Urinary Incontinence (Ui) Tips

Urinary incontinence is a health condition in men, which is caused by loss of bladder control. Urinary incontinence usually occurs in cases of medical conditions such as an enlarged prostate, Parkinson's disease and diabetes, and may also occur after a prostate surgery. Urinary incontinence is an irritating and embarrassing condition, but with proper treatment, it can be cured. There are several ways to treat this condition which include home remedies as well as medications and surgery. 

Here are several methods used to treat urinary incontinence: 

1. Caffeine, soda and carbonated drinks cause irritation in the bladder and worsen the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Alcohol is a diuretic and increases the amount of urine too. So abstain from coffee, alcohol and soft drinks to make a difference. 
2. Dietary adjustments are required for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Several spicy and acidic food items can make urinary incontinence worse. Hence, you should avoid having such foods for some time. 
3. Urinary incontinence can lead to stress and you must get rid of it for better health. You can try relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. Biofeedback is another option by which you can observe your bladder muscle contractions on a monitor. 
4. You should try a behavioral technique known as bladder training. This would require you to urinate every half hour, in spite of not having the urge. Slowly try to increase the time in between the bathroom breaks. 
5. You need to flex your muscles to gain control over urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises can be practiced as they boost the strength of your pelvic muscles. 
6. You should find the right muscles that are required to stop the passing of gas. 
7. Pads and disposable undergarments can be used by men. These help in containing leaks and also protect the skin from irritation and odor. 

There are several medicines, which help in the treatment of urinary incontinence in men. Some of these work to relax muscles for preventing unwanted bladder contractions, while others help in blocking the nerve signals to the bladder. Drugs used for the shrinking and treatment of an enlarged prostate are also used as blocked by prostate lead to bladder irritation. Now-a-days, more than 80% cases of incontinence in males respond well to medications.

Surgery may be the ultimate option for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Options depend on the cause of incontinence. If it is because of obstructing prostate, prostate surgery by TURP / HOLEP is curative. If it is because of bladder overactivity, BOTOX injection in bladder is useful. If it is TRUE incontinence after radical prostate surgery then treatment include a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter implantation. In sling operations, a type of material is wrapped around the urethra for compressing it. In Artificial sphincter implantation, a cuff is used in order to close the urethra. Urine is released by squeezing the pump to open the cuff. A Interstim device similar to a pacemaker is used to stimulate nerves, which help in relaxing the bladder and pelvic floor.

Urinary incontinence is a health condition in men, which is caused by loss of bladder control. Urinary incontinence usually occurs in cases of medical conditions such as an enlarged prostate, Parkinson's disease and diabetes, and may also occur after a prostate surgery. Urinary incontinence is an irritating and embarrassing condition, but with proper treatment, it can be cured. There are several ways to treat this condition which include home remedies as well as medications and surgery. 

Here are several methods used to treat urinary incontinence: 

1. Caffeine, soda and carbonated drinks cause irritation in the bladder and worsen the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Alcohol is a diuretic and increases the amount of urine too. So abstain from coffee, alcohol and soft drinks to make a difference. 
2. Dietary adjustments are required for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Several spicy and acidic food items can make urinary incontinence worse. Hence, you should avoid having such foods for some time. 
3. Urinary incontinence can lead to stress and you must get rid of it for better health. You can try relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. Biofeedback is another option by which you can observe your bladder muscle contractions on a monitor. 
4. You should try a behavioral technique known as bladder training. This would require you to urinate every half hour, in spite of not having the urge. Slowly try to increase the time in between the bathroom breaks. 
5. You need to flex your muscles to gain control over urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises can be practiced as they boost the strength of your pelvic muscles. 
6. You should find the right muscles that are required to stop the passing of gas. 
7. Pads and disposable undergarments can be used by men. These help in containing leaks and also protect the skin from irritation and odor. 

There are several medicines, which help in the treatment of urinary incontinence in men. Some of these work to relax muscles for preventing unwanted bladder contractions, while others help in blocking the nerve signals to the bladder. Drugs used for the shrinking and treatment of an enlarged prostate are also used as blocked by prostate lead to bladder irritation. Now-a-days, more than 80% cases of incontinence in males respond well to medications.

