What is incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is one of the disorders that affect the urinary system, specifically the urinary bladder, and it results in rapid or involuntary urination, as the patient loses the ability to control urine output.
In most cases, it is a symptom associated with many diseases and disorders.
It is likely that the cause of this problem is a defect in the efficiency of the performance of the smooth muscles lining the bladder wall so that they are looser than necessary. Therefore, doing any effort that affects them leads to rapid urination such as coughing, sneezing, or even laughter, and this is called stress incontinence, and it may be There is an overworking of these muscles so that they contract quickly and the presence of any small amount of urine in the bladder makes the patient feel the urgent need to urinate and go to the bathroom immediately. It is noteworthy that the chance of developing this problem increases with increasing age.
Urinary incontinence is a disorder that occurs in abundance in females in particular, as medical statistics have found that the number of females who suffer from this problem is more than twice the number of males.
Urinary incontinence causes
The known causes that may lead to urinary incontinence are divided into two parts: the first is temporary causes, with its removal, the disorder disappears, and permanent causes that are difficult to treat:
Causes of permanent urinary incontinence
As you age, the chance of developing it increases when you are over the age of 50.
Prostate enlargement in males.
obesity.
Kidney cancer.
Recurrent infections.
Neurological diseases, especially the nerve responsible for sending and receiving signals from the bladder.
Bladder valves are damaged and unable to contract properly.
Alzheimer’s disease.
severe depression
Uterine prolapse.
Temporary Urinary Incontinence Causes
Chronic constipation.
Taking some pharmacological drugs, including those that treat high blood pressure, for example, that relax muscles.
Excessive alcohol intake.
Urinary bladder irritation due to excessive caffeine intake.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Use artificial sweeteners and spicy foods.
Pregnancy and natural childbirth.
Heredity may play an important role in increasing the chance of developing urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence symptoms
Signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence are as follows:
Involuntary urination.
Inability to completely empty the bladder.
Increase the number of daily urination.
Inability to sleep enough due to frequent urination.
Fatigue and general weakness.
This may be accompanied by loss of appetite.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
The doctor may resort to the following measures to diagnose this disease:
Clinical examination.
Laboratory analysis of the blood sample to detect the presence of any infection.
Laboratory analysis of the urine sample to detect the presence of any infection.
Computed tomography (CT) scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Performing an endoscopy of the urinary system.
Perform a stress test for bladder endurance.
Urinary incontinence treatment
The main treatment is to prevent repeated urination in order to comfort the patient and this is done through non-surgical procedures, including:
Training the bladder to handle larger amounts of urine before excreting it through the urethra is a functional rehabilitation treatment.
Reducing the amount of fluids that the patient drinks daily.
Reducing substances that irritate the bladder and lose the ability to control it, such as caffeine.
Some cases determined by the doctor may require surgical intervention.
Electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles by inserting electrodes through the anus or vagina.
Use disposable tampons to reduce urinary leakage during daily activities.
The doctor may prescribe some drug treatments to delay urination, such as anticholinergics.
Botox injections into the bladder muscles in cases of overactive urinary bladder.
The doctor may need to prescribe psychological treatments to enhance the personality of the sufferer.
Tips for coping with urinary incontinence
It is preferable to follow the following instructions to relieve and coexist with urinary incontinence:
Reducing excess weight.
Quit Smoking.
Refrain from drinking alcohol.
Doing exercise.
Training the urinary bladder to delay urination every time the patient feels the need to urinate in order to prolong the period of time for frequent urination.
Timing of the urination process, which means going to the bathroom at a specific time and not depending on the need to urinate.
Reduce or avoid drinks that contain a high level of caffeine.
Avoid hot drinks that contain spices in large quantities.
Avoid very hot foods.
Performing bladder exercises where the patient stretches the abdominal muscles for 10 seconds and then relaxes them for another 10 seconds in order to strengthen the bladder muscles.
The patient is also advised to wear special products (specialized sanitary pads) that help him to perform his daily activities better.
How can urinary incontinence be prevented?
To prevent the disease is difficult, but it is possible to take some health instructions to reduce the rate of its occurrence, including:
Eat healthy food rich in fruits and vegetables.
Stay away from stress.
Reducing excess weight.
Quit Smoking.
Refrain from drinking alcohol.
Reduce or avoid drinks that contain a high level of caffeine.
Doing exercise.
Incontinence complications
Among the complications that can occur as a result of infection with the disease:
Social shyness and lack of daily activities.
Infection with bacterial infections.
The effect on the efficiency of the organs of the urinary system.
What is the course of urinary incontinence disease?
The outcome of recovery from this disease depends on the patient’s health status and the direct cause of this problem. The money is usually very good and it is not considered a health problem that threatens human life.