Incontinence
General Information about the issue

Incontinence isn't a disease. It's a symptom of other problems, such as weakened pelvic muscles, neurological disorder, injury, impaired mobility, constipation and dehydration. Incontinence is not an inevitable outcome of ageing, but advancing years and increasing disability can make it more likely. It is important to recognize whether the problem lies in failure to identify or get to a suitable place, or loss of ability to control excretion. Incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine that can have a profound impact on quality of life.

Adult male incontinence and male frequent urination can be as embarrassing and annoying. While it's significant for men suffering from incontinence to have a thorough medical evaluation, it is also important to recognise that the majority of adult male incontinence cases can be successfully treated without surgery or medication. Adult urinary incontinence affects twice as many women as men. Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, and the bodily structure of the female urinary tract are all factors that can add to urinary incontinence.

Pelvic floor exercises appear to work. The one substance that comes through loud and clear is the need for good quality tests in which information on inclusion (diagnostic) criteria, therapy, and outcomes which include benefit and harm are clear and unambiguous. Pelvic muscles and a sphincter are trained to keep your body from expelling the urine until you are ready. When it is time to go to the bathroom, special nerves in your pelvis send signals to your brain.

Stress incontinence occurs from the pressure exerted on the bladder with a cough, sneeze, laugh or strenuous exercise. This pressure overcomes the resistance of the urethra, the tube that leads out of the bladder, and leakage occurs.

Stress incontinence is caused by the bladder neck falling too low in the pelvis (bladder drop), which may happen as a result of ageing or having given birth several times. It is usually a long-lasting (chronic) problem that needs treatment. Stress incontinence involves leaking of urine during physical activities that cause sudden increases in abdominal pressure, such as coughing, laughing, or sneezing. Weakness of the muscles that control outflow of urine from the bladder is the usual cause. Stress and urge incontinence are often experienced together and an evaluation by the urologist can ascertain the presence and severity of both. A voiding diary is recorded to determine the number and frequency of urine loss and voiding habits.

Incontinence is a common condition that means the involuntary exit of urine . This condition can occur for a number of reasons but is most commonly associated with the loss of urine when coughing , sneezing, or exercising or by the inability to hold urine when the urge to urinate occurs. Incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder, or faeces (bowel motion) from the bowel. It can affect people of all ages. Incontinence isn't a normal part of aging as a lot of people still think. Incontinence affects people of all ages.

Women were more afflicted than men, and the dimension of people with urinary incontinence increased markedly with increasing age. Most considered their problems to be minor, having little impact on daily life, which was reflected by the fact that only 18% of those with urinary incontinence desired treatment. Women are most likely to develop incontinence either during pregnancy and childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause, because of weakened pelvic muscles. Older men can become incontinent as the result of prostate surgery. Women living with incontinence often find themselves scouting out the nearest restroom for fear of having an accident in public or avoiding social engagements because they feel anxiety about odor or appearance problems, even with a protective under garment. If a woman is diagnosed with urinary incontinence, it doesn't necessarily mean that her overall health is failing or she is just aging.

Women with vascular disease might experience incontinence at night. Pulmonary disease inducing chronic coughing can lead to incontinence connected with the stress of coughing.

Some Statistics

Urinary incontinence can have a major negative impact on a woman's quality of life. Urinary incontinence is present in about 25 per cent of women under the age of 60 and about 40 per cent of women over that age. Urinary control requires some basic abilities and motivation by the patient. Urine leakage happens in several circumstances, with different causes and different cures. Stress incontinence is the result of weak pelvic floor muscles. Please refer to the Pelvic Floor Exercise page within this site.

For more information please refer to our pages - Incontinence, Incontinence Products and Pelvic Floor Exercises

by Gail Burton -

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