Many people suffer from urinary incontinence - the involuntary loss of urine. Often ashamed, they hide behind a shroud of secrecy. They believe the myth that urinary incontinence is a result of normal aging or childbirth - that loss of bladder control is inevitable and irreversible. The truth is, in most cases, urinary incontinence is treatable. People of all ages can lose control of their bladder. One in five older men and about one-half of all women will experience urinary incontinence in their lifetime.
What is urinary incontinence?
People with urinary incontinence are unable to stop the involuntary flow of urine. Loss of bladder control or urine leakage are common ways to describe urinary incontinence. Any of the following symptoms are signals of urinary incontinence:
- Coughing, sneezing, straining or lifting triggers the involuntary leakage of small amounts of urine. This is stress incontinence.
- A sudden, urgent and uncontrollable need to empty the bladder before you can safely reach a toilet. This is urge incontinence.
- When the bladder is full, small but uncontrollable leaks of urine spill out. This is overflow incontinence.
- You may feel some or all of the above symptoms of loss of bladder control. This is mixed incontinence.
- About 10 percent of children over 5 years of age and one percent of young adults over 16 years of age involuntarily wet their beds overnight. Known as bed-wetting. This is enuresis (n-your-ee-sis).
Most people with urinary incontinence wait over a year to talk to a doctor. They shut themselves off from social and recreational activities...needlessly.
Have you delayed for any of these reasons?
Nothing is wrong. It's easy to ignore the loss of a few drops of urine every time you laugh. But as the problem worsens, it can be difficult to admit what's happening - for whatever reason.
Do you limit your social activities? Has your lifestyle changed? You are not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from urinary incontinence, but many are ashamed or afraid to admit it. Yet, if you overcome this personal barrier, effective treatment can open the door to a whole new life.
You just don't talk about it. Not even to a doctor. Your attitude about incontinence may delay the diagnosis of a treatable medical condition. Urinary Incontinence is not natural or inevitable. Although more common in older people, it isn't caused by aging. Most older Americans stay dry. As we grow older, some physical changes are more likely to affect bladder control. But, in many cases, urinary incontinence is treatable - no matter how old you are.
During pregnancy, the weight of a developing child pushes on pelvic muscles. At childbirth these stressed tissues may stretch or tear. Muscles that support the bladder and control urine flow may be damaged. Yet, many women who lost their bladder control after childbirth are dry today. Urinary incontinence is childbearing women is treatable.
The first step is to admit to yourself that you may have a problem. Hoping that loss of bladder control will just go away when it's really getting worse may delay a diagnosis that can revitalize your life.
You should ask a urologist or incontinence expert if:
- Loss of bladder control hampers social activity or causes embarrassment.
- You need to rush to urinate but don't arrive in time.
- You feel pain during urination or when your bladder is full.
- You're unable to urinate after an operation.
- You need to urinate more often but don't have a bladder infection.
- You have frequent bladder infections.
- Urine leakage began after an operation.
- Your bladder isn't completely empty after urination.
- The urinary stream is getting weaker.
- Disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cause abnormal urination.