Surgery may be the ultimate option for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Options depend on the cause of incontinence. If it is because of obstructing prostate, prostate surgery by TURP / HOLEP is curative. If it is because of bladder overactivity, BOTOX injection in bladder is useful. If it is TRUE incontinence after radical prostate surgery then treatment include a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter implantation. In sling operations, a type of material is wrapped around the urethra for compressing it. In Artificial sphincter implantation, a cuff is used in order to close the urethra. Urine is released by squeezing the pump to open the cuff. A Interstim device similar to a pacemaker is used to stimulate nerves, which help in relaxing the bladder and pelvic floor.

The uterus is a muscular organ which houses the fertilized egg and gives it space to grow through pregnancy. It is held in place by various ligaments and tissues, as it is suspended in the pelvic area. Uterine prolapse is when the uterus slips down and is not able to stay in place. It can slip into the vaginal cavity, and may sometimes be protruding through the vagina. 

Causes: 

1. The female hormone estrogen plays a vital role in keeping this in place. With age, as the hormone levels reduce, the uterus tends to prolapse.  Also, if the ligaments and muscles holding it in place weaken, then the uterus can slide down. 

2. Multiple vaginal deliveries can cause prolapse.

3. Excessive fluid in the abdomen, constant cough, and constipation can put pressure on the uterus.

4. Being obese and smoking are also believed to be risk factors for uterine prolapse.

Degrees: 

1. First degree is when the cervix is in the vagina 

2. The second degree is when the cervix reaches almost the level of vaginal opening to the outside 

3. The third degree is when cervix can be seen protruding out of the vagina 

4. In the fourth degree, the entire uterus is outside the vagina 

Symptoms: 

1. A feeling of something sticking out of the vagina 

2. Difficult and painful sex 

3. Difficulty in urination or incomplete evacuation 

4. Fullness in the pelvis 

5. Low back pain 

Though the symptoms are often ignored, avoiding medical care can worsen the situation. The above symptoms should trigger a medical check-up. 

1. The doctor will check you and make you strain (by asking you to cough) to understand the problem.

2.  Sonography may be done to diagnose the condition, including the extent of it. 

Management: 

1. Minor degree of prolapse can be managed by Kegel exercises, which strengthen the uterine and pelvic muscles. These are easy to do and can be done anywhere. It involves tightening the pelvic muscles, similar to what happens when trying to stop urine flow. In fact, doing these regularly can help prevent the onset of prolapse. As women age, they should do these, so prolapse and incontinence can be managed. 

2. The most effective way to treat the prolapse is surgery. The surgery may or may not involve removal of the uterus. During surgery the pelvic fascia is repaired thoroughly and the organs are fixed to their anatomical positions. Most often the surgery is done by vaginal route and there is not even a small scar on the abdomen.

Urinary incontinence is a problem that can affect anyone. Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control or the ability of a person to control his/her urine output. It is an embarrassing problem as the urgeto urinate and lack of bladder control can occur even when you are in the middle of something important. This condition is classified by its severity and ranges from the occasional urine leakage to the discharge of urine so suddenly that the person will not be able to make it to the toilet in time.

Symptoms and types:
The symptoms of urinary incontinence are to do with urine output, and can be categorized by minor leaks of urine to moderate amounts. In some cases, the urine discharge can be sudden. This condition is more common among the elderly.

Types of urinary incontinence:

1. Stress incontinence: The leakage occurs when you are exerting pressure on your bladder, and can include instances of coughing, sneezing, exercising or even lifting something heavy.
2. Urge incontinence: There is an intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. The sensation or urge to urinate will be often. This can occur throughout the night too and can cause discomfort both physically and mentally.
3. Overflow incontinence: This is experienced when your bladder does not empty completely. As a result, you would be experiencing constant dribbling of urine. No matter how many times you go to the toilet, the dribbling will continue.
4. Functional incontinence: This type of incontinence is caused by an impairment, disorder or condition that prevents you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you are elderly or if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to reach the bathroom in time.
5. Mixed incontinence: This happens when you experience more than one or two types of the above mentioned urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is not a disease, but could be a symptom of an underlying condition. Do consult with your physician if you notice these symptoms and get treated for it. A simple urinalysis will help to determine and diagnose infections and other disorders causing this condition.

Prevention:
There are many factors that can put you at risk. Most involve everyday habits and the food that we eat. There are certain drinks such as alcohol, caffeine, aerated drinks, and chocolate drinks that can also stimulate your bladder and can increase the output of urine temporarily. Reducing your intake of these beverages particularly at night and limiting your intake of spicy foods could help you deal with this condition.

Making a few healthy lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercises to strengthen the pelvic region can help to prevent conditions such as urinary incontinence. Watch what you eat and curb your intake of acidic and spicy foods. Also, limit or reduce your consumption of foods high in preservatives. Quit smoking and reducing the intake of alcohol will also be beneficial.

