Elderly Incontinence 101: Causes, Types and Tips to Manage It
Did you know that an estimated 25 million adults in America struggle with incontinence?
Incontinence, also commonly referred to as urinary incontinence is a medical condition that causes a person to leak their bladder accidentally. Thankfully, urinary incontinence can often be controlled and even cured.
While urinary incontinence is a common problem among older adults, understanding the types of urinary incontinence and the ways to manage it can help you to get your life back under control. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about elderly incontinence!
What Are the Common Causes of Elderly Incontinence?
There are many different reasons that someone can be struggling with urinary incontinence. Some types of vaginal infections, vaginal irritations, constipation, and even urinary tract infections can cause people to struggle to control their bladder.
However, if you struggled with managing your incontinence for an extended period of time, it may be caused by:
Blockage caused by an enlarged prostate.
Weak pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic organ prolapse. This is caused when the organs located in the pelvic area, such as the uterus, rectum, or bladder, shift out of the normal positioning.
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can make it difficult for a person to move quickly enough to get to the bathroom.
Damaged nerves that control the bladder. This damage can come from diseases such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis.
How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed?
For you to receive a proper urinary incontinence diagnosis, the first step that you need to take it to see your doctor.
Your doctor will give you a physical examination and take a look at your medical history. They'll also acquire about any medications that you're currently on, as well as any symptoms that you're currently experiencing.
Depending on the symptoms and medications like this, your doctor may ask you to complete urine and blood tests. If you're seeing your primary care physician, they may send you to a urologist, which is a doctor who specializes in treating urinary tract diseases.
What Are the Most Common Types of Urinary Incontinence?
There are different types of incontinence. Some of the most common types are:
Stress incontinence
Overflow incontinence
Urge incontinence
Functional incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks out of the bladder drinks using, laughing, exercise, or whenever you lift heavy objects. This form of incontinence is the most commonly found, and normally affects younger to middle-aged women.
Overflow incontinence happens when a small amount of urine leaks out of the full bladder. If a man has an enlarged prostate, it can cause him to have difficulty emptying his entire platter due to the prostate blocking the urethra.
Urge incontinence occurs when someone has a sudden need to use the restroom and cannot hold their bladder long enough to get to the toilet. This type of incontinence is most commonly found in individuals with diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or who have suffered a stroke.
Functional incontinence occurs in elderly individuals who have never had a problem with bladder control. They may be struggling with incontinence because of rheumatoid arthritis or other physical conditions that make it difficult for them to move to the bathroom in time.
Receiving Treatment for Elderly Incontinence
Understanding be common causes of elderly incontinence is essential to receive proper treatment. Your incontinence isn't something that you should be ashamed of, so be sure to speak to a medical professional.
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for seniors? Check out our blog for more!
