Informative Article On Urinary Incontinence

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Home > Information > Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

by M. Jensen, Ph.D.

Incontinence is defined as the inability to control urination. It is not a disease, but a condition with severe economical and psychological impact. Urinary incontinence may occur at any age and in any sex. According to the National Association for Continence, More than 25 million Americans suffer from incontinence or other bladder-control problems, but only one fourth seek help (Nearly 50 percent of nursing-home residents are incontinent). Incontinence is defined. There are several types of incontinence:

Stress incontinence: is the most common kind and is characterized by small leakage of urine that results from the increase of intraabdominal pressure caused by lifting, sneezing, or laughing.
Urge incontinence: occurs when people with chronic health conditions, such as dementia, stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are unable to hold urine long enough after urges to reach the toilet, or as a result of decreased bladder muscle control.
Overflow incontinence: occurs when the bladder is filled beyond capacity and leaks small amounts of urine because the weakened muscles surrounding the bladder are unable to hold urine.
Total incontinence: refers to complete loss of bladder control.
Post surgical incontinence: can result after hysterectomies, prostatectomies, or other procedures.
Enuresis: refers to nighttime bed-wetting in adults and children.

Incontinence is widely treatable, even curable through exercise, changing of diets, medication, certain devices and surgery. Treatment depends on the type and condition of incontinence. Stress incontinence may be treated with specific exercises (called Kegel exercises), medication, or surgery. The goal of Kegel exercises is to strengthen the muscles that control the start and stop of the urination. Urge incontinence may be treated with behavioral modification therapy or with certain medications. Behavioral methods include education and retraining the bladder by urinating according to the schedule that gradually increases the time between bathroom trips. Overflow incontinence due to an enlarged prostate often responds to medications which relax certain muscles allowing the bladder to empty more completely. Prostate surgery should be considered if the benign enlargement is blamed for incontinence.

Sometimes incontinence is treated by inserting a flexible tube, catheter, in the urethra which collects urine in a container. In men, an alternative to the indwelling catheter is an external collecting device-catheter which is fitted over the male genitalia, like a condom, and connected via a tube to a drainage bag held onto the body by leg straps or much better by the Netti® One-leg pant.

There are many other methods and devices to treat incontinence aside from those discussed above. No one should suffer silently with urinary incontinence; your physician should be able to direct you to an effective treatment for your problem.

Treatment is not always successful or can be lengthy, but in the meantime, absorbent pads inserted into reusable Netti® pants can help you to stay dry.

The information contained above is intended for general reference purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.

Last Updated: 05-Feb-2009

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