Coping with urinary incontinence can be embarrassing. Hence talk to your doctor about it and get medical attention immediately. Using adult diapers could help reduce the stress and embarrassment involved with this condition.

Urinary Incontinence is the sudden urine loss that occurs involuntarily in women. Some of the factors which cause urinary incontinence are pregnancy, menopause and childbirth. It should be noted that urinary incontinence by itself is not a disease, but is a symptom of other underlying disorders such as diabetes, infections and other conditions.

Causes of temporary cases of urinary incontinence include:

1. Constipation
2. Urinary tract infections
3. Excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine
4. Consuming carbonated drinks
5. Use of artificial sweeteners
6. High doses of vitamin B and vitamin C
7. Being on sedatives, muscle relaxants, blood pressure and heart medications
8. Eatables which are too spicy, acidic or sugary

However, persistence of incontinence might be due to a more serious condition. Some of the causes are stated below:

1. Age: The bladder muscles tend to weaken with age. This affects the bladder’s urine holding capacity.
2. Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increase in weight during pregnancy can cause incontinence.
3. Menopause: Oestrogen is responsible for the healthy maintenance of the lining of the urethra and bladder. The onset of menopause causes the oestrogen hormone levels to drop. The gradual damage of the bladder tissues causes incontinence.
4. Childbirth: The bladder control muscles are weakened during normal vaginal delivery, thus leading to incontinence.
5. Obstruction: Occurrence of tumours in the urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine which can cause incontinence.
6. Hysterectomy: The same ligaments and muscles support both the bladder as well as the urethra. With removal of the uterus by hysterectomy, the pelvic floor muscles are deteriorated. This leads to urinary incontinence.
7. Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the protective sheath of the nerves), Parkinson’s disease (disorder affecting motor functioning of the body), brain tumours, spinal injury or strokes are capable of causing incontinence.

Different forms of urinary incontinence are classified on the basis of their symptoms:

1. Urge incontinence: Urge or urgency incontinence occurs when there is a leak before the person reaches the toilet.
2. Stress incontinence: Small amounts of urine leak out during normal physical movements such as sneezing, coughing and exercising. This happens because of the minimum stress exerted on the body, and hence, the name.
3. Functional incontinence: Sudden leakage of urine occurs due to external deterrents or physical disabilities such as not being able to find a toilet.
4. Overactive Bladder: This is characterized by frequent and urgent urination.
5. Overflow incontinence: A full bladder, at times, leads to unexpected leakage.
6. Transient incontinence: If urine leakage occurs due to temporary situations such as infections, or new medications.

There are certain changes that are noticed in the body post-pregnancy. One such change that might affect you is an overactive bladder. Usually, depending on the amount of liquid that goes into the body, an individual urinates eight to ten times a day. But post-pregnancy this statistic might increase to around ten to twelve times a day. While urinating helps the body to get rid of excessive body wastes, extreme urinating would also get rid of the necessary minerals and liquid that the body requires for its proper functioning. However, overactive bladders are quite common in women who have delivered and can be treated smoothly. Here are some of the top ways in which you can treat your overactive bladder post your pregnancy:

1. Losing Weight: A woman gains a lot of weight post pregnancy. This weight needs to be reduced through simple exercises and a proper balanced diet. Reduction of the post pregnancy weight helps in controlling the overactive bladder to a certain extent.

2. Avoiding Alcohol, Spicy and Acidic Food: Alcohol, spicy and acidic food actually creates havoc in the excretory system. Their compounds are such that these enable the body to get rid of water and necessary elements from the body. In fact, the power of urine itself is reduced, making discharging urine with high water content. This would make you more thirsty resulting in over-urinating at times. Similar conditions arise in the body when you consume coffee which contains caffeine and chocolate. Although, having a little bit of chocolate now and then does not really affect the system to quite an extent.

3. Exercises: Each exercise is carefully tuned to help a particular part of the body. For reducing the over activeness of your bladder, pelvic exercises are the best that you can carry out even for thirty minutes a day. Exercises would help you to remain active, shed the excess weight as well as manage your urination.

4. Avoid Smoking: Out of the many health hazards that arise out of smoking, one of them is the extreme urge to urinate often after pregnancy. Thus, to avoid over urination it is advised to refrain from smoking for some time.

Thus, these are some of the easiest ways to control the situation. In case you are embarrassed to go out in the public like this, you can always use incontinence pads. However, if the problem persists even after trying out all the said methods, then it would be in your best interest to take expert advice from the doctors.

