Causes of urinary incontinence and its treatment

In some situations, people have urinary incontinence for some reason. Not being able to control urination can be very unpleasant and embarrassing; But fortunately, it is treatable. Although this complication often occurs in elderly people and women who have recently given birth. But it can also happen in children and adults, which has different causes. Urinary tract infection, diabetes, stroke, women's menopause and even prostate enlargement are among the most common **causes of urinary incontinence**, which can be treated or controlled with methods such as changing lifestyle, controlling fluid intake, drug therapy, and doing **pelvic floor exercises** (pelvic floor is the muscles that stretch from the pubic bone to the tailbone). Stay with us in this article so that we can provide you with detailed information about **urinary incontinence treatment**, its types and ways to control this disease. Causes of urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence can occur for various reasons such as Parkinson's, MS, etc., which are divided into two categories, temporary and chronic. In the table below, we have discussed the types of causes of urinary incontinence: #### Temporary causes of incontinence - - - Urinary tract infection (UTLS) - Pregnancy, use of certain drugs such as antidepressants - Consumption of some drinks such as alcohol and caffeine - Chronic constipation - Bladder inflammation - Kidney stones - Consumption of carbonated drinks #### Chronic causes of incontinence - - - Pelvic floor disorder - Stroke - Diabetes, peripheral neuropathy - Enlargement of the prostate - MS disease - menopause - Alzheimer's ### How does urinary incontinence occur? Urinary incontinence occurs in different types, each of which has its own cause and characteristics so that you can recognize its type. By knowing the types of urinary incontinence that can occur as a result of a concussion, Parkinson's disease, or MS, you can diagnose it as quickly as possible and see your doctor to begin treatment. **Types of urinary incontinence** include: #### Stress Incontinence **Stress incontinence** often occurs when performing physical activities. The reason for this is the weakness of the pelvic floor muscles, which cannot manage the pelvic organs well. For this reason, a person may lose urinary control when laughing, coughing, sneezing, jumping from heights, and even lifting objects. Men who have recently had prostate surgery, women who have given birth, and people with Alzheimer's are more likely to develop stress incontinence. #### Urgency Incontinence Urge incontinence occurs with a sudden and intense urge to urinate. Sufferers may have an unexpected need to go to the bathroom and, in some cases, may not be able to reach the toilet in time, leading to leakage of urine. One of the common causes of this condition is a problem called **Overactive Bladder**. This condition can be caused by various factors, including pelvic muscle weakness, nerve damage, urinary tract infections, decreased estrogen levels after menopause, and obesity. In addition, the consumption of certain drugs and food such as alcohol and caffeine can also aggravate the symptoms of this type of urinary incontinence. #### Overflow Incontinence Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder does not empty completely. To put it more clearly, consider a container of water that has only a small amount of liquid in it, it may overflow when you walk and shake. The mechanism of this type of incontinence is also the same. People with it, such as dementia patients, are usually unable to empty their bladder completely, which is why they may leak urine. Most people who have MS, diabetes, stroke and have an enlarged prostate get it. Common treatments for urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence treatment is divided into two main categories: non-surgical and surgical treatments. Choosing the right treatment method depends on the type of incontinence and the general condition of the patient. In the following, we will examine these methods. #### Non-surgical treatments for urinary incontinence In the early stages, your doctor may recommend simpler measures to help improve your symptoms. One of these measures is lifestyle changes, which can include weight loss, reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption. These changes help to improve a person's general health condition and can have a positive effect on urinary control. In addition, it is important to do specific exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, such as Kegel exercises. These exercises help to strengthen the muscles that play a role in urinary control and can bring significant improvement. Another method is bladder training, which means learning techniques that help people wait longer between needing to urinate and passing urine. These techniques can gradually help reduce the number of times you need to go to the bathroom. Also, using incontinence products like absorbent pads can help people manage leakage and make them feel more comfortable. Medicines to treat urinary incontinence There are several medications that can be very effective in managing urinary leakage. The doctor usually starts the medicine with a low dose and gradually increases it to get the best result and the least side effects. Some common medications include oxybutynin (Ditropan), tolterodine (Detrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), and mirabegron (Myrbetriq). Due to their different effects, these drugs can help with urinary incontinence and normalize bladder function. Soon we will introduce all these drugs and talk about them in the drugs section. #### Lifestyle changes to treat urinary incontinence Simple changes in daily life can help control urinary incontinence. One of these changes is planning to go to the bathroom. By setting specific times to go to the toilet, you can manage how often you feel the need to urinate. Also, emptying the bladder before starting physical activities is effective in preventing urine leakage, especially in stress urinary incontinence. Avoiding lifting heavy objects, reaching a healthy weight through a balanced diet and exercise are also other things that reduce the pressure on the bladder and reduce the possibility of urinary incontinence. ### Surgical treatments for urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence surgical treatment is performed when non-surgical treatments are not effective. These methods depend on the type of incontinence and the patient's symptoms. One of the surgical methods is the use of bulking agents, which involves injecting special substances into the urethra to increase its size and reduce urine leakage. Also, botulinum toxin (Botox) injection may be used to relax the bladder muscles and reduce incontinence. Other surgical methods include "sling" methods in which an artificial band is placed in the urethra. Also, an artificial urethral sphincter can be placed in men with stress incontinence to keep the urethra closed when not needed. ### Prevention and management of urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence can be prevented and managed with effective methods, which include: - **Changing drinking habits:** If you have urinary incontinence, reducing the consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages (such as tea and coffee) can help reduce urine production and stimulate the bladder. Also, try to drink less fluids in the hours before bed. - **Pelvic floor exercises:** Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can help improve urinary control. These exercises are especially suitable for pregnant women. - **Healthy weight:** Obesity can increase the risk of urinary incontinence. This risk can be reduced by achieving an ideal weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet. By following these strategies and consulting with your doctor, you can help manage urinary incontinence better and improve your quality of life. #### **Summary** Urinary incontinence can occur for any reason, such as cerebral embolism, overweight, consumption of alcoholic beverages, etc., which fortunately has many treatment options with the advancement of medical science. As soon as the first symptoms appear, immediately go to a specialist doctor to start the appropriate treatment for you, which can be through surgery or non-surgery. The useful tips mentioned in this article will help a lot to control emergency, stress and even overflow urinary incontinence. Cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's, concussion and similar cases are one of the causes of urinary incontinence, which **Dr. Majid Kihani Fard** as one of the most prominent neurologists can help you diagnose, treat, prevent and manage this disease.