Warning Signs Of Urinary Incontinence
Posted on: 22 March 2022
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Urinary incontinence (UI) occurs when you lose the ability to control your bladder. In this case, the bladder muscles relax and contract involuntarily, leading to urine leakage. This can affect the quality of your life and cause a loss of confidence. The common causes of UI include constipation, urinary tract infections that irritate the bladder, and childbirth. Sometimes, UI may signify a severe condition such as prostate cancer. Therefore, you need to identify the symptoms of UI early to get the right treatment. Here are warning indicators of urinary incontinence.
Urine Leakage When Lifting, Exercising, or Bending
If unexpected urine leakage occurs when carrying out activities such as lifting items, exercising, or bending, this is a sign of urinary incontinence. Also, laughing, coughing, and sneezing may cause urine leakage. When performing these activities, you apply sudden pressure on the bladder.
You may also experience urine leakage during sexual activity as sexual stimulation exerts pressure on the urethra or bladder. When this pressure combines with weak pelvic muscles, UI may occur. This is stress incontinence, which is a common effect of childbirth-related stress. Women may experience stress UI at menopause as well.
Urine Leakage Before Reaching the Restroom
If you're feeling the urge to urinate but can't hold the urine until you reach the bathroom due to bladder-related problems, this is a sign of an overactive bladder (OAB) or urge incontinence. Hence, you may need to urinate frequently, even at night. The condition is common in people with diabetes, arthritis, or Alzheimer's.
In contrast, functional urinary incontinence is characterized by urine leakage before reaching the bathroom due to mobility limitations. This is common in disabled or older adults who may not be able to get to the restroom quickly.
Urine Overflow
You may experience some urine leakage even after urinating. This means that your bladder doesn't empty, leading to involuntary urine overflow as you produce new urine. This indicates that you have overflow incontinence. You can contain the condition by doing pelvic muscle exercises to strengthen your bladder muscles. Additionally, visit your doctor, who may recommend medication, dietary changes, or surgery to contain urine overflow.
Urination urge at night
You may be feeling the urge to urinate several times during the night. Sometimes, you may wet your bed due to a lack of bladder control. This may indicate that you have nocturia, a condition common in older adults.
The warning signs of urinary incontinence include urination urge at night, urine overflow, urine leakage before reaching the restroom. Also, urine leakage when performing activities such as lifting is a sign of UI. Consider visiting your doctor when you see these signs.