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Urinary incontinence is a problem faced by a large part of the adult population, in addition to this ailment is also diagnosed in children and teenagers. Urinary incontinence, which is also called incontinence, is the uncontrolled emptying of the bladder. It is not a disease, and as such incontinence does not threaten health, but it greatly reduces quality of life and can even lead to depression over time. Where does this condition come from and can it be cured?
What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?
With incontinence, involuntary urine leakage occurs. Leaks vary in intensity, sometimes it is only a few drops, but sometimes the bladder is completely emptied. For many people, urinary incontinence also manifests itself in waking up at night for need. Urinary incontinence is associated with a weakening of the Kegel muscles, although the causes of this condition vary widely. If the problem recurs, it is necessary to go to a doctor - older people can consult a geriatrician, while for younger patients it is recommended to consult a urologist, in the case of women, additionally still a gynecologist.
Do medications help with incontinence?
For those who suffer from incontinence, the doctor may recommend drug therapy. If the incontinence is due to menopause, estrogen is administered to improve the tone of the pelvic floor muscles. There are also drugs supporting the urinary system As well as medications to combat inflammation in the bladder or urinary tract. In milder stages, dietary supplements made from herbal ingredients that provide phytoestrogens and remove bacteria from the urinary tract prove effective for incontinence, one supplement we recommend is Cystenon.
Is urinary incontinence treated with surgery?
Today, incontinence is also treated surgically. During the procedure, special bladder and urethra lifting bands can be implanted, laser treatments are also highly effective, whereby the muscles are shrunk and the vaginal walls are strengthened so that the urinary system regains its normal functionality. Unfortunately, the treatments are quite expensive, and it is not always possible to count on reimbursement, in addition to the risk of complications.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
Urinary incontinence is diagnosed by the patient himself, because just this affliction gives very obvious symptoms. However, a visit to the doctor is needed to determine the causes, because the effectiveness of further treatment depends on this. Specialists emphasize to seek help for incontinence as soon as possible, because in the early stages it is much easier to solve the problem.
Diagnosis in the case of incontinence begins with an interview with the patient - it is very helpful to keep a micturition diary, in addition, the doctor asks about incontinence and other diseases in the family, pregnancies and childbirths, checks the patient's general health and treatment history, lifestyle and type of work are also taken into account. The history is supplemented by the results of laboratory tests and a gynecological examination or prostate examination in men. If necessary, additional tests are still recommended, such as a urodynamic study or a submuscular test.
Home remedies for urinary incontinence
In addition to herbal supplementation, daily lifestyle changes are of great importance in reducing incontinence. It is advisable to reduce body weight - obesity is highly related to Kegel muscle weakness and incontinence. It is also advisable to limit the intake of caffeine and other diuretic beverages, and it is recommended to consume less fluids before going out or before going to bed,
Urinary incontinence and pregnancy
Urinary incontinence affects many women who are pregnant, especially in the last months when the belly is already large. The enlarging uterus puts pressure on the urinary tract and bladder, so it is much more common to feel the need to urinate and not always manage to fully control it.
The problem can worsen with each successive delivery, especially if the newborn has a high birth weight or the delivery was long and complicated. Incontinence persists after childbirth because the muscles that were involved in the contractions still remain relaxed and flaccid. This often subsides after a few weeks, when the woman's body returns to normal, but sometimes it can persist for longer, and then a visit to the doctor is recommended. A supplement recommended for women for incontinence is. Cystonette.
Urinary incontinence vs. prostate
Disorders of the prostate gland almost always result in some sort of urinary discomfort. A typical affliction is constant pushing on the bladder and frequent use of the toilet, and sometimes incontinence is added. Urinary incontinence is also a common complication after prostatectomy, or surgery to remove the prostate gland. Urinary incontinence can also be associated with a urinary tract infection - with an enlarged prostate, the urethra does not always clean itself thoroughly, and any deposits promote infection. Urinary incontinence caused by inflammation usually subsides when the urinary tract infection can be cured. Many positive reviews among men have been obtained by the supplement Prostan Plus.
What causes incontinence in seniors?
