Urinary Incontinence

If you suffer from urinary incontinence, you are not alone.  Urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control is a common problem and can be very embarrassing for the patients who suffer from it. The severity can range from mild (occasionally leaking urine when you sneeze or cough) to severe (not making it to the bathroom in time). It is not a disease but rather a symptom and can be caused by underlying medical conditions, physical problems or everyday habits. Women are more likely than men to suffer from urinary incontinence and your risks increase as you age. People who are overweight, smokers and those with diabetes or kidney disease are also more at risk for urinary incontinence.

The good news is that most cases can be treated with simple lifestyle changes or medications. There are many different types of urinary incontinence including the following:

• Stress Incontinence – occurs when you sneeze or cough or exert some other type of pressure on the bladder
• Urge incontinence – sudden intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine
• Overflow incontinence – frequent or constant dribble of urine
• Mixed incontinence – you experience several different types of incontinence
• Functional incontinence – physical or mental impairment keeps you from making it to the toilet on time
• Total incontinence – continuous leaking of urine or periodic uncontrollable leaking of large volumes of urine

  
Treatment will vary according to the type and severity of urinary incontinence. If you suffer from this annoying and embarrassing problem, do not hesitate to seek treatment from your physician. Getting a proper diagnoses, determining the cause and initiating the most appropriate treatment of urinary incontinence can significantly improve your quality of life.