| The condition of inadequate urinary control or storage is known as incontinence. The word, which means 'a want of self-restraint', was often, in the early times, referred to a lacking in moderation, especially in relation to sexual desire. |
What are the common causes of incontinence? | | Incontinence can either be temporary and chronic. Temporary incontinence is commonly caused by:
Childbirth
Limited mobility
Medication side-effects
Urinary tract infectionChronic incontinence is commonly caused by:
Birth defects
Bladder muscle weakness
Blocked urethra
Brain or spinal cord injury
Nerve disorders
Pelvic floor muscle weakness |
What are the different types of incontinence? | | Urge incontinence - This is a sudden, intense urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. The causes of this type are a urinary tract infection or anything that irritates the bladder.
Stress incontinence - This is loss of urine when you exert pressure or stress on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or performing any act that increases intra-abdominal pressure and in turn puts pressure on the bladder.
Mixed incontinence - A combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
Overflow incontinence - This is an inability to empty your bladder, so it overflows uncontrollably and you leak urine.
Overactive bladder - Symptoms of these include urinary frequency, urgency and awakening at night to urinate.
Functional - This type of incontinence is linked to physical disablity or other factors. For example, a person with Alzheimer's disease may not be able to make it to the toilet on time because of his disorganized mental state. Then again, a person confined to a wheelchair may find it difficult to get to a toilet in time.
Transient - Temporary leakage due to external factors like medication, infection or a cough. |
Why do women suffer from incontinence twice as often as men? | | Women are said to sufferer from involuntary loss of urine twice as often as men. Millions of them experience it - in varied degrees. Some may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing. Some may feel a strong and sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Others may experience both these symptoms. |
How is incontinence evaluated? | | Seeing a doctor would be your primary step toward relief. A urologist would first try to ascertain what type of urinary incontinence you are suffering from and then formulate the reasons for it. The first step towards treatment would probably be filling in a 'urine voiding diary' for a week before treatment starts. You might be asked to provide a family or personal medical history and all details of medication you are taking. The doctor would then ascertain the reason for your condition and follow up with treatment. |
What are the reasons behind women incontinence? | | Short Term: This type of incontinence is temporary and occurs because of urinary tract and bladder infections, constipation and side-effects of medication. Can be readily treated and will provide relief after treatment.
Long Term: There are many reasons for this type. It can happen because of childbirth, auto accidents or surgical procedures. The sooner the person recovers from the disease she is suffering from, the quicker will she get relief from incontinence.
Chronic: This type of incontinence takes a lot of managing and care. The chronic condition is because of birth defects and progressive illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease.
Again, older women experience incontinence more often than younger women. But this should not give rise to the conclusion that this is because of age... that is the older you get the weaker your urethra muscles get. Because incontinence has nothing to do with age. It is a medical problem with many possible causes - some relatively simple and others not so. |
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