The Most Common Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence is a word used to describe any instance of uncontrolled urination or urine leakage. There are several types and causes of the inability to control your bladder, called urinary incontinence (UI).

People suffer from UI mainly because of physical damage or weakness of the nerves that control the muscles involved with micturition – i.e., urination.

There are several causes for this damage to muscles and nerves, which could include:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia or other problems with the placenta
• Severe constipation that puts pressure on your bladder
• Urinary issues in menopause, especially in women who have gone through hysterectomies
• Urinary incontinence after giving birth to a baby (stress incontinence)

Everyone needs to know the risks of urinary incontinence because it could happen to anyone. No matter your age or sex, any form of injury can cause loss of bladder control.

To avoid incontinence, you should prevent any kind of injury from occurring, especially in the pelvic region.

Urinary incontinence could be a sign of an underlying medical condition, so sufferers need to see their doctor immediately.

To avoid this embarrassing and often very uncomfortable condition, everyone needs to be aware of the signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence.

Causes of urinary incontinence

There are many reasons for developing a loss of control of your bladder, but there are simple steps to avoid it.

It is very easy for this condition to be prevented, so by being aware of the risk factors and general causes, you can help yourself lead a normal life without fear of embarrassment.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause UI

UTIs happen because bacteria get into your urine. These bacteria are usually harmless, but they can enter your body through the urethra.

While UTIs are not dangerous if treated quickly, they can cause serious problems for people who already have a weakened immune system or other health concerns.

For example, older adults who have dementia often end up in the hospital with severe cases of UTI because they cannot communicate their need to see a doctor.

UTIs can develop into pyelonephritis if they are not treated quickly. This condition requires immediate treatment at the hospital and often results in serious damage to the kidneys.

This is one of many reasons why it is so important for people suffering from bladder control issues to visit their doctor and get treatment as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection may include:

• Frequent urge to urinate – especially at night – that cannot be stopped
• Burning sensation while urinating or passing urine
• Blood or pus in the urine
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting

Pregnancy can also cause UI

Pregnancy can also result in UI due to the pressure placed on your bladder during this time. Stress incontinence usually occurs in women who have experienced difficult births, especially when damage has been done to pelvic muscles or nerves.

Urinary incontinence is also much more common in pregnant women because their bodies constantly fluctuate in hormones, weakening the urinary tract muscles.

Pregnancy can lead to urinary incontinence because

• The weight of the baby puts pressure on your bladder, making it difficult for you to control when you urinate
• Urinary tract infections are common during pregnancy due to increased blood circulation throughout the body and changes in hormones that allow bacteria to move more freely through your urinary tract
• The extra pressure on your bladder can result in overflow incontinence, especially if you have to wait for a long time before being able to access a bathroom – Muscle strain caused by the pregnancy can also lead to urinary incontinence after pregnancy because the pelvic muscles are weakened

Constipation can cause urinary incontinence

Other conditions such as constipation can also cause urinary incontinence. Constipation results from a build-up of stool within the digestive tract which causes bowel movements to be difficult and painful.

If you are suffering from constipation, your body is not expelling waste properly, and it begins to accumulate in the colon and rectum, putting pressure on the bladder.

This pressure results in a loss of bladder control, making it very easy for you to urinate accidentally. In addition to urinary incontinence, constipation also causes stomach discomfort and pain.

With the symptoms of constipation being so similar to other conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose. If you are experiencing symptoms of constipation regularly, the best thing for you to do is see your doctor as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis and start treatment.

Menopause can also cause urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be caused by menopause. During this time, women experience various symptoms as their hormone levels drastically change.

Urinary incontinence is a common side effect of menopause because estrogen levels are reduced, and the vaginal walls thin out, causing internal muscles to become weak.

In addition to urinary incontinence, other symptoms of menopause can include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings

Types of urinary incontinence

There are many different types of urinary incontinence, but the three most common are urge incontinence, functional incontinence, and overflow incontinence.

Urge incontinence

Also known as overactive bladder syndrome. It occurs when the pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough to hold back urine. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and certain medications.

Urge incontinence can be a very annoying and embarrassing problem, but there are treatments available that can help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and reduce urge incontinence episodes.

Functional incontinence

This occurs when there is an obstacle that prevents the person from reaching the toilet in time. This can be due to a physical disability or condition, such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease.

It can also be caused by mental conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Functional incontinence can be a very frustrating problem, but there are ways to manage it.

For example, you can make sure that the person has easy access to a toilet or that they have a portable commode that they can use when necessary.

Overflow incontinence

This occurs when the bladder is constantly full and leaks small amounts of urine constantly. This can be due to an enlarged prostate in men or due to nerve damage in the bladder.

Overflow incontinence can be a very bothersome problem, but there are treatments available that can help to reduce or eliminate it.

For example, your doctor may recommend medication or surgery to correct nerve damage or enlargement of the prostate gland.

How Prime MD Plus can help

Prime MD Plus can help with UI. If you have bladder incontinence, it means that your bladder muscle is not working properly.

UI-related urine leaks can happen when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy.

Prime MD Plus can help by doing an evaluation to find the underlying cause of your urine leaks.

Then, Prime MD Plus can treat the underlying cause and help you get your bladder muscle working properly again.

Prime MD Plus can also help you with other problems that can happen as you get older, such as memory loss, balance problems, and falling.

Conclusion

Although Urinary Incontinence isn’t life-threatening, it can have a major impact on your life.

Urinary incontinence is not life-threatening in most cases, but it can hurt the quality of your daily life.

It becomes difficult to go out and enjoy yourself if you are constantly worried about leaking urine in public or afraid of losing control of your bladder.

Urinary incontinence also makes it difficult for people to maintain healthy relationships and can harm their self-esteem. Urinary incontinence is a condition that needs medical attention as soon as possible because it can continue getting worse if left untreated for too long.

A newer treatment called the Emsella system uses high-frequency electromagnetic stimulation and may be the easiest and most effective non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence with no downtime.

With just six easy treatments, you can significantly reduce or eliminate issues with urinary incontinence at an affordable price.

If you are suffering from urinary incontinence, why wait? Prime MD Plus provides professional medical help in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for urinary incontinence, non-invasively, with or without medication.

To learn more about urinary incontinence treatments and the conditions we treat, check out primemdplus.com to request an appointment.