What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is leaking of urine, and you can not control it
Did you know that there are FOUR types of urinary leakage?
1 stress incontinence – Urine leaks out at times when your bladder or belly is under sudden increase of pressure; for example, when you sneeze, cough,laugh,jump or run
2 urge incontinence – A sudden, intense urge to pass urine occurs and bladder empties because of it.
3 overflow incontinence – when you’re unable to fully empty your bladder and every time new urine arrives in the bladder from the kidneys, some urine leaks out, almost like a cup that runs over because it is overfilled.
4 total incontinence – when your bladder can’t store any urine at all and urine leaks 24 hours of the day.
What is mixed incontinence?
Mixed incontinence is when a patient has symptoms of more than one type of incontinence, frequently Stress Incontinence and Urge Incontinence
What can cause bladder incontinence?
- Menopause which usually occurs in women aged between 48 and 55 years
- Hysterectomy is a major operation involving womb removal, it can cause damage to the bladder.
- Constipation, a full bowel can press on a bladder causing urge incontinence or can block the flow of urine, causing overflow incontinence.
- Consuming diuretics such as some types of antidepressants and blood pressure lowering medication. Alcohol is a diuretic and caffeine is also considered one.
- Enlarged prostate presses against the urethra
- Pregnancy causes incrteased pressure on the bladder
- Childbirth cannot only damage muscles around the bladder, but also damage bladder nerves.
- Surgical complications
- Treatment for some cancers can weaken the nerves around the bladder (eg radiation/surgery)
- Urinary Tract Infections irritate the bladder causing the urge to urinate.
- Neurological Disorders like Parkinson’s or brain tumours may affect bladder control
- Obesity a common cause of incontinence as it puts undue pressure on the bladder, pushing urine against the bladder walls, weakening them over time.
- Medications can make the bladder more overactive
- Estrogen deficiency can cause decreased support of the bladder tissue
There are many treatment options for bladder incontinence and a pelvic health physiotherapist can evaluate and treat bladder incontinence
For more information on WORLD CONTINENCE WEEK go to https://www.theurologyfoundation.org/get-involved/tuf-campaign-focus