Urinary incontinence is a condition that affects millions of people every day. It can affect both young and old, but older adults are more prone to it.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

According to National Insitute on Aging, urinary incontinence, also known as the overactive bladder, is when someone leaks urine by accident. Even though this can happen to anyone, older people, especially women, are more likely to suffer from it. Problems with bladder control can be uncomfortable and cause people to avoid normal activities.

What are the Different Types of Urinary Incontinence?

• Stress incontinence occurs when pressure is applied to the bladder, as during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects.
• Urge incontinence occurs when people have an urgent need to urinate and cannot hold their urine long enough to reach the bathroom. Diabetics, people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or stroke may have difficulty with it.
• Overflow incontinence occurs when small amounts of urine leak from a full bladder. These types of incontinence can be caused by both diabetes and spinal cord injuries and by enlarged prostates that block the urethra in men.
• Functional incontinence is often found in older people with normal bladder control. It may be because of arthritis or other disorders that make it difficult for them to move quickly that they have a problem getting to the toilet.

What is the Treatment and Management for Urinary Incontinence?

The good news is that urinary incontinence can be treated with medications and exercises. But some people also benefit from specialized treatments like bladder training and other treatments designed specifically for their particular type of urinary incontinence.

Bladder Training

• Pelvic muscle exercises or Kegel exercises
  Enhance your bladder’s ability to hold urine and prevent leaks by strengthening the muscles that support it.
• Urgency suppression
  Controls strong urinal urges so that you can use the restroom on time.
• Using a timing system or timed voiding
  It helps you control your bladder by scheduling urinal times.

Medical treatments

• Medications may be prescribed to treat bladder control issues, including pills, liquids, and patches. Consult your doctor about your treatment options as some medications may increase the risk of cognitive decline in older adults over age 65.
• Vaginal estrogen cream can relieve urge or stress incontinence. Women apply a low-dose estrogen cream directly to their vaginal walls and urethral tissues.
• Bulking agents help close bladder openings. To thicken the area around the urethra, doctors inject a bulking gel or paste. Stress incontinence can be reduced with this method, but it may need to be repeated.
• Medical devices
  1. Catheter – drains urine from the bladder
  2. Urethral insert – prevents leakage
  3. Vaginal pessary ring – reduces leakage by providing pressure
• Biofeedback is a method that uses sensors to create an awareness of bodily signals. Your bladder and urethra muscles may become more controllable this way.
• Electrical nerve stimulation helps control urination and bladder reflexes by sending mild electric currents to the nerves surrounding the bladder.
• Surgery may be able to improve or cure incontinence if it is caused by a change in the bladder’s position or a blockage caused by an enlarged prostate.

Changing Your Behaviors and Lifestyle

If you’re suffering from incontinence, there are things you can do to help yourself. These include:

• Drink plenty of water. Drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
• Keep an eye on what you eat and drink. Symptoms may be improved by cutting back on alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, tea, and acidic and spicy foods. Some bladder problems can be prevented by drinking water instead of other drinks and limiting drinks before bedtime.
• Lose weight. It can be beneficial to lose weight if you suffer from incontinence. Even losing 3-5% of your body weight can make a difference.
• Stop smoking. If you quit smoking, you’ll be less likely to leak.

Whether it’s a partial or complete loss of bladder control, treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of your symptoms. You may want to talk with your doctor about any dietary changes and treatments you would like to make to help improve urinary incontinence symptoms.