Did you know that there are several well-defined types of incontinence? The most common is what’s called stress incontinence. It happens when you laugh or sneeze and pressure on the bladder forces out a small amount of urine. It’s not the only type of incontinence, though. Learn about the different types of incontinence and gain more control over your body and your life.
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence occurs when the brain doesn’t send the right signals to the body to hold urine and release at an appropriate time. Or it can occur when the body is physically unable to control urine flow. This most often happens as a symptom of old age or from disease. Functional incontinence is the least common type of incontinence and is most often seen in nursing homes.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is unable to completely empty. People with overflow incontinence tend to dribble urine throughout the day. It’s generally caused by nerve damage in the bladder and pelvic floor muscles, or by injury. For example, a spinal injury can cause overflow incontinence – as can prostate problems in men.
Urge Incontinence
This type of incontinence is triggered by a sudden urge to use the bathroom and often the inability to get there in time. Your bladder muscles may contract sending a signal that you have to urinate and then they relax and you go. Urge incontinence can be caused by urinary tract infections or UTIs. It can also be caused by damage to the bladder, nerves, or pelvic floor area. People with Parkinson’s or who have had a stroke often struggle with urge incontinence.
Stress Incontinence
This is the most common type of bladder control problem and it most often occurs in women. Its common symptom is a small release of urine when you cough or sneeze. The added pressure on your bladder from these minor body contractions is enough to force out a small amount of urine. It also happens when you jump, laugh, or pick up something that’s heavy. If it causes your abdominal muscles to contract, it can cause stress incontinence.
There are tricks to managing this type of incontinence including pelvic floor exercises called Kegels, inserting a tampon to support the muscles, and drinking fewer caffeinated beverages.
Incontinence can be a terrible problem. In addition to dealing with the day-to-day management of a leaky bladder, it can be embarrassing. It’s enough to make you want to stay home, but don’t let incontinence stop you from living your life. Visit your doctor and identify why you have incontinence. There are treatments available to help.
