Urinary incontinence is a very embarrassing condition for which many people are ashamed to go to the doctor. The symptoms of incontinence make everyday life very difficult: it involves uncontrolled emptying of the bladder, which can occur unexpectedly on the street, at work or in a store. You can try to treat incontinence with home remedies, such as supplements and urinary tract strengthening drugs.
Urinary incontinence: is it a disease?
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Urinary incontinence itself is not considered a separate pathological entity. It is usually a symptom of a medical condition and a sign that the body is not functioning properly. Diseases that can cause incontinence include prostatic hypertrophy, cystitis, overactive bladder, and neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson's disease).
Urinary incontinence is medically referred to as "incontinence." Statistically it is more frequent in women. Urinary incontinence has various causes and can be caused by bladder overflow, straining, weak pelvic floor muscles, inflammation.
Urinary incontinence in women
Very often incontinence occurs in women during menopause. This has to do with a general weakening of the body and hormonal disorders, due to which the tissues of the urinary tract lose their tension. For this reason, it is difficult toe maintain bladder control, resulting in small losses of urine and, in severe cases, involuntary emptying of the bladder.
Incontinence is also often experienced by pregnant women. The action of hormones and the increasing pressure of the uterus on the bladder cause the pelvic floor muscles to relax. The growing uterus also causes a woman to feel a sudden urge to push on the bladder, even though the bladder is not yet full. Sometimes incontinence disappears on its own after delivery, but in many women the Kegel muscles remain weak and incontinence persists for a longer period of time.
Read also: Menozine For menopausal symptoms
Urinary incontinence in men
In men, urinary problems are most often related to prostate hypertrophy. The enlarged prostate gland presses on the urethra, so typical complaints in old age are frequent need for urination, incomplete emptying of the bladder, a very weak stream of urine, and a frequent urge to urinate.
Drugs that are prescribed for men with an enlarged prostate usually have a diuretic effect, so their side effect may be incontinence. In addition, with an enlarged prostate there is an increased risk of urinary tract infections, which also interfere with normal urination. Infections are also a major cause of incontinence in younger men who do not yet have prostate problems.
Read also: Prostoxalen For prostate problems
Urinary incontinence in children
Incontinence is by no means a condition that affects only the elderly, as is often thought. Children also suffer from this disorder, but it should be remembered that in children up to five years of age, involuntary urination is not necessarily a worrying symptom: at this age, in fact, children may not yet have acquired bladder control. In older children, however, involuntary urination is mainly due to a disease of the urinary or nervous system, e.g., kidney defects, bladder or urethral disease, meningo-spinal hernia, spinal cord tumors, cerebral palsy. Sometimes incontinence is also due to a urinary tract infection, such as following a cold.
What are the causes of urinary incontinence?
Urinary dysfunction can be acquired or congenital. Certainly it is more often an acquired condition. Any alteration of the urinary tract is responsible for urinary incontinence. A properly functioning urinary system allows full control of the process: urine is produced in the kidneys, then passes to the bladder, and when the bladder fills, a signal is sent to the nervous system to inform it of the physiological need.
The involuntary release of urine from the bladder is prevented by the Kegel muscles, also called pelvic floor muscles. When we feel the urge, we can control the bladder because the muscles remain tense and relax completely only when we consciously respond to a physiological need. In incontinence, this situation is disturbed and urine leaks partially or completely.
Weakening of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles is influenced by genetic predisposition, advanced age, neurological conditions, a history of pregnancy and childbirth, overweight or obesity, diabetes, urinary tract surgery, chronic constipation, prostatic hypertrophy, and smoking.
Is incontinence treatment possible?
Patients often do not tell their doctors about incontinence problems, but it is estimated that incontinence is felt by 10 to 25% of women over the age of 30. For men, the percentage is double. However, with age the risk of incontinence increases in both sexes, and after age 50 it is already a common condition in both men and women.
It is important to note that this condition is by no means an inevitable part of aging, as people tend to believe. Age is obviously an important factor responsible for incontinence problems, but even in older people incontinence can and should be treated. There are now many effective therapies that help solve the problem of incontinence and the sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance that incontinence will disappear completely.
