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Urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control occurs when you are unable to control your urination. This is a common problem. Though people usually associate it with old age, it can happen to young people too. It can either be a minor issue or be so severe that it affects your daily routine. And, it is embarrassing too. Let's understand more about urinary incontinence and how your lifestyle can impact it.
This occurs when your urine leaks due to pressure on the bladder. The pressure could be because of coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting heavy weights.
This occurs when you have a sudden, unstoppable, intense urge to pass urine. This is followed by an uncontrollable loss of urine. Your urge to urinate may increase through the night. You may experience this kind of incontinence in diabetes, urinary tract infections, or any other neurological disorder.
You will notice you are constantly passing few drops of urine. Your bladder does not empty completely.
Although your urinary system is functioning properly, a physical or a mental impairment prevents you from peeing on time.
You may encounter more than one type of incontinence. It is usually the stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
You are at a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence if:
Certain foods, drinks, and medicines affect the way you pee or how much you pee. This is because these factors stimulate your bladder and increase the quantity of urine. These factors include:
The above factors may only cause temporary incontinence. There are certain factors that can cause persistent urinary incontinence. These include:
When you are pregnant, the constant pressure of the foetus on your bladder as well as the hormonal changes can cause stress incontinence.
Vaginal delivery can lead to weakening of the muscles that are required for bladder control. The constant pressure during labour damages the nerves and supportive tissue of the bladder resulting in a prolapsed pelvic floor. The prolapse adds more pressure on the bladder causing it to be pushed down the usual position along with the uterus, rectum, and small intestines. All these organs protrude into the vagina causing incontinence.
Your body undergoes multiple changes with age. Ageing of the bladder is part of this process. Your bladder muscles age with time and decrease your bladder's capacity to hold or store urine. Your bladder contracts involuntarily as you get older.
Menopause results in hormonal changes and bladder changes. The tissues lining the bladder become thin and cause incontinence.
Any kind of tumour or obstruction along your urinary tract can cause incontinence. Prostate enlargement in men can often cause stress or urge incontinence. Urinary stones can block the bladder opening and then result in urine leakage. Stress incontinence is one in which one would need to consult a urologist because he or she may need surgery for a cure and a better clinical outcome.
Urinary incontinence may require surgery or other medical treatment. But you can decrease your risk of developing this condition and preventing leakage of urine.
(This article is authored by Dr Manohar Bhadrappa, Consultant Urology and Renal Transplant Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur, Bengaluru)
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