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According to the American Urological Association, more than 15 million Americans experience urinary incontinence, a condition characterized by the inability to control urine. One study estimates it could affect as much as 36% percent of the nation. Most common in people age 50 and older, urinary incontinence may be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Muscle weakness in the pelvis
- Overactive bladder syndrome
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
There are five different categories of incontinence:
- Functional incontinence — Urine flow is normal, but it is difficult to get to the bathroom on time because of a disease that makes it hard to move, such as arthritis.
- Overflow incontinence — Experiencing frequent and excessive leaking of urine. Additionally, the bladder may not empty completely when going to the bathroom.
- Stress incontinence — Activities such as coughing, exercising, laughing or sneezing put pressure on the bladder and cause urine to leak uncontrollably.
- Urgency incontinence — There is a sudden need to urinate, and unable to make it to the bathroom.
- Mixed urinary incontinence — Having more than one of the other types of urinary incontinence.
If you are experiencing any problems with urination, your doctor may complete a full physical exam and ask questions about family history, fluid intake and lifestyle habits.
Medication can be used to treat the cause of your urinary incontinence. Bladder training may also be a good option if you have stress or urge incontinence. If nonsurgical treatment methods do not prove effective, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Simple Kegel exercises can strengthen the sphincter muscles, which help control urine flow. People who do these exercises daily may start to see improvements in urinary control after three months. Kegel exercises are easy and can be done anywhere.
Find the right set of muscles by stopping or starting your urine flow without engaging your buttock, leg or stomach muscles.
Squeeze those muscles for a count of 10, and then release for a count of 10.
Repeat steps 10 to 20 times, three times every day. The sphincter muscles will get stronger with constant conditioning like any other muscle group. Start slowly. Perform fewer reps for shorter periods, then work your way up.
