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What is incontinence? -

Continence is the ability to control your bladder and bowel. Incontinence is the involuntary loss of bladder and bowel control. Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. Fecal incontinence is a lack of control over defecation.

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Urinary incontinence -

Urinary incontinence is the leaking of urine that you can't control. The condition can affect both men and women.

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It's not a disease -

Urinary incontinence is not a disease. Instead, it is a symptom of many conditions. And there are several types of urinary incontinence.

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Stress incontinence -

Stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence. It describes the leaking of urine when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough, laugh, or sneeze.

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Stress incontinence -

Stress urinary incontinence can also be induced by exercise, walking, bending, and lifting. Weak pelvic muscles allow urine to escape. The condition is common in older women, less so in men.

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Urge incontinence -

Urge incontinence, or urgency incontinence, is when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards.

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Urge incontinence -

With urge incontinence, sometimes referred to as an overactive bladder, your brain tells your bladder to empty—even when it isn't full. The condition also occurs when the bladder muscles are too active. They contract (squeeze) to pass urine before your bladder is full. This often uncomfortable sensation can affect a person's sleep for example, and is more common in men with prostate problems and in women after menopause.

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Overflow incontinence -

More common in men, overflow incontinence, also known as chronic urinary retention, describes the inability to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking.

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Overflow incontinence -

Overflow incontinence occurs as a result of the body making more urine than the bladder can hold, or the bladder is full and cannot empty, thereby causing it to leak urine. People with overflow incontinence never completely empty the bladder—placing them at risk for a spill. Rare in women, this condition is more common in men with prostate problems or who have chronic disorders like multiple sclerosis, stroke, or diabetes.

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Mixed incontinence -

Mixed incontinence is when you have stress and urge incontinence at the same time. This is more common in women.

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Mixed incontinence -

Those unfortunate enough to suffer from both stress and urge incontinence will struggle with the sudden need to urinate, usually after coughing or sneezing. Identifying exactly what triggers a reaction is the best way to manage this particular condition.

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Total incontinence -

Total incontinence is when your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or experience recurrent leaking.

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Total incontinence -

Total incontinence is the continuous and total loss of urinary control. It means that you are always leaking urine, a result of when the muscle that controls the release of urine (sphincter) no longer works.

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Managing urinary incontinence -

There are no two ways about it: managing urinary incontinence can be frustrating and time-consuming. But there are tips you can follow that can help reduce the burden of living with the condition.

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Follow a fluid schedule -

Managing urinary incontinence is basically about retraining a weak bladder. Do this by keeping your fluid intake on schedule, and limiting the amount you drink. The idea is to condition your bladder when to fill and when to empty.

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Limit common bladder irritants -

It helps to reduce the intake of what's known as bladder irritants, things like caffeine, alcohol, and fluids with a high citrus content. These are typically more difficult for the bladder to process. And, incidentally, if you smoke, be aware that tobacco is also very irritating to the bladder lining, in addition to increasing bladder cancer risk.

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Plan a toileting schedule -

As with following a fluid schedule, planning a toileting schedule makes sense in that it helps prevent your bladder from becoming too full. Work on visiting the toilet at least every two to three hours a day. And always empty your bladder before engaging in any physical activity, leaving home, or going to bed.

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Pelvic floor exercise -

If you're physically able, get into the habit of doing pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercise is ideal). Strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor can reduce urinary incontinence by as much as 90%. Just make sure your bladder is empty beforehand.

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Lose excess weight -

Being overweight can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and cause incontinence because of the pressure of fatty tissue on your bladder. Shedding a few pounds may improve your symptoms or, even better, see them disappear completely.

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Manage constipation -

Don't allow yourself to become constipated! Attempting to pass stubborn stools will increase pressure in the pelvis and the bladder. Lessen the risk by following a diet rich in fiber, and remember to drink adequate amounts of water (while being mindful of your fluid schedule).

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Keep a diary -

The benefits of journaling are well documented, so why not keep a bladder diary? This way you can record your fluid intake and toileting pattern over a given period of time. Noting down urinating and leaking episodes is also useful when discussing your condition with a healthcare professional.

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Fecal incontinence -

Perhaps even more distressing than urinary incontinence is fecal incontinence—stool leaks from the rectum without warning.

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Loss of bowel control -

Fecal incontinence, also called bowel incontinence, ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.

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Signs and symptoms -

Signs and symptoms of fecal incontinence include the sudden urge to defecate that you cannot control, and soiling yourself without realizing you needed the toilet.

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Other indicators -

Another indicator of the condition is when you occasionally leak poo, for example when breaking wind.

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Other problems -

Fecal incontinence may happen with other bowel problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, and gas and bloating.

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When to see a doctor -

You should always see a doctor if you have trouble controlling your bowels. Identifying the cause is paramount in reaching a prognosis. Treatment will depend on what's causing the problem.

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Treatment -

Treatment in the first instance may mean using incontinence products, items such as pads you wear in your underwear (which those with urinary incontinence also use).

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Change your diet and exercise -

Avoiding foods that make diarrhea worse, dairy products for example, or greasy fatty food, can help ease the symptoms of fecal incontinence. It's also helpful to engage in the same pelvic exercises recommended to those with urinary incontinence.

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Don't go it alone! -

Discussing incontinence can be difficult, even with your doctor. But the condition is treatable, so getting advice from a health professional is the first step. But it's also worth seeking out others who've had incontinence and learning from their experience. For instance, the National Association for Continence in the US and Bladder Health UK both have active online communities where support and encouragement is offered.

Sources: (Johns Hopkins Medicine) (National Association for Continence) (Bladder Health UK) (Urology Care Foundation) (NHS) (Mayo Clinic) 

See also: Important health checks by age

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