Incontinence (urine leakage)

Introduction

Incontinence is a problem that many people all over the world have.  There are many different ways to deal with the problem of incontinence and you may have many options available to you if you have a problem with it.  If you are just curious and want to know more about it, this is a great place to start. 

Basically, incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder.  It can be very slow and barely noticeable or can even be a steady stream of urine.  Not matter what the flow is, it can become a problem and create awkward situations.  Incontinence happens more commonly with adults but can also happen with teens and even younger ages.  There are two different types of urinary incontinence - stress and urge.  Incontinence of stress happens when there is extra strain put on the bladder through the contraction of muscles.  Examples of when this happens are laughing, sneezing, coughing and other similar problems.  In most situations this is not a serious problem and can be treated by strengthening the urethral muscles.  One of the most common occurrences of stress incontinence is with pregnant women.  There is already additional stress on the bladder from the presence of a baby and things like sneezing can make the already weak bladder even weaker.  Urge incontinence is when you feel that you suddenly have to urinate and cannot help the feeling.  This happens when you lose the first neural messages that you need to urinate and it can quickly become a problem.  Incontinence can happen to anyone at any age and to people of any gender.  It is more common among older people and women.

Types of incontinence

Stress incontinence is also known as stress urinary incontinence or SUI.  The problem is present in people who have weakened pelvic floor muscles.  It is the leaking of small amounts of urine when sneezing, coughing or laughing occurs or can also happen during strenuous activities like exercising or anything else that increases the pressure on the bladder.  Physical changes that happen because of menopause, pregnancy and childbirth can often be the culprits weakening the pelvic floor muscles.  It also happens to men and often follows a prostatectomy.  This is the most common form found among men but it is treatable and many men can solve the problem.  The muscle structure of the pelvic floor is very important to the proper functioning of the urethra.  The urethra is supported by fascia on the floor and if this support is weakened, then the urethra can droop when there is additional pressure in the abdomen causing stress incontinence.  Stress incontinence can increase during the week before menstruation for women.  Lower estrogen levels can lead to less strength in the abdominal muscles and cause the incontinence.  This type of incontinence can also be a common problem after menopause because of lower estrogen levels. 

Urge incontinence happens sometimes because of no apparent reason.  The most common reason for urge incontinence is the contraction of detrusor muscles involuntarily or at inappropriate times.  Other causes can be infections, inflammation or irritation of the bladder.  Some medical professionals call this type of problem an unstable or overactive bladder.  Urge incontinence is also called reflex incontinence.  This is a name that is more common among people who aren't experts and it is a less descriptive and less offensive name to some people.  Urge incontinence is more common during sleep than stress incontinence and can result in bed wetting.  Small things like hearing water running or touching it or even something as simple as getting a drink can bring on the urge to urinate and then it may be too late for some people.  Urge incontinence can happen because of nerve damage near the bladder or to the spinal cord or brain.  It can also happen because of muscle damage, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or injury that may have happened during surgery. 

 Managing urinary incontinence

For some people there is really nothing that can be done to stop urinary incontinence, especially if it comes from a problem with the nervous system or is caused by a disease or some other problem that cannot be removed.  But there are some people who can strengthen their muscles and eliminate the problem completely from their lives.  But even if you can't completely control your incontinence, you don't have to give up living a normal life if you learn how to manage it well.  Whether your problem is temporary or permanent you can take steps to make it less of a problem for you.  There are many things that have been created to help you control your incontinence or to lessen its symptoms.  Here are some things that are available to you. 

• There are many different types of disposable pads and underwear available in a variety of sizes.  These pads are absorbent and allow you to keep doing the activities you want to without worrying about leaking during the day.  Many people believe that these pads are the equivalent of diapers for adults but they are much more discreet and more advanced than a diaper.  There are more bulky pads that can be used at night when you have less control of your functions and will be inactive for a longer period of time. 
• Some people have problems with incontinence particularly at night and may wet the bed.  If this is a problem for you there are many varieties of disposable sheets and pads that can be used on beds to keep you comfortable and asleep at night and that will also keep your mattress and bed clean and dry too.  There are disposable ones available and also ones that are washable that can be used over and over again. 
• Urine can become very smelly after a while being exposed to the air.  The familiar ammonia smell is easily recognizable to many people and cab be offensive as well.  Change clothes and linens that are wet as soon as possible so you can avoid this awkward problem.  There are also scented products that will help you to smell fresh for yourself and other people too. 
• You can also choose to use clothing that is easier to manage when you need to get to the bathroom in a hurry.  Stockings instead of tights are a good example of a similar product that will give you more confidence while you are out.  Also try to find clothes that are easier to get off in case of an emergency like looser fitting pants and skirts so you don't have to spend as much time fiddling with buttons and zippers.  You can also make your toilet easier to use by installing grip bars or other things that make it more easily accessible. 

• You should also be sure not to endanger your health just to make it to the bathroom in a hurry.  Many people are injured each year by falling or tripping in their own homes.  You can wash clothes and bedding but it is much more difficult, painful and costly to replace a broken hip or to fix broken bones. 
• In extreme situations some people may need to have a catheter installed to keep their bladder under control.  This is not necessary for most people and would not be recommended for many either.  The tube is passed in to the bladder through the urethra and the urine is drained directly into a bag that is attached to the thigh and hidden under clothes. 

Despite what many people think, men tend to have more problems with incontinence than women do.  It is assumed that because incontinence can be associated with lower level of estrogen and menopause that women have it more frequently than men but this is not true.  The structure of the male urinary tract accounts for a lot of the reasons why men are more incontinent than women.  The different structure and length of the urethra can be a major factor in the development of incontinence and it may be more difficult to solve the problem once it's happened.  Urinary incontinence more common among older men but can still happen with younger men too.  But incontinence can start happening at any age.  Incontinence in men is treatable and often curable at any age. 

Conclusion

Another name for incontinence is enuresis and there are many different stages of it.  There is primary enuresis, secondary enuresis, nocturnal enuresis and diurnal enuresis (daytime wetting).  There are some important things about urinary incontinence that is good to remember.  Urinary incontinence is common among children although many people believe it to be a problem mainly for the older population.  Nighttime bedwetting is more common among boys than girls and this problem can develop at any age.  Daytime wetting is more common among girls and after the age of 5, incontinence disappears for most children gradually.  There are many treatment options for incontinence that include things such as waiting, diet modification, moisture alarms, medications, bladder training, and muscles exercises to increase the strength of the abdominal cavity.