Urinary Incontinence
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Individuals with urinary incontinence may experience occasional minor leaks, or small to moderate leakage that occurs more frequently.
Stress incontinence (SI): Patients with SI have urine leaks that occur due to pressure on the bladder during laughing, coughing, exercising, sneezing, or lifting something heavy.
Urge incontinence: With urge incontinence, patients have a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. Individuals may urinate frequently, including throughout the night. The condition may be caused by infection, a neurological disorder, or diabetes.
Overflow incontinence: Frequent or constant dribbling of urine caused by a bladder that doesn’t empty completely is called overflow incontinence.
Functional incontinence: Functional incontinence is when a physical or mental impairment prevents the individual from making it to the toilet in time. For example, patients with severe arthritis may not be able to unbutton their pants fast enough.
Mixed incontinence: Individuals who experience more than one type of urinary incontinence have mixed incontinence. This condition typically refers to a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Patients with frequent incontinence that is negatively affecting their quality of life should seek medical advice because urinary incontinence may:
Cause patients to restrict their activities and limit social interactions
Indicate a more serious underlying condition
Increase the risk of falls in older adults as they rush to the toilet
Left untreated, urinary incontinence can lead to rashes, skin infections, and sores caused by constantly wet skin. Incontinence also increases the risk of repeated urinary tract infections.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Temporary urinary incontinence may be caused by certain drinks, foods, and medications that act as diuretics. They include:
- Alcohol
- Chili peppers
- Carbonated drinks and sparkling water
- Artificial sweeteners
- Chocolate
- Large doses of vitamin C
- Foods that are high in spice, sugar or acid, especially citrus fruits
- Heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives, and muscle relaxants
- Caffeine
Urinary incontinence may also be caused by a urinary tract infection and constipation.
Persistent urinary incontinence may be caused by underlying physical problems or changes, including:
Pregnancy
Aging of the bladder muscle
Childbirth
Menopause
Enlarged prostate
Prostate cancer
Obstruction
Neurological disorders
Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence
The following factors increase the risk of developing urinary incontinence:
- Men with prostate gland problems
Older age
Being overweight
Family history of urinary incontinence
Smoking and tobacco use
Neurological diseases or diabetes
Axonics Therapy
To determine if a patient is a good candidate for Axonics Therapy, they will undergo a short period of therapy using a temporary system. The evaluation period will allow the patient to experience the level of symptom relief the therapy may provide before committing to long-term therapy.
Patients who choose long-term Axonics Therapy will have the miniaturized Axonics implanted just beneath the skin in the upper part of their buttock.