Urinary incontinence refers to the inability to control bladder movements. While it does not affect the person’s health, it can be an embarrassing condition. The severity of this condition can range from passing small amounts of urine every time you sneeze or cough, to getting a sudden strong urge to urinate without the time to get to a toilet. Urinary incontinence is not a disease by itself but rather is a sign of another underlying condition. It may be caused as result of childbirth, age, menopause, prostate, or a neurological disorder.

Treatment for this condition can take many forms:

1. Medication: Urinary incontinence may be treated by many different types of medications depending on the underlying cause. Anticholinergics may be prescribed to calm the bladder muscles and reduce the urge to urinate frequently. Alpha blockers are typically prescribed to men to help them relax the prostate and bladder neck muscles so as to be able to pass urine freely. For women suffering from incontinence due to hormone fluctuations, topical estrogen may be helpful.
2. Behavioral techniques: The patient will also be taught techniques to help control the bladder. This includes scheduling toilet visits every few hours rather than waiting for the urge to urinate. To avoid overflow incontinence, the patient may be advised to follow a double voiding process. This involves urinating, waiting for a few minutes and urinating again. Cutting back on diuretics such as alcohol, caffeine, etc can also help. In addition, regular exercise and physical activity can help ease the issue.
3. Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises can help strengthen the pelvic muscles and prevent leakage. This involves contracting the pelvic muscles, holding them for a few seconds and then releasing them. Ideally, the patient should be able to hold the contraction for 10 seconds. This exercise should be performed in three sets of 10 repetitions each. It is very effective in treating stress and urge incontinence.
4. Medical devices: Women suffering from severe urinary incontinence can consider the implantation of medical devices to help control the bladder. This includes a urethral insert to prevent leakage and a pessary or stiff ring to hold up the bladder muscles.
5. Surgery: Surgery is usually considered only as a last resort. This could be in the form of a sling procedure, bladder neck suspension, prolapse surgery or inserting an artificial urinary sphincter. These procedures may be used to treat many different types of incontinence.

Are you experiencing loss of bladder control? This might indicate that you are suffering from a health condition known as urinary incontinence. This involuntary leakage of urine is common in old age and may occur due to health hazards, such as Parkinson’s disease, an enlarged prostate, diabetes, and also due to prostate surgery. This is an embarrassing and irritating condition.

For aged people suffering from urinary incontinence, there are several ways of treatment. Here are the top treatment methods:

1. Several food items such as caffeine, carbonated drinks and soda lead to bladder irritation and worsen the urinary incontinence symptoms. Alcohol being a diuretic is harmful too as it increases the urine amount. You must avoid coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol for improving the urinary incontinence symptoms. You also need to make several dietary adjustments for treating urinary incontinence. Avoid spicy, acidic food which aggravates this condition.
2. Stress is something which worsens the symptoms of urinary incontinence. In order to recover, you must try and eliminate all forms of stress. Attempt relaxation techniques like breathing exercises and meditation. Biofeedback is also essential for the observation of your bladder muscle contractions via a monitor. A behavioural technique called bladder training is also considered effective. Here, you have to urinate every hour, even though you do not feel the urge to. Try to increase the time between your bathroom breaks and slowly you will gain control over your urination urge.
3. Flexing your muscles for gaining control over urinary incontinence is also very important. You can undertake Kegel exercises for boosting your pelvic muscle strength. You need to identify the specific muscles which will help you to stop the passing of gas. You can also try pads and undergarments which are disposable. These will prevent leaks, and skin irritation and odour problems.
4. Certain medicines are used for treating urinary incontinence in older people. Many of the medicines help in relaxing the muscles so that unwanted bladder contraction is prevented. Other medicines block nerve signals to your bladder. In some cases, drugs are used to shrink an enlarged prostate. The ultimate option of urinary incontinence treatment in old age is surgery. A male sling is a common option in which a certain material gets wrapped around your urethra in order to compress it. Artificial sphincter is used as well for urinary incontinence treatment, where a cuff is used for closing the urethra and the urine is released when the pump is squeezed for opening the cuff.

If you experience any symptom of urinary incontinence, it is important for you to visit a doctor as soon as possible. This will enable you to have early diagnosis and treatment.
 

Urinary Incontinence is the sudden urine loss that occurs involuntarily in women. Some of the factors which cause urinary incontinence are pregnancy, menopause and childbirth. It should be noted that urinary incontinence by itself is not a disease, but is a symptom of other underlying disorders such as diabetes, infections and other conditions.

