Urinary Incontinence - 8 Strange Reasons Behind It!

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, it means a person urinates when they do not want to. It can affect both men and women, but it is more common amongst women. It should be noted that urinary incontinence by itself is not a disease, but may be a symptom of other underlying disorders. 

Causes of transient or temporary cases of urinary incontinence include: 

1. Dementia 
2. Infections of the urinary tract 
3. Atrophic vaginitis 
4. Pharmaceuticals or drugs 
5. Excessive urine output 
6. Restricted mobility 
7. Stool impaction 

These can be remembered by a simple mnemonic ‘DIAPERS’. However, persistence of incontinence might be due to a more serious condition. Different forms of urinary incontinence are classified on the basis of their symptoms: 

1. Urge incontinence: Urge or urgency incontinence occurs when there is sudden uncontrollable urge to pass urine and it leaks before the person reaches the toilet. 
2. Stress incontinence: Small amounts of urine leak out during straining such as during sneezing, coughing, laughing and exercising. This happens because weakness of the pelvic floor muscles which help maintain control over urination. 
3. Overflow incontinence: A full bladder, at times, leads to unexpected leakage similar to an overflowing water tank. Most cases of urinary incontinence are treatable if properly evaluated and diagnosed. 

Please consult a urologist if you suffer from urinary incontinence and save yourself the embarrassment.