Causes and Treatment of Urinary Incontinence

• 01/04/2024
• 0

Causes and Treatment of Urinary Incontinence –  Urinal incontinence is the loss of control of your bladder. It’s one of the most common and embarrassing health issues. The symptoms of urinary incontinence can range from occasional urination when you’re coughing or sneezing to sudden and intense urination that you can’t get to the bathroom in time.

It can affect any person. However, it is more likely to occur in certain groups of people and at certain ages. Women suffer more from urinary incontinence than men. Pregnancy, birth, menopause, and other life changes can cause a woman’s pelvic support muscles to weaken. It is also more common with getting older. Over time, the muscles that support the pelvic organs become weaker, leading to urinary leakage issues. There are multiple causes and treatments of urinary incontinence that are discussed in great length here. 

Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence

Urine incontinence is the involuntary release of urine by the body. It can range from occasional, mild leakage to complete loss of control of the bladder.  Urinary Consequences of incontinence can come from a variety of sources. The reasons for incontinence can differ depending on whether you are a woman or a man. 

• Stress incontinence  – When pressure on your bladder increases, e.g. when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise, you may experience urine leakage.
• Overflow incontinence – occurs when your bladder does not empty properly, resulting in frequent or constant urination.
• Urge incontinence – It is a condition of sudden and intense urge to urinate.

Diagnosis of urinary incontinence 

• A bladder diary is a record of how much you produce, and how many incontinence episodes you have had.
• Physical exam It is an examination of your vagina and the strength of your pelvic floor muscles
• Urinalysis is an examination to check for infection and abnormalities
• The blood test is done to check your kidneys.
• A Postvoid Residual Measurement is an examination to see how much urine remains in your bladder after you urinate.
• Pelvic Ultrasound is an ultrasound that provides an image of your bladder and may help you detect any abnormalities.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can have various causes, depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some urinary incontinence is caused by temporary health conditions. These conditions usually go away after treatment. Some common causes include:

Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that hold the bladder in place and regulate the flow of urine. Stress incontinence is when the pressure on your bladder causes you to leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise. These muscles may be weak from birth, pregnancy, getting older, or from certain medical issues.

Overactive Bladder Muscles

when the urge to urinate is sudden and intense, followed by involuntary leakage. Urinary incontinence can be caused by overactive bladder muscles. Overactive bladder muscles can be caused by UTIs, bladder irritation, neurological conditions, or damage to your bladder nerves.

Obstruction of the Urinary Tract 

Urinary tract obstruction is a condition that restricts the normal movement of urine through your urinary system. Overflow incontinence occurs when your bladder does not empty, resulting in constant or frequent urination. 

Uterine tract obstruction can be caused by:

• Men’s Prostate Enlargement (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia)
• Urethral Strictures
• Bladder Stones
• Tumors

Neurological Disorders

Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and other neurological disorders can cause nerve damage or dysfunction in the nerves that regulate bladder function, leading to different kinds of incontinence.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and post-menopausal conditions, can reduce the amount of estrogen in your body, which in turn can reduce your bladder function and increase your risk for incontinence due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and urinary bladder tissues.

Chronic Medical Conditions

Chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, obesity, COPD, and heart disease, can also contribute to urinary incontinence risk by impacting the function of the urinary bladder and urinary tract.

Treatment of Urinary Incontinence 

The stress urinary incontinence treatment plan will be based on many different factors. The type of incontinence and how it impacts your life are two of the most important things to consider. Dr Ahuja will discuss with you what type of treatment works best for you. 

• Bladder training – The aim of bladder training is for you to try to wait a bit longer each time you go to the toilet to build up your bladder strength.
• Wear Pads and Products that catch leakage – These products can often be worn under clothing so that your urine won’t escape through your clothing.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight – You can also lower your incontinence risk by eating right and exercising.
• Vaginal insert – There are also non-prescription devices that can be inserted into the vagina to tighten the urinary bladder and relieve stress urinary incontinence.

How to Treat Urinary Incontinence?

If you’ve tried other non-surgical treatments that haven’t worked for you, there are several procedures your provider may recommend. These can range from injections to surgery, depending on your specific incontinence type and symptoms. They’ll work together to determine the best procedure for you.

1. Sling procedures – A sling is used to support the urethra and prevent urinary leakage. A sling acts like a hammock, lifting and supporting the urethra with pressure applied to the bladder.
2. Bulking agents – Bulking agents are injectable substances that are used to increase the size and thickness of the lining of the urinary bladder. This treatment is most commonly used for women with stress urinary incontinence.
3. Neuromodulation devices – Some pacemakers can be implanted to stimulate the nerves that run to the bladder to help with bladder control. There is also a nerve that runs near your ankle that can be stimulated to help improve bladder control.
4. Botulinum toxin injections – Although Botox is often considered a cosmetic procedure, it is also used to relax the muscles in the body. For example, your provider may use Botox to infuse the bladder to relax the muscles, which can help with impregnation.
5. Artificial Urethral Sphincter – An artificial sphincter is a device that is inserted into the urethra to close it when not in need of urination. It is used to treat stress incontinence in men who have undergone prostate cancer surgery.

Conclusion 

We hope you found the information on the Causes and Treatment of Urinary Incontinence useful and got a clear understanding if you have any doubts or queries about the same visit Dr Ahuja Clinic in Chandigarh for better treatment and diagnosis.