Causes of temporary cases of urinary incontinence include:
1. Constipation
2. Urinary tract infections
3. Excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine
4. Consuming carbonated drinks
5. Use of artificial sweeteners
6. High doses of vitamin B and vitamin C
7. Being on sedatives, muscle relaxants, blood pressure and heart medications
8. Eatables which are too spicy, acidic or sugary

However, persistence of incontinence might be due to a more serious condition. Some of the causes are stated below:

1. Age: The bladder muscles tend to weaken with age. This affects the bladder’s urine holding capacity.
2. Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increase in weight during pregnancy can cause incontinence.
3. Menopause: Oestrogen is responsible for the healthy maintenance of the lining of the urethra and bladder. The onset of menopause causes the oestrogen hormone levels to drop. The gradual damage of the bladder tissues causes incontinence.
4. Childbirth: The bladder control muscles are weakened during normal vaginal delivery, thus leading to incontinence.
5. Obstruction: Occurrence of tumours in the urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine which can cause incontinence.
6. Hysterectomy: The same ligaments and muscles support both the bladder as well as the urethra. With removal of the uterus by hysterectomy, the pelvic floor muscles are deteriorated. This leads to urinary incontinence.
7. Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the protective sheath of the nerves), Parkinson’s disease (disorder affecting motor functioning of the body), brain tumours, spinal injury or strokes are capable of causing incontinence.

Different forms of urinary incontinence are classified on the basis of their symptoms:

1. Urge incontinence: Urge or urgency incontinence occurs when there is a leak before the person reaches the toilet.
2. Stress incontinence: Small amounts of urine leak out during normal physical movements such as sneezing, coughing and exercising. This happens because of the minimum stress exerted on the body, and hence, the name.
3. Functional incontinence: Sudden leakage of urine occurs due to external deterrents or physical disabilities such as not being able to find a toilet.
4. Overactive Bladder: This is characterized by frequent and urgent urination.
5. Overflow incontinence: A full bladder, at times, leads to unexpected leakage.
6. Transient incontinence: If urine leakage occurs due to temporary situations such as infections, or new medications.

Urinary incontinence is characterized by lack of control over the bladder so that urine involuntarily leaks out. This leakage can happen when pressure is put on the bladder through actions like sneezing, laughing, coughing or lifting a heavy object. Urinary incontinence is common in people who are overweight, in pregnant women or women who have given birth recently, in people with urinary tract infections, cystitis and in older individuals.

Symptoms
Urinary incontinence is most commonly of 4 types and symptoms of each are different:

1. Stress incontinence – Urine leaks out when there is a sudden pressure on the lower abdomen such as in coughing, sneezing, and heavy lifting.
2. Urge incontinence - Urine leaks out as soon as the urge for urinating is felt.
3. Overflow incontinence – Urine continuously leaks out due to the bladder being overfilled. Often people experiencing this type of incontinence may strain to empty their bladder or do not feel the need to urinate.
4. Functional incontinence – Urine leaks out before the person is able to reach the bathroom because of some physical disability such as arthritis.

Causes
The causes of urinary incontinence depend on if incontinence is temporary or persistent.

Temporary incontinence:

• Diuretics like alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee and tea
• Artificial sweeteners and chocolate
• Carbonated drinks
• Vitamin C in large doses
• Medicines for high blood pressure and sedatives
• Very spicy or acidic foods
• Persistent incontinence

Infections of the urinary or genital tract-

1. In women, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and hysterectomy
2. In men, an enlarged prostate
3. Neurological disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease
4. Tumors in the urinary tract or bladder that can block urine flow
5. Obesity
6. Age

Role of Homeopathy-
Urinary incontinence can be effectively treated with homeopathy which takes into account not only the physical symptoms of the disease but also the patient’s mental and emotional state, overall health, reactions to environmental conditions like heat and cold and food habits. Medicines like Cantharis and Sulphur 30c can be very effective for straining to urinate and pain during urination, whereas medicines like Causticum and Ipecac are useful for controlling leakage of urine while walking, sneezing or coughing. The medications prescribed are all naturally derived, which guarantees treatment without any side effects. Homeopathy not only treats the external symptoms of incontinence but also helps resolve the underlying problems and hence provide a permanent solution to this disorder.

Homeopathic remedies can thus offer a natural and safe option for treating urinary incontinence that can save people from a potentially embarrassing situation without any side effects.