What To Know About Urinary Incontinence Treatment

By Enid Hinton


There are numerous problems that may arise as a person gets older, including urinary incontinence. This refers to an issue in which a person loses control of his or her bladder and suffers with problems of leakage. The chances of developing this problem go up as a person gets older. In fact, it afflicts more than 50 percent of those living in care facilities. It is also more frequent among females than males. Urinary incontinence treatment is an option for sufferers.

This condition comes in different forms. For some it is related to stress. In these cases, leakage is linked to increase pressure in the abdomen, which may be caused by anything from climbing stairs to coughing, and sneezing to laughing. Essentially, physical stressors on the abdominal cavity and the bladder are enough to produce this leakage problem.

Urge is another type that might be experienced. This refers to leakage that is involuntary and often associated with urgency. Mixed is another version and refers to the combination of stress and urge incontinences. This is marked by involuntary leakage and a stressor like exertion, coughing or sneezing.

Functional refers to a person who is unable to hold their urine. This may be brought on by a number of things not associated with neurological problems or lower urinary tract issues. The type of leakage may relate to the signs or symptoms experienced and the care administered.

People who are struggling with this problem are urged to seek medical attention. The process of diagnosing this condition may involve a range of evaluative tests, including urinalysis, physical examinations and check on patient history. In certain patients, other tests might be needed, for instance: urodynamic studies, cotton swab or cough stress tests, measurement of PVR urine volume, cystoscopy and a voiding diary. Sometimes medications or other medical problems may exacerbate this issue, which is why a full assessment of a patient may be carried out.

Treatment will be matched to the condition of the patient. Still, there are some remedies done specifically for the type of incontinence. Those who have the stress kind may be given pelvic floor physiotherapy, special devices and surgery. People with urge problems might be prescribed a new diet, medications, surgery, behavioral modification and pelvic-floor exercises. Anticholinergic drugs, pelvic floor therapy and surgery are common for those with mixed incontinence.

Diversion or catheterization is commonly seen with people dealing with the overflow condition. Those who have functional incontinence are often given relief through managing an underlying problem or cause. If temporary relief and care is a necessity, absorbency products might be employed. These are often used until official treatments are activated or begin to produce results. They might also serve a long-term option for certain patients or those awaiting a surgery.

While western medicine is known for utilizing these methods of care, people should be aware of the other options they have. Many professionals who practice alternative medicine have solutions for patients dealing with this problem. These professionals strive to provide relief and healing to patients through means that are less invasive and more natural. Overall, people should do research on all doctors or treatments they intend to utilize. Results are expected to differ based on many factors.




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