A Brief on Urinary Incontinence in Women

Urinary incontinence is a health condition caused due to urinary bladder control loss. The causes and severity of urinary incontinence vary from one patient to another. Most people do not feel comfortable seeking consultation when they experience urinary incontinence. But you should understand that the condition is very common in older people and women. When left untreated, urinary incontinence will affect various activities in life. Thus, if you are suffering from incontinence, feel free to talk to your doctor immediately. You might be surprised that even a small lifestyle adjustment will make a big difference in treating urinary incontinence. Reach out to the best clinics in Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai to treat incontinence problems using the latest technological advancements.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

The root cause of urinary incontinence is based on the severity of the problem. You might have a minor problem if you face occasional leakages during cough or sneezing. But if you have frequent sudden urination urges and find it difficult to make it to the restroom on time, you might have a severe health issue. By learning the types and causes of urinary incontinence, you will be able to know how to treat it. The various types of urinary incontinence are:

Stress incontinence - Stress incontinence happens when physical pressure or strain on the urinary bladder occurs because of activities like sneezing, intense laughing, coughing, and strenuous exercises.
Overflow incontinence - As its name suggests, overflow incontinence develops constant dribbling issues with an inefficiency to empty the bladder completely.
Urge incontinence - Urge incontinence occurs when there is an involuntary loss of urine due to an intense and sudden urge to urinate. If you are experiencing a need to urinate frequently during both day and night, it might be an indication of urge incontinence.
Functional incontinence - Functional incontinence happens due to mental and physical impairment. The most common physical symptom of this type of urinary incontinence is a severe back problem which hinders the patient from reaching the bathroom on time.
Mixed incontinence - When a patient is experiencing two or more of the above mentioned urinary incontinence, it is called mixed incontinence.

Also Read: An Elaborate Explanation on Types of Incontinences

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence causes are due to poor habits and serious medical or physical health conditions. Whatever the underlying root cause, it is always recommended to get evaluated by popular hospitals in Chennai to get an idea of how to treat it. Let us discuss a few of the common causes here.

Diet

Diet plays a major role in causing temporary urinary continence in most people. Dietary choices like beverages, medications or certain food ingredients may increase the volume of urine by acting as diuretics. Therefore, you should be cautious when including caffeine, alcohol, vitamin C supplements, blood pressure medications, sedatives, artificial sweeteners, sparkling water, carbonated drinks, spicy food, chocolate, citrus fruits, etc. In order to identify which food item is causing urinary incontinence, try making your daily intake entries in a diary. You will be able to spot the culprit and get it easily sorted.

Underlying Medical Condition

A female physician examines the patient who is seated on the bed.

In most cases, urinary incontinence is a symptom of other underlying medical conditions. Although it might be easily resolved, like a urinary tract infection, it can severely affect the system when left untreated. Another health problem causing urinary incontinence in a large population is constipation. As the rectum is very close to the urinary bladder and has most of the nerves from the bladder running through it, constipation will increase the frequency of the urge to urinate.

Childbirth or Pregnancy

Childbirth and pregnancy are the reasons why women develop urinary incontinence. There is a hormonal imbalance happening in the body due to pregnancy which leads to stress incontinence. The increase in foetal weight will aggravate the urge to urinate. Furthermore, vaginal delivery has an impact on the urinary bladder and weakens the muscles in the bladder. The supportive tissues and nerves of the bladder get damaged with time which may alter the positions of the rectum, uterus, small intestine, and bladder. Eventually, it causes the vagina to protrude out or pushes the pelvis down, causing urinary incontinence.

Age

Age is always not the reason, but in most cases, it is the reason causing urinary incontinence. When a person ages, the bladder also tends to age, decreasing its capacity to store urine and creating involuntary bladder contractions, causing leakages.Menopause is another condition that causes urinary incontinence in women. The amount of oestrogen produced decreases with menopause. As oestrogen is responsible for keeping the bladder and urethra healthy, incontinence happens once its amount goes down due to tissue deterioration.

Also Read: An Overview Of SaMD & Its Benefits

Neurological & Physical Health Issues

During certain unfortunate circumstances, neurological problems maybe causing urinary incontinence. They may also interfere with the nerve signals responsible for controlling the bladder. A few common neurological problems causing incontinence are multiple sclerosis, brain tumour, Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury and stroke complications. Another physical health issue causing incontinence is an obstruction in the urinary tract causing a block in urine disposal. Such blocks maybe due to urinary stones or some form of tumour.

Ways to Prevent Incontinence Problem

The best methods to prevent or reduce the risk of developing urinary incontinence include:

1. Refraining from using tobacco
2. Avoiding bladder irritants like acidic foods, caffeine and alcohol
3. Maintaining a healthy weight and diet
4. Preventing constipation by including a lot of fibre in the diet
5. Practicing exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles

The Takeaway

Schedule a visit with your health care provider immediately if you are experiencing urinary incontinence. Doctors will be able to assess you and offer guidance in treating it. JOGO clinic is one of the best clinics in Chennai, offering structured therapies with the help of digital therapeutics combining lifestyle modifications and diet to provide effective results.