Urinary incontinence negatively affects the lives of many people. The condition involves bladder control issues and the involuntary leakage of urine. Some people may only experience minor bladder leakage occasionally while others may empty their bladder completely. Depending on the cause of urinary incontinence, the condition may occur chronically or temporarily.
Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone and it affects millions of people throughout the world. Research conducted by Johns Hopkins University has found that women over 50 are more likely to experience urinary incontinence. In addition to being a medical problem, urinary incontinence can affect people emotionally, mentally, and socially. Want to learn more about urinary incontinence? Keep reading to discover the causes, symptoms, and common treatments of urinary incontinence.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the causes of urinary incontinence are only temporary while others occur due to a chronic condition. These are the causes of temporary or short-term urinary incontinence:
- Drinking certain beverages, such as coffee, alcohol, sparkling water, and carbonated drinks
- Drinking artificial sweeteners
- Consuming foods high in sugar, spice, or acid, such as citrus fruits, chocolate, or chili peppers
- Taking certain prescription medications
- Pregnancy, which occurs as the uterus places increased pressure on the bladder as it expands
- Taking large doses of vitamin C
Chronic or long-term causes of urinary incontinence include:
- Obesity
- Enlarged prostate in men
- Women experiencing menopause
- Diabetes
- Strokes
- Urinary tract infection
- Multiple sclerosis
- Constipation
- Nerve damage
- Prostate cancer
- Childbirth
- A tumor pressing against the bladder
What Are the Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence?
There are many signs and symptoms associated with urinary incontinence. These include:
- Stress incontinence: Bladder leakage when laughing, sneezing, coughing, or lifting a heavy object
- Urge incontinence: Experiencing a sudden urge to urinate that is followed by an uncontrollable loss of urine
- Overflow incontinence: If the bladder can't fully empty when you urinate, it will swell above its normal size. If this occurs, you might pass small amounts of urine very often.
- Functional incontinence: The individual knows they need to urinate, but they can't make it to the bathroom in time.
- Total incontinence: If you have this type, you'll either leak urine continuously or have periods where you can't control leaking large amounts of urine,
The patient may have a congenital problem (born with a defect), there may be an injury to the spinal cord or urinary system, or there may be a hole (fistula) between the bladder and, for example, the vagina.
How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated?
Treatment plans for urinary incontinence are based on the symptoms and types of urinary incontinence you have. Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery are the three main treatment options for urinary incontinence that your doctor will discuss with you.
Some medications for urinary incontinence are designed to stabilize the muscle contractions that lead to an overactive bladder. Others help to relax the bladder muscles. Lifestyle changes can also help urinary incontinence. These lifestyle options include:
- Controlling the consumption of fluids, such as tea, coffee, and soda
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Avoiding lifting heavy objects
- Emptying your bladder on a consistent schedule
- Performing Kegel exercises
- Practicing bladder training
If lifestyle or prescription medications for urinary incontinence are ineffective, your doctor might suggest a surgical procedure. These might include a mesh insert placed under the bladder to prevent the leakage of urine by supporting the bladder. There are other surgical procedures which may be attempted if this is ineffective.