This also known as “overactive bladder” and in this condition, you feel an urgent need to urinate, including all through the night. Urge incontinence may either be caused by a minor condition like infection, or a more serious condition like diabetes or a neurological disorder.
Overflow incontinence: This happens when the bladder stores more urine than it can deal with. It frequently occurs in older adults who have enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia). In benign prostatic hyperplasia, the enlarged prostate presses or packs the urethra and prevents normal urine flow. The urine at that point begins to get retained in the bladder until it gets full and the bladder becomes overstretched and urine spills out.
Functional incontinence: This kind of incontinence happens when you have the urge, yet cannot get to the latrine because of some conditions, for example, dementia, stroke, or immobility.
Mixed Incontinence: It is a mix of four kinds. The most common combination is urge and stress incontinence. Incontinence can either be momentary (e.g., brought about by diseases or prescriptions) or constant.
Assessment by a doctor is the initial phase in diagnosing urinary incontinence. The doctor will do a physical assessment, and run laboratory tests. The doctor likewise poses inquiries to decide if the incontinence happens only around evening time (night-time), or during both day and night, to how much of urine leaks out and what triggers it.
You will be asked about medications that you may be taking, and you will also be asked to keep a bladder journal (recording the measure fluid intake and urine output). This data enables your doctor to find why you may be encountering incontinence.
Postvoid residual measurement: You will be asked to urinate (void) into a container which measures the urine output. Then your doctor will check the amount of leftover urine in the bladder using ultrasound test or a catheter. If there is a large amount of leftover urine in your bladder, it may mean that you either have an obstruction in the urinary tract or have problem with your bladder muscles or nerves.
Your doctor may test your urine or blood to check whether diabetes is causing incontinence. A pelvic and rectal exam may likewise be performed. Discovering the reason for the problem that assists with figuring out what treatment is given .
There are numerous potential reasons for Urinary Incontinence, including:
There are multiple risk factors for Urinary Incontinence:
The failure to hold urine can sometimes prompt inconvenience, shame, and other physical issues. Common complications include :
Numerous treatment alternatives are accessible.
While urinary Incontinence is not generally preventable, to help decline the risk:
If you are suffering from incontinence, you may feel embarrassed due to unpleasant odors. You may avoid going out with friends or family and this can lead to isolation and depression. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. It would be best if you see a urologist when incontinence symptoms are associated with recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections, new-onset neurologic symptoms, marked prostate enlargement, or pelvic organ prolapse When left untreated incontinence can prompt rashes and other skin issues. Urinary retention can be a medical emergency.
A. Not all pregnant patients have incontinence following delivery.
A. In men , prostate issues are likely the most well-known reasons for Urinary Incontinence. In ladies, pregnancy and menopause are likely to be the most common reasons for Urinary Incontinence.
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March 8, 2023