What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. The control of urinary sphincter is weakened which cause people to urinate when they did not want to.
This can happen due to stress factors, such as coughing, commonly happen due to pregnancy and obesity. But, the chances for it to happen increase with age.
What Are the Causes of Urinary Incontinence?
The causes differ according to the types of incontinence.
- Stress incontinence:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Menopause
- Hysterectomy
- Age
- Obesity
- Urge incontinence:
- Cystitis (inflammation of the lining of the bladder)
- Neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis or Parkinson disease)
- Enlarge prostate
- Overflow incontinence:
- Tumor
- Urinary stones
- Constipation
- Other causes:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Large dose of vitamin C
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Medication (diuretic drugs, antihypertensive drugs, sleeping tablets, sedative
What Kind of Symptoms Will You Experienced?
The main symptom is unintentional release of urine. How it occurs depends on the types of incontinence you have.
- Stress incontinence:
- Coughing, sneezing, laughing
- Heavy lifting
- Exercise
- Urge incontinence:
- A sudden change of position
- The sound of running water
- Sex, especially during orgasm
- Overflow incontinence:
- This is common in men with prostate gland problems, a damaged bladder or blocked urethra. The bladder can not hold as much urine as the body make or the bladder can not empty completely causing small amount of urine leakage.
How Physiotherapist Help with Urinary Incontinence?
Physiotherapist will advices patient to:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Practice pelvic floor exercises or bladder training
- Avoid bladder irritants such as caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods
- Eat a balance diet
- Avoid smoking