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Types of urinary incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence results from weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, which ensure proper sphincter function. Uncontrolled urine leakage occurs when pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, which can be triggered, for example, by coughing, sneezing, or laughing. This type of incontinence is associated with menopause, obesity, previous births (especially if the baby had a high birth weight), constipation, frequent urinary tract infections, smoking, and heavy physical labor.
Urinary incontinence with sudden urge is characterized by the sudden sensation of a very strong urge to empty the bladder. The cause is a dysfunction of the bladder muscles. With this type of incontinence, people feel a constant need to urinate both during the day and night, resulting in frequent getting up to go to the bathroom and urinate. Urgency can be caused, for example, by a change in body position, can also be triggered by the sound of running water, and often occurs during sexual intercourse. Urge incontinence is associated with overactive bladder, cystitis, prostatic hypertrophy, and neurological diseases.
The third type is bladder overflow incontinence. It occurs when there is an obstruction in the urinary tract that prevents the free flow of urine, which is why this condition is mainly suffered by men with an enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra.
What are the degrees of incontinence?
Grade I incontinence is the uncontrolled leakage of urine during sudden and severe tension of the abdominal muscles. Increased pressure in the abdominal cavity may result from sneezing, coughing, lifting heavy objects, laughing. Stage II is the involuntary leakage of urine during normal daytime activities that involve some exertion, such as climbing stairs, exercising, running. In stage III, urine leakage may occur for virtually no reason, as uncontrolled bladder emptying occurs not only during activity but also while lying down or sitting. At this stage, recurrent urinary tract infections are often diagnosed, exacerbating the problem.
What is the diagnosis of urinary incontinence?
Incontinence is a condition that cannot be overlooked because it gives very clear symptoms, even if urine leakage is minimal. However, it is important to recognize the cause of the disorder, as this will determine subsequent management and treatment. Although each person can determine for himself or herself whether he or she suffers from incontinence, further diagnosis should be left to specialists.
During the interview, the physician will want to determine under what exact circumstances the urine leaks occur and how often. It is also important to determine whether the leaks are small or large and whether the volume of urine emitted has changed over time. In addition, the doctor asks about lifestyle, medications taken, past illnesses and operations, and, in the case of women, even the number of deliveries. Laboratory tests are also ordered: a general urine test, a basic blood test. In addition, a urodynamic study and an abdominal ultrasound may be requested. For women, a gynecological consultation is still recommended, and for men, the status of the prostate gland is evaluated.
How is urinary incontinence treated?
The exact course of treatment depends on individual factors, the type of incontinence and its degree. Most often, lifestyle changes are recommended, especially limiting caffeine and diuretic drinks, quitting smoking, and introducing healthier foods into the diet. You can also drink herbal infusions that support the urinary system, such as linden blossom, nettle and dandelion root. Since urinary incontinence often occurs in overweight people, a good solution will be to weight reduction To the correct level.
If home remedies do not help, the doctor may prescribe drug therapy. Prescribed medications act on the bladder muscles or are hormonal medications if the urinary disorder is due to hormonal changes. Sometimes nonfood supplements are also recommended; a good choice for men is. Uromexil Strong that support the bladder and urinary tract. In more difficult cases, surgical treatment and electrostimulation are used; some cosmetic gynecology treatments can also give improvement.
Kegel muscle training
Regardless of the type and degree of incontinence, Kegel muscle exercises are always among the recommendations. It is a very simple, yet extremely effective method that you can perform on your own at home without the risk of injury or other complications. Pelvic floor muscles play a vital role in the functioning of the urinary system, so even a slight weakening of these muscles can lead to uncontrolled urinary leakage.
Kegel muscles are the ones we tighten when we want to stop urinating. When you exercise, you do it, of course, "dry," performing this very tension. Kegel muscles are tightened in sets, with at least a few repetitions in a row. When exercising the pelvic floor muscles, one should not tense the abdominal muscles and tighten the buttocks at the same time. Of course, one set is not enough to improve health, so regularity is important: you should exercise the Kegel muscles several times a day for 5 minutes at a time, every day.
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