Understanding urinary incontinence
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is something many people will often just shrug off as a part of getting older that nobody, obviously, ever enjoys. This is not the case though. In many cases, urinary incontinence, which is the unintentional loss of urine, can be caused by other health related issues.
It is estimated that approximately five million men in the United States deal with urinary incontinence health issues. And it does not just affect those who are "older." It affects those as young as age fifteen and does not stop to discriminate there; affecting those in different stages of their lives all across the board.
Urinary incontinence in men often comes in one of three types.
Stress incontinence is when someone leaks urine whenever they may sneeze, lift something, cough, laugh, or even if they change certain positions. Essentially, anything that could possibly put stress or strain on the bladder, causing it to leak urine.
Urge incontinence is when someone has such a strong urge to urinate that they are unable to make it to the bathroom fast enough to go.
Overflow incontinence is when someone has the urge to urinate but only releases a small amount. Because their bladder does not empty as it should, they end up leaking urine.
Total incontinence is also a possibility. This is when someone is always leaking.
Urinary incontinence can be a short term health issue or a long term one. Generally, if it is a short term health issue, it is the result of other health issues or because of treatment for other health issues the patient may be going through.
Incontinence issues are most commonly related to prostate problems, but can be caused by damage to the bladder muscles or the area around it. In some cases, the issues can be a result of some kind of blockage. Doctors have also recently released studies that show that excessive alcohol intake can be a cause of incontinence.
Typically, diagnosis of urinary incontinence is done by seeing a doctor. The doctor will do a physical exam, ask questions about the patient's health/medical history, and test the urine. Typically, this alone will help to determine if incontinence is the problem or not.
Treatment generally consists of medication. In some cases, a doctor may recommend therapy as a tool to treat incontinence. In an even smaller number of cases, the doctor may suggest surgery as a treatment option.
