Urinary Incontinence
What
is urinary incontinence?
What is the connection between diabetes and urinary
incontinence?
Aren’t only older people affected with urinary
incontinence?
Is
urinary incontinence curable or treatable?
Where can I get help for this embarrassing problem
of urinary incontinence?
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What is urinary
incontinence?
Urinary incontinence
is the loss of bladder control or the leakage of urine. It can happen to
anyone, but is very common in older people. At least 1 out of 10 people
age 65 or older suffers from incontinence. It is a condition that ranges
from mild leakage to uncontrollable and embarrassing wetting. Urinary
incontinence is a major health problem because it can lead to disability
and dependency. You may feel ashamed about bladder control problems.
Remember that it's a medical problem and it's not your fault. Millions of
women have the same problem. Don't believe people who tell you that urine
leakage is normal. It isn't. Most of the time it can be improved.
What is the connection between diabetes and urinary incontinence?
Often, diabetics
endure a particular type of incontinence known as urge incontinence. This
happens when you can’t hold your urine long enough to reach a toilet. Some
diabetics have neurological problems; thus the nerve supply to the bladder
and urethra can be affected and the sphincter controlling urine flow
becomes dysfunctional.
Aren’t only older people affected with urinary incontinence?
Aging itself does
not cause incontinence. It may be caused by changes in your body due to
disease. For example, incontinence may be the first and only symptom of a
urinary tract infection. Curing the infection may relieve or cure the
problem. Some drugs may cause incontinence or make it worse. Women of all
ages have bladder control problems. Some younger women find they can't
hold their urine after having a baby. Others have problems when they stop
having periods. Many women over the age of 75 also have bladder control
problems.
Is urinary
incontinence curable or treatable?
Your treatment will
depend on the type of bladder control problem you have. Some treatments
are simple. Others are more complicated. The simplest treatments for women
include pelvic muscle exercises. You can learn simple exercises that can
strengthen the muscles near the urethra. These are called pelvic muscle
exercises or Kegel exercises and take only a few minutes a day. Also,
bladder training, weight loss and reduction of foods with caffeine and
alcohol in your diet may all help some types of incontinence. Another
level of treatment for muscle therapy may include electrical stimulation
to make the muscles stronger and tighter, or biofeedback which takes the
guesswork out of pelvic muscle exercise. A therapist places a patch over
the muscles. A wire connects the patch to a TV screen. You watch the
screen to see if you are exercising the right muscles. The therapist will
help you. Soon you learn to control these muscles without the patch or
screen. Then, there are medical treatments. Certain drugs can tighten or
strengthen urethral and pelvic floor muscles. Other medicines can calm
overactive bladder muscles.
There is the option
of collagen injections as well: Collagen (CALL-uh-jen) is a natural
substance like fat. It can be injected into the tissue around your urethra
to add bulk and keep your sphincter muscles tightly closed. One drawback
to this treatment is that collagen breaks down after several months, so
you may need to have injections repeated. Devices can also be inserted
into the urethra or pads placed over the urethra to block urine flow.
Some bladder control
problems can be solved by surgery, depending on what is causing the
problem. In most cases, the surgeon changes the position of the bladder
and urethra. After the operation, the bladder control muscles work better.
Where
can I get help for this embarrassing problem of urinary incontinence?
First, although you
may feel ashamed about bladder control problems, remember that it’s a
medical problem and it’s not your fault. Nearly everyone with a bladder
control problem can be helped, so call your clinic and find out how. You
may need to get a referral from your primary care physician to see a
doctor who specializes in women’s bladder and urine problems or perhaps
even a visiting home nurse who can help you learn about bladder control.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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