Posts Tagged ‘Incontinence’

Incontinence during Pregnancy – causes and treatment

During pregnancy, many women experience at least some degree of urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine). Incontinence can be mild and infrequent for pregnant women, but it can be more serious for others. Incontinence can continue after pregnancy and may not be present immediately after birth.

Causes:
Urinary incontinence during pregnancy can also result from an overactive bladder. Women with overactive bladder need to urinate more than usual because your bladder has uncontrollable spasms. Also, the muscles around the urethra – the tube through which urine passes from the bladder – may be affected. These muscles are designed to prevent urine that leaves the body.

The sphincter of the bladder controls the flow of urine and it is a muscular valve that is located at the bottom of the bladder. When a woman is pregnant, the uterus that is expanding puts extra pressure on bladder which can cause the sphincter muscles are overwhelmed by this stress and as a result the urine may leak from the bladder.

After pregnancy, incontinence problems may continue because childbirth weakens pelvic floor muscles, which can cause an overactive bladder. Pregnancy and childbirth can contribute to problems with bladder control due to the following conditions:

- Damage to the nerves that control bladder.
- The fact that the urethra and bladder have moved during pregnancy.
- The episiotomy, a cut in the muscle of the pelvic floor during delivery of a baby to allow the fetus to flow easily.

Treatment:
Most women with urinary incontinence can be effectively managed in general practice with fairly simple treatment.
Surgical treatment
Colposuspension: The support of the bladder muscles can also be improved by Colposuspension, in which the top of the vagina is pulled forward and stitched. This is usually successful and does not causes any problems with sex.
1.Procedure of surgical tape. A result similar to Colposuspension can now be achieved by using surgical tape that is able to support the bladder. This procedure takes 30 minutes to complete and can be performed as a day procedure cases, under a local or general anesthesia. Early results show a success rate that is comparable with Colposuspension.
2.Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery is also showing promise as a new technique in the treatment of incontinence.

Non surgical treatment
- Bladder training aims to teach the bladder does not send signals to the brain prematurely. A training program is designed to gradually increase the length of time a person must wait before emptying the bladder, so the reasonable control of a full bladder can be achieved. This is recommended for a minimum of six weeks.
- Hormone replacement therapy is useful to help urge incontinence in women after menopause. It is particularly effective in stress incontinence.

Kegel exercises
They are another method that can be used to help control urinary incontinence. These exercises help to reinforce and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can improve the function of the urethra and rectal sphincter. One way to help locate the Kegel muscles is to insert a finger into the vagina and try to make the muscles around your finger tightened.
To perform Kegel exercises, you should:
• Keep your abdomen, hips and buttocks relaxed
• Tighten the pelvic floor muscles, keep your muscles for a count of 10
• relax the pelvic floor muscles for a count of 10

If the problem continues to persist consult your doctor for that.

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Urinary Incontinence – Causes, Risk factors and Types

Urinary incontinence is a condition in which there is an uncontrollable leakage of urine causing a social or hygienic problem. It is also known as overactive bladder. It can be caused by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems.

Causes of Temporary Urinary Incontinence

- Alcohol
- Over-hydration
- Dehydration
- Caffeine
- Bladder Irritation
- Medications
Easily treatable medical conditions also may be responsible for urinary incontinence.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Constipation

Causes of persistent urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be a persistent condition caused by underlying physical problems or changes, including:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Changes with ageing
- Hysterectomy
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Prostatitis
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostate Cancer
- Bladder cancer or bladder stones
- Neurological disorders
- Obstruction

Types of Urinary incontinence in men & women

- Stress incontinence: It does not mean emotional stress. It is the leakage of urine during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking, lifting heavy objects such as lifting a bag of groceries, rising from a sitting to a standing position, or other body movements that put pressure on the bladder.
- Overflow Incontinence: It results when the bladder is allowed to become so full that it overflows. Urine stream is weak with a frequent or constant dribble.
- Urge Incontinence: In this type of incontinence, an overactive bladder contracts without you wanting it to do so. You may feel as if you can’t wait to reach a toilet. It is found in people suffering from diseases such as diabetes, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
- Total Incontinence: It occurs when there is a complete loss of bladder control, usually occurring after some form of surgery to the lower urinary tract.
- Functional incontinence: It occurs when a disability stops from reaching the toilet in time for urination even though the urinary tract functions normally.

Risk Factors of Urine Incontinence

- Women are more likely to develop stress incontinence easily than men.
- As you get older, the muscles in your bladder and urethra lose some of their strength.
- The pressure on the bladder is increased if you are overweight.
- A chronic cough associated with smoking can cause episodes of incontinence or aggravate incontinence that has other causes.

What are the major side effects after the treatment for prostate cancer ?

Following treatment for prostate cancer, some men may experience :
From the day you were diagnosed with cancer, you’ve probably looked forward to getting back to your “normal” life. However, the disease may have dominated your life for so long that it might take some time to get back into your regular routine after your treatment is done. It’s important to give yourself and your loved ones time to adjust.

Incontinence

The inability to control urination affects about 10 percent of men who have been treated for prostate cancer.
- Stress incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
- Urge incontinence
Normal bladder function often returns within weeks after surgery or after radiation treatments have stopped.

Impotence

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to have an erection. Impotence can result from surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapies. In the months following surgery, some potency may return.
- Drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) can help a man achieve an erection.
- Vacuum devices also assist in achieving an erection.
- Penile implants can be inserted surgically to help create an erection.

Physical Discomfort

Physical discomfort after treatment for prostate cancer may include:
- Fatigue caused by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapies.
- Nausea and vomiting caused by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- Hair loss from chemotherapy.