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Adult Incontinence in Brief
In the simplest definition, incontinence refers to an involuntary loss of urine or faecal matter due to the loss of control of the bladder or bowel. This problem has existed for ages. However, due to its embarrassing nature, everyone keeps it a well-guarded secret. This condition is rarely discussed and can leave anyone suffering from urinary or faecal incontinence feeling as if they are alone in the world. For a better understanding of incontinence in adults, it is imperative to look at symptoms, causes, and treatment. Let’s take a look:Symptoms of Adult Incontinence
If you suffer from an involuntary leak of urine, it is advisable to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The main symptoms that can point to incontinence are:- Urge incontinence: If you always experience a sudden urge to urinate followed by a sudden release from the bladder, you should consult your doctor.
- Overflow incontinence: Many people experience constant dripping of urine during the day and at night. This means that the bladder does not empty itself. Your doctor would be the person to give you the best diagnosis to identify the underlying issue.
- Stress incontinence: If you experience an involuntary loss of urine when sneezing, coughing, laughing, exercising or lifting heavy stuff, you need to see your doctor.
- Incontinence due to a physical/mental condition: Functional incontinence occurs when a physical or mental impairment makes it impossible for you to get to the washroom in time. Conditions such as arthritis and dementia cause this type of incontinence, and you may not only need a solution to manage incontinence but a solution to the problem that causes these situations to arise as well.
Causes
They say you can only manage what you know. In this case, it is important to understand the underlying problem to treat incontinence. Adult incontinence is a symptom of another problem. This makes getting a proper diagnosis crucial to the treatment and management of the problem. These are some of the main causes of bowel and bladder control issues:- Pregnancy: Physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the performance of the bladder and can lead to incontinence.
- Vaginal delivery: During childbirth, bladder muscles and nerves weaken due to physical changes that take place around the pelvic area. A dropped (prolapsed) pelvic floor pushes the bladder and other organs away from their usual position. This can lead to incontinence.
- Nerve disorders: Stroke, Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease are just a few of the medical conditions that affect nerve functioning. This means that most body parts, including the bladder, do not perform optimally leading to problems such as incontinence.
- Old age: With age, the bladder’s capacity to hold urine decreases and the effectiveness of nerves reduce, leading to urge incontinence.
- Prostate problems: An enlarged prostate in older men will affect bladder function and can lead to incontinence. In the case of prostate cancer, incontinence is a side effect of the intensive treatment required to cure cancer.
- Menopause in women: Less production of estrogen after menopause affects the performance of the bladder and urethra tissues and can lead to incontinence.