URINARY INCONTINENCE
What is Urinary incontinence?
The loss of ability to control the bladder movements is known as Urinary incontinence. The person feels sudden urge to urinate, which is so strong that it sometimes becomes impossible to reach the toilet on time. The urine leaks even when the person coughs or sneezes.
Causes:
Temporary Urinary incontinence due to -
- Intake of drinks like alcohol, tea, coffee, Caffeine, carbonated drinks
- Medications for heart and BP, sedatives
- Spicy food
- Urinary tract infection
- Constipation
Persistent urinary incontinence due to-
- Pregnancy, child birth
- Menopause
- Hysterectomy- damage of pelvic floor muscles due to surgery
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostate cancer
- Tumour blocking the urinary tract
- Neurological disorders
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Stress incontinence- Leak of urine due to pressure exerted on the bladder while coughing, exercising,running, etc
- Urge incontinence- Sudden urge to Urinate, no time to even reach the toilet
- Overflow incontinence- continuous leakage of urine because the bladder doesn’t empty completely after urinating.
- Functional incontinence- physical or mental disability which prevents you from reaching toilet in time.
When to approach the doctor?
When you face an undeniable urge to urinate frequently and frequent urine leaks, You should see a doctor without delay.
Diagnosis Tests
- Urinalysis
- Bladder diary
- Post-void residual measurement
- Urodynamic testing
- Cystoscopy
- Cystogram
- Pelvic ultrasound
Treatment
The treatment depends on the cause and the type of incontinence.
- Change in diet- reducing caffeine intake, limited liquid intake, no alcohol
- To lose weight (if obese)
- Double voiding, in case of overflow incontinence
- Make Scheduled toilet trips
Other Treatments
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises
- Electrical stimulation
- Bladder training
- Medications
- Anticholinergics
- Mirabegron (Myrbetriq)
- Alpha blockers
- Topical estrogen
- Surgery
"Authored By Dr.Niraj Mahajan"
