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Urinary incontinence can happen to anyone and the severity varies depending on the age, cause, and type of urinary incontinence. Most cases of urinary incontinence can be cured or controlled with appropriate treatment.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine while straining, coughing, or sneezing to having a frequent urge to urinate that occurs suddenly. Some people may only experience occasional and minor leaks of urine, while others may lose small to moderate amounts of urine frequently. Urinary incontinence can affect daily activities and quality of life; hence, it requires appropriate treatment. The treatment involves medical management and lifestyle changes.
What are the types of urinary incontinence?
There are six types of urinary incontinence, but the clinical presentation and causes vary with each type:
- Stress incontinence: Urine leaks involuntarily when there is an increased pressure exerted on the abdomen and bladder while straining, exercising, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects.
- Overflow incontinence: Patients have frequent and/or constant dribbling of urine because the bladder doesn't empty completely.
- Urge incontinence: There is a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. The patients urinate frequently; at times, throughout the night, which disturbs sleep. Urge incontinence may be caused by urinary tract infections or neurologic disorders.
- Functional incontinence: A physical or mental condition prevents the patient from being able to make it to the toilet in time. For example, severe debilitating arthritis or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.
- Total incontinence: Patients always have continuous leakage of urine. The most common cause is an abnormal communication between the bladder and the vagina, which is called a vesicovaginal fistula.
- Mixed incontinence: The patients suffer from more than one type of urinary incontinence.
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The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowHow is urinary incontinence treated?
Treatment options for urinary incontinence depend on the type of incontinence, the severity, and the underlying cause. A combination of medical treatments, exercises, and lifestyle modifications may be needed. Weight loss in the case of obese women has been shown to help some types of incontinence. The following are the treatment options.
Behavioral techniques:
- Fluid and diet management: Reducing or avoiding alcohol, caffeine, or acidic foods and decreasing fluid consumption.
- Bladder training: Training the bladder to delay urination after having the urge to urinate may help. The patient could start by trying to hold off going to the bathroom for 10 minutes every time there is an urge to urinate and gradually lengthening the time.
- Double voiding: First, the patient urinates after getting an urge. Then, the patient waits for a few minutes to urinate again.
- Pessary: Insertion of vaginal pessary may help reduce stress incontinence by supporting the bladder and vaginal wall. It can be inserted by the individual and may be available over the counter.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises:
The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles by exercises is recommended by the doctor, which can help manage urinary incontinence. These are also called Kegel exercises. The first step is to imagine that you're trying to stop the urinary flow and then contract or tighten the muscles to imaginarily stop urinating, and hold the position for 2-10 seconds and then relax for 2-10 seconds. This should be performed at least three times a day for a few minutes each time.
Electrical stimulation:
Electrodes can be temporarily inserted into the rectum or vagina to stimulate and strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Medications:
- Alpha-blockers: They help treat overflow and urge incontinence. They relax the bladder muscles, making it easier to empty the bladder. Examples include tamsulosin (Flomax) and doxazosin (Cardura).
- Anticholinergics: These help to control an overactive bladder and help in treating urge incontinence. Examples include oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) and trospium (Sanctura).
- Mirabegron: This is used to treat urge incontinence by relaxing the bladder muscle and hence increasing the bladder capacity.
- Topical estrogen: Applying low-dose estrogen cream can rejuvenate tissues in the urethra and vagina.
https://www.acog.org/en/Patient%20Resources/FAQs/Gynecologic%20Problems/Urinary%20Incontinence
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/urinary-incontinence
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What Is the Best Treatment for Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the leaking of urine from the bladder that you can’t control. There are different kinds of urinary incontinence, and not all types are permanent. Treatment for urinary incontinence may include catheters, urine drainage bags, absorbent products, toilet substitutes and skin care products.Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
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Frequent urination at night affects more than 50% of adults. Learn why it happens, what doctors can do, and steps you can take to stop frequent urination at night.How Do You Care For An Incontinent Patient?
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Loss of bladder control is urinary incontinence. Severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine while straining, coughing or sneezing to having a frequent sudden urge to urinate. The causes of neurologic urinary incontinence include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, brain tumor, spinal injury and heavy metal poisoning.Urinary Incontinence in Children
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Male urinary incontinence has a variety of causes and treatments. Learn about bladder incontinence surgeries, medications for male incontinence, and how prostate health is linked to urges and leaks. Understand common types like stress and urge incontinence.Incontinence in Women
Urinary incontinence in women is a common problem. Overactive bladder (OAB), stress incontinence, and urge incontinence can be treated. Learn more about the types of urinary incontinence, their symptoms, and treatment options.Foods that Make You Go
What causes overactive bladder (OAB)? A natural remedy is to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and these foods. Learn the foods and drinks to avoid. Urinary incontinence can be stimulated by soda and fizzy drinks. These are foods and beverages that irritate your bladder.Urinary Incontinence Quiz
What is urinary incontinence and why do people develop it? Learn all you need to know with this quiz.What Are 4 Types of Urinary Incontinence?
What is urinary continence? Learn the four different types, what causes them, and how to treat them.What Are the Causes and Types of Stress Incontinence?
Incontinence is when the body involuntarily releases urine. Learn about the different types of incontinence and how to treat stress incontinence.What Are the Different Types and Causes of Incontinence?
What is incontinence, and how do you know if you are experiencing it? Incontinence causes you to lose control of your bladder. Find out more about the condition and how to recognize its signs.What Is the Best Treatment for Cystocele?
Cystocele, or bladder prolapse, is a condition in which the bladder sags down into the vagina due to the weakening of the supporting structure between the bladder and the vagina. The treatment of cystocele may vary depending on various factors such as the severity of the disease and the presence of symptoms or any underlying medical conditions. Treatments range from watchful waiting to surgery.