Urinary Incontinence: Types, Causes & Prevention

Urinary Incontinence

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Urinary incontinence is a loss of control of the bladder. In some cases, it may result in a total loss of the bladder’s contents or it may just cause minor leakage and commonly associated with pregnancy, childbirth, menopause or a range of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis.

Urinary incontinence is divided into three different categories, or types. However, you may experience a mix of the types or all three.

This type of incontinence may occur when you participate in some types of physical activity— such as when you are exercising, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. The activity causes the sphincter muscle, which normally holds your urine in the bladder, to weaken and release urine.

Urge incontinence occurs when you feel a sudden and strong urge, or need, to urinate. Very soon after the urge strikes, you lose control of your bladder. Often, you do not have time between the urge and the loss of urine to make it to a bathroom.

This type occurs when you urinate but do not completely empty the bladder. Later, you may lose some urine. Overflow incontinence can also be called dribbling.

With functional incontinence, physical problems such as arthritis, or cognitive problems such as dementia, prevent you from getting to the bathroom in time.

There are many causes of urinary incontinence— including physical damage, aging, cancer, infection, and neurological disorder. Some of these conditions will only result in temporary urinary problems and are easily treated, while others are more serious and persistent.

Damage

Aging

Temporary Causes

Cancer

Enlarged Prostate

Temporary Causes

Some cases of incontinence are temporary.

Often, these instances are caused by an external, or lifestyle, factor. Drinking alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or too much of any fluid can cause a temporary loss of bladder control.

Aging

As you age, your bladder muscle becomes weaker and incontinence becomes more likely. Any issues with your blood vessels will make this situation worse.

Damage

Any damage caused to your pelvic floor muscles can lead to incontinence, since these muscles support your bladder.

Enlarged Prostate

In nearly all men, the prostate gland enlarges with age. It is common for men to experience some incontinence as a result.

Cancer

Prostate cancer in men, or bladder cancer in men or women, can cause incontinence. In some cases, the cancer’s treatment will cause incontinence as a side effect.

Home Care for Urinary Incontinence There are certain steps you can take at home to make living with incontinence easier. Your doctor can explain how you can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, if this is the cause of your incontinence. It may involve urinating on a strict schedule or doing exercises to work the muscles.

You can also arrange your home to help you better manage your incontinence. You can make sure you have a clear and easy path to the bathroom, keep a night light on to make getting to the toilet easier in the dark, and use absorbent

undergarments such as adult diapers, adult briefs, absorbent underwear or adult pullups when you leave the house to prevent accidents.

You cannot prevent all cases of urinary incontinence, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk. Try to live a healthy lifestyle—maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, get plenty of exercise, and eat well. Be sure to have enough fiber in your diet, in order to prevent constipation. You should also avoid foods and drinks that seem to lead to episodes of incontinence, such as coffee or alcohol.

About Unique Wellness

Unique Wellness, an award winning adult brief manufacturer, offers comfort and confidence to millions of people by focusing solely on providing the promise of dry scheduled changes and 70% savings on incontinence related costs.

Our company produces the world's only solution based adult brief and absorbent underwear, revolutionizing the market by allowing users and caregivers the freedom of fewer daily changes and a more efficient and cost-effective solution.

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