It is no secret that urinary incontinence is very common in the elderly. However, many people mistakenly assume that it is a normal effect of aging and nothing can be done about it, when in the meantime there are already effective methods to combat incontinence. Seniors due to incontinence often give up other activities altogether, which is not good for their health, as well as their mental condition. The most common causes of incontinence in the elderly are such as:
- Kegel muscle weakness
- lowering of the bladder
- senile weakening of the sphincter mechanism
- urinary tract infections
- past births
- past urological and gynecological surgeries
- prostatic hypertrophy
- frequent odor
- overweight or obese
- diabetes
Urinary incontinence is also one of the symptoms of menopause - for menopause problems it is worth using supplement Nuvialab Meno.
What are the most common types of incontinence?
- Stress urinary incontinence
This is the most common type of incontinence, affecting both old and young. It results from weakened pelvic floor muscles, so the urethra does not clamp properly. With stress incontinence, leaks occur during physical labor and other activities that increase pressure in the abdominal cavity, such as sneezing or coughing.
- Transient urinary incontinence
It is an ailment suffered by healthy people. As the name suggests, incontinence is only intermittent, associated, for example, with drinking a lot of caffeine-rich fluids, a cold or a urinary tract infection.
- Urgent incontinence
This type of incontinence is associated with overactivity of the bladder muscles, so the need to urinate appears suddenly, and if the physiological need cannot be dealt with immediately, leakage occurs.
- Overflow incontinence
Typically, this type of incontinence affects men who have an enlarged prostate gland - through the enlarged prostate, urine floods into the bladder and this leads to overflow.
- Urinary incontinence due to neurological causes
Incontinence can be linked not only to urinary tract diseases, but also to neurological conditions. It interferes with the conduction of impulses between the bladder muscles and the brain. This type of incontinence occurs with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, among others.
Why does urinary incontinence occur?
Urinary incontinence is not only faced by seniors. According to medical data, up to 5 million adults may suffer from incontinence, most of whom are women. Pregnancy and childbirth, genitourinary infections, hormonal changes in the body, heavy physical labor, obesity or being very overweight contribute to incontinence. These factors can occur individually or combine with each other. Genetic factors also contribute to incontinence.
Incontinence in children and adolescents
People under the age of 18 also experience incontinence. Often diagnosed bedwetting can result from kidney failure, urinary defects and diseases, emotional disturbances, drinking too much fluid before bed, infections, neurological diseases, reduced bladder capacity, overproduction of urine. Urinary incontinence can also occur during the day, of course.
In children up to the age of five it does not yet have to be a cause for concern, since incontinence is often due to the fact that the child has not yet mastered control of his bladder. However, after this age, bedwetting in children is usually already the result of some kind of disorder and requires the implementation of appropriate therapy.
What are the stages of urinary incontinence?
In the initial stage, urinary incontinence results from fairly intense physical activity. It can occur during physical labor, training, lifting heavy objects, and is also accompanied by sneezing or coughing. It happens relatively infrequently, and leaks are small and ordinary sanitary pads are sufficient to hide them. The second degree of incontinence is already leaks caused by ordinary, effortless activities. The leaks may also already be slightly larger, and also occur at night, mainly when changing positions during sleep. The third stage of incontinence is involuntary urine leakage with any activity. At this stage, the patient must use diapers, and a common complication is secondary urinary tract infection.
Exercises for urinary incontinence
Among the most effective methods of combating incontinence are Kegel muscle exercises. It is the pelvic floor muscles that are responsible for making the mechanism of urination run smoothly - the Kegel muscles, among other things, support the bladder, prevent urine leakage and help stop the flow of urine. You can recognize them exactly by clenching those muscles with which you would like to stop urination. Exercises involve rapidly tightening and relaxing the Kegel muscles, but while this method is effective, it requires discipline and patience.
The muscles will regain their normal tension after only a few months, but due to the fact that they are very simple to perform and can be done literally anywhere. Muscle tensing is carried out in series - at least three times a day for five minutes. After muscles will be strengthened, you can exercise less often, but for prevention it is not worth giving up so completely. The muscles are tightened for a few seconds, and you should not hold your breath during the exercise.
How to prevent incontinence?
Incontinence is an affliction that is difficult to avoid, but you can nevertheless minimize the risk of its occurrence. To do this, it is worthwhile to take care of urinary hygiene, always treat even minor infections, use appropriate products for washing. An important part of prevention is to avoid the feeling of overflowing bladder - if you feel the need to urinate, you should do it as soon as possible. It is also recommended to prevent constipation, because such a disorder of the digestive system, due to the strong push when passing stool, harms the bladder on occasion.