The Knowledge Board:
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence is an umbrella term that refers to all sorts of non controlled discharge or leakage of urine. It is a common condition and can assume different forms, according to the causes that trigger it.
The main forms of urinary incontinence are:
Stress incontinence is the most common type. It occurs when the pressure in the bladder becomes too great for the bladder outlet to withstand. It usually occurs because the pelvic floor muscles which support the bladder outlet are weakened. Urine tends to leak most when you cough, laugh, or when you exercise (such as when you jump or run), because of a sudden extra pressure ( not! 'stress' as an emotional state) inside the abdomen and on the bladder. Small amounts of urine may leak, but sometimes it may be quite a lot and cause embarrassment. Stress incontinence is usually common in women after childbirth (especially those who have had several children), due to their pelvic floor muscles becoming weakened, through labour. Obesity and age, can also be common factors to stress urinary incontinence
Urge incontinence (unstable or overactive bladder) is the second commonest cause. This is when you get an urgent desire to pass urine. Sometimes urine leaks before you have time to get to the toilet. The bladder muscle contracts too early and the normal control is reduced. Some people with urge incontinence have a strong desire to urinate when they hear water running or after they drink only a small amount of liquid. Even just sitting to standing can even cause urine leakage. Urge incontinence may be caused by a urinary tract infection or by anything that irritates the bladder. The cause is not known but it seems that the bladder muscle gives the wrong messages to the brain, making the person believe that the bladder is much fuller, than it actually is.
Mixed incontinence is when people have a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
Overflow incontinence. This is when there is an obstruction to the outflow of urine. The obstruction prevents the normal emptying of the bladder. A pool of urine constantly remains in the bladder that cannot empty properly, and pressure builds up behind the obstruction. Some people may frequently or constantly dribble urine, because the normal bladder emptying mechanism has become faulty and urine may leak past the blockage from time to time. An enlarged prostate gland in men is the common cause of this. Treatment depends on the cause. For example, removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) if an enlarged prostate is the cause.
Neuropathic incontinence. This is when there is damage to the nervous system, and the nerves that control the bladder and surrounding structures are affected in some way. For example, some people with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, brain disorders, etc, develop this type of incontinence.
(enuresis) occurs in many children, but some adults are affected.
This is the most severe form of urine incontinence and is characterised by a constant release of large amount of urine. Causes may vary and include congenital malfunctioning, injuries and surgery.
The symptoms can vary slightly with each different type of urinary incontinence.
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