You Ask , They Answer
Q
: What is urinary incontinence and how common is it ?
A
: Urinary incontinence may come as a trickle or a large stream due to an inability to control the bladder .
In general , both men and women can suffer from urinary incontinence , though women tend to experience it about twice as often . Indeed , up to 45 percent of women have it to some degree . Incidence of the condition increases with age .
There are two main types of urinary incontinence , which can either occur exclusively or as a mixture of each . There may be an intense , unstoppable urge to pass urine , which is known as having urge incontinence and is common in older men and women . In other cases , and especially among women who have had conventional childbirth , a leak may occur due to exertion , such as lifting a load of laundry , sneezing , or simply laughing . This is known as stress incontinence .
Q
: What causes urinary incontinence ?
A
: Morning hot drinks are among the more common causes of urinary incontinence . The tea or coffee we have during breakfast contains caffeine . This not just kickstarts the day , but it can also jolt the bladder as it increases bladder activity and results in exacerbated symptoms .
Other causes can be more difficult to eliminate , such as childbirth and ageing , as these are factors that can lead to the weakening of the muscles around the bladder . Diseases like diabetes , Parkinson ’ s , and multiple sclerosis can damage the nerves that control the bladder , also leading to urinary incontinence .
Q
: How serious is it ?
A
: Though urine leakage isn ’ t a life-threatening condition , it can certainly be life-changing . Put simply , the lives of sufferers will centre on going to the toilet .
They always need to know where the nearest toilet is and if it ’ s clean for use . They will worry about how long a meeting will go on for , in case they will need to cut it short to go to the toilet . Patients will live their lives constantly toilet-mapping , which can be frustrating and profound . The impact is clearly detrimental and affects patients medically , emotionally , and socially .
Q
: How can it be treated ?
A
: It ’ s more than likely that anyone with urine leakage will devise different ways to cope with the condition themselves . Some will just drink less liquid , while others will be forced to wear adult nappies . And despite it having such a big impact on their lives , most sufferers will keep quiet about it as admitting it can feel humiliating .
Seeking proper medical attention is fundamentally the right move because understanding the causes and thus implementing the appropriate remedy can transform a patient ’ s life .
The most effective solution depends on the patient and the cause of the leakage . Lifestyle changes in terms of diet and losing weight are usually the starting point . Other factors , like age and previous medical conditions , cannot be changed , however .
Women can try exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles , which help to control urine flow . They can also use a pessary , a prosthetic device inserted in the vagina , to support the urethra to prevent stress incontinence .
Also , some medications can be taken to block chemical messages in the nerves around the bladder , which relax the bladder muscles to increase its capacity .
Dr Goh Eng Hong
Dr Goh Eng Hong is a consultant urologist at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur .
12 NOVEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com