Urinary Incontinence Effects
When someone isn’t able to control the ability to urinate and there’s an involuntary loss of urine, then this person is said to have urinary incontinence. It’s also called “leaky bladder.”
It’s a very common problem, especially among older adults – as many as 25% of seniors experience this condition. It generally affects more women than men. Many people believe that urinary incontinence is a normal part of aging, when in fact it’s not. For this reason, many people don’t seek medical help and never get properly diagnosed. In many cases, urinary incontinence can be cured, or at least significantly relieved. Caregivers of the homebound elderly report that approximately 53% are incontinent, with urinary incontinence ranking as one of the 10 leading diagnoses for homebound individuals. This condition ranks first in total charges to Medicare for nursing services per person served in home care programs.
Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder stores more urine than it can handle. As explained by the President of care homes in Surrey, this often affects elderly men who have enlarged prostate glands (called benign prostatic hyperplasia). The large prostate squeezes or compresses the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder) and prevents normal flow of urine.
The urine then starts to collect in the bladder until there’s so much excess that the bladder becomes distended (over-stretched) and urine leaks out. Where transient incontinence is incontinence related to factors that can be corrected or changed, such as urinary tract infection, medications, or severe constipation. Many common and sometimes fatal diseases are potentially avoidable. By making small but important changes in your diet and exercise routines, you can have a major impact on your health both now and in the future to prevent diabetes, heart disease and dementia.
