Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

• What is Urinary incontinence (UI)?
• What are causes of UI?
• What are the types of UI?
• What treatments are recommended for UI?
• What are treatments for the chronically incontinent?
• Urinary Incontinence At A Glance
• Related Urinary Incontinence articles:
  Urinary Incontinence - on WebMD

What Is Urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the unintentional loss of urine. UI is a problem for more than 17 million Americans - 85 percent of them women. Although about half of the elderly have episodes of incontinence, bladder problems are not a natural consequence of aging, and they are not exclusively a problem of the elderly.

Although UI can be improved in 8 out of 10 cases, fewer than half of those with bladder problems ever discuss the condition with their health care professional. The disorder, therefore, often goes untreated.

UI is also referred to as bladder incontinence.

What are causes of UI?

UI has a number of causes. Women are most likely to develop incontinence either during pregnancy and childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause, because of weakened pelvic muscles. Older men can become incontinent as the result of prostate surgery. Pelvic trauma, spinal cord damage, caffeine, or medications, including cold preparations and diet drugs that are available over-the-counter, can also cause episodes of UI. Diseases which affect the nerves that control the bladder, such as multiple sclerosis, can be associated with UI.

Other factors that contribute to bladder incontinence include decreased mobility or impaired thinking (such as forgetfulness, confusion, or senility), particularly in combination with drugs such as sedatives, sleeping pills, and alcohol.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/urinary_incontinence/article.htm