The Causes and Types of Urinary Incontinence
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Urinary incontinence or involuntary loss of urine is a common and potentially debilitating condition. Women are affected more often than men are, one in four women and one in nine men will suffer from it. Millions of people all over the world are suffering from this disorder.
Many people think that this condition comes naturally with age, that it is a natural result of aging. It’s not. It’s true that it becomes more common as people age, but it’s not inevitable and can be treated.
There are many causes of bladder control problems and can range form very simple to very complex. Urinary system is very complex and relies on accurately coordinated activities of muscles and nerves. Any damage to this finely tuned system can result in urinary incontinence.
Potential causes of urinary incontinence are many: damaged nerves and/or muscles that control the bladder, urinary tract infections, medications, pregnancy and childbirth, tumors in or near the bladder, neurological disorders. Loss of bladder control can also be associated with lack of sleep, social anxiety, sexual activity, and alcohol, just to name a few.
What are the different types of urinary incontinence? There are several: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and overflow incontinence are basic types and most common. Other types include functional incontinence, mixed incontinence, and transient incontinence.
Stress incontinence is caused by malfunction of the urethral sphincter. Leakage of small amounts of urine happens with coughing, sneezing, exercising laughing, lifting.
Urge incontinence, often called an overactive bladder, is an urgent desire to urinate when you don’t expect it. It’s caused by bladder muscles that squeeze too hard so you can’t hold back the urine.
Overflow incontinence is involuntary loss of urine without the sense that you have to urinate. It occurs due to an overfilled bladder and can be caused by weak bladder muscles, blocked urethra, or nerve damage.
About 80% of people with urinary incontinence can be greatly improved or even cured with proper treatment. If you’re having bladder control issues, don’t let it continue, go to your doctor.
