Urinary incontinence and an overactive bladder are two very different issues, yet both are major concerns for millions of individuals. Fortunately, with proper diagnosis and treatment, individuals can get the help they need to mitigate urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder.
A Closer Look at Incontinence
Urinary incontinence occurs when an individual loses control of the bladder. The brain and bladder together control the urinary function; the bladder stores urine and sends signals to the brain when it is ready to release urine. However, the bladder muscles may weaken over time. When this happens, a person starts to leak urine.
There are four types of incontinence:
- Stress Incontinence: Occurs due to coughing, sneezing, or other physical movement. Stress incontinence is unrelated to psychological stress; instead, stress incontinence affects individuals who put pressure on the bladder when they perform physical activities.
- Urge Incontinence: Occurs when a person has a strong, sudden urge to urinate. Abnormal bladder contractions are a common cause of urge incontinence.
- Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Refers to a combination of stress and urge incontinence. Individuals who are dealing with mixed urinary incontinence display symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow Incontinence: Occurs when the bladder becomes full, yet an individual feels no urge to urinate. Common causes of overflow incontinence include a weak bladder or blockage.
Incontinence is a symptom – not a condition – and indicates an underlying medical problem and affects men and women of all ages. The National Association for Incontinence (NAFC) reports 200 million people worldwide experience incontinence, and 25 million Americans deal with some form of incontinence. Additionally, NAFC notes female incontinence is twice as common as incontinence in men, and one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily. As an individual ages, the risk of incontinence increases as well.
A Closer Look at Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder refers to a condition that causes a person to feel a sudden urge to urinate. This urge is difficult to control, and ultimately, causes involuntary loss of urine, aka urge incontinence.
There are two types of overactive bladder: dry and wet. A person who suffers from a dry overactive bladder experiences sudden urges to urinate at various points throughout the day. Meanwhile, a person who deals with a wet overactive bladder experiences frequent, instantaneous urges to urinate, as well as bladder leaks.
If a person has an overactive bladder, his or her brain may signal that the bladder is empty – despite the fact that the bladder may or may not be full. Or, in some instances, an overactive bladder makes the bladder muscles contract, which causes a person to experience the urge to urinate.
People who experience overactive bladder urinate frequently; in many cases, overactive bladder patients urinate eight or more times in a 24-hour period. Also, overactive bladder patients may be more likely than others to wake up two or more times during the night to urinate.
Today, overactive bladder affects more than 30% of men and 40% of women in the United States, according to the Urology Care Foundation. It is more likely to affect men with prostate problems and women with menopause than other individuals.
Overactive bladder occurs with or without an underlying medical condition linked to it. Nerve damage due to diabetes, stroke, or other health problems has been shown to affect bladder control and cause bladder leaks. Furthermore, some medications may trigger overactive bladder symptoms.
Spot the Signs of Urinary Incontinence or an Overactive Bladder
Urinary incontinence may be temporary or chronic. Both types of incontinence may occur due to a person’s diet or lifestyle, physical problems, or underlying health issues.
With temporary incontinence, certain foods and drinks have been shown to stimulate the bladder and increase urine volume. These include:
- Alcohol
- Artificial sweeteners
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Chili peppers
Temporary urinary incontinence may also be due to constipation or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Constipation occurs due to the formation of hard, compacted stool in the rectum. This may cause bladder nerves to become overactive, leading to an increase in urine frequency. A UTI is an infection that irritates the bladder. It sometimes causes a person to experience strong urges to urinate.
Chronic incontinence is the result of a physical problem or underlying health issue, such as:
- Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and the increasing weight of a fetus may cause pregnant women to experience stress incontinence.
- Aging: People are more susceptible to involuntary bladder contractions as they grow older. Moreover, the bladder muscle’s ability to store urine may decline over time.
- Prostate Cancer: For men, incontinence is a common side effect associated with some prostate cancer treatments.
- Obstruction: An enlarged prostate can block the normal flow of urine, resulting in overflow incontinence.
For those who want to prevent incontinence, understanding the risk factors associated with incontinence is key. Common incontinence risk factors include:
- Age: The natural aging process reduces the amount of urine that the bladder can hold, and as such, increases a person’s risk of incontinence.
- Obesity: Extra weight puts additional pressure on the bladder and its surrounding muscles; this often weakens the bladder muscles and causes a person to experience stress incontinence.
- Smoking: Research shows tobacco increases the risk of incontinence.
- Family History: An individual may be more susceptible than others to incontinence if a parent, sibling, or other family member has experienced incontinence.
Obesity is one of the most common reasons why a person may experience overactive bladder. Extra weight puts pressure on the bladder and may lead to urine leaks.
The primary symptoms of an overactive bladder may be linked to a UTI, an enlarged prostate, or bladder cancer. There are also many risk factors associated with overactive bladder, such as:
- Dementia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord injury
- Prostate surgery
In rare instances, a person may experience an idiopathic overactive bladder. This refers to an overactive bladder that occurs without an identifiable cause.
How to Treat Urinary Incontinence or an Overactive Bladder
Individuals sometimes experience both urinary incontinence and an overactive bladder. For those who are dealing with one or both problems, it is important to consult with a doctor. That way, a person can receive diagnosis and treatment.
To determine whether a patient is dealing with incontinence or an overactive bladder, a doctor first looks at this individual’s medical history and conducts a physical examination. The doctor asks questions and learns about a patient’s symptoms and performs a careful evaluation of a patient’s urine. He or she may also request a pelvic ultrasound, urodynamic studies, and other tests to further assist with a patient diagnosis.
Many therapies are available to address incontinence and overactive bladder, including medications, non-pharmacologic programs, and surgeries. Medications help individuals manage incontinence or an overactive bladder but must be carefully selected to limit the risk of unwanted side effects. For those who want an alternate or supplemental option to medication, specialized treatment programs like pelvic floor therapy or Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be ideal. Both of these programs have delivered excellent results for many patients who previously struggled to find relief with other incontinence or overactive bladder treatments. Men and women may benefit from minimally invasive surgery to address incontinence or an overactive bladder too. For example, endoscopic injections often help patients curb urine leakage, while sacral neuromodulation or nerve stimulator implants electrically stimulate the bladder nerve roots to stop urine leakage.
Contact the Incontinence and Overactive Bladder Specialists at Comprehensive Urology
Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are common problems, but both are treatable. Thanks to Comprehensive Urology, an individual can work with a team of expert urologists to address incontinence, overactive bladder, and other urological problems. To find out more, please contact us today at (310) 499-2756 to schedule an initial consultation with one of our doctors.