Urinary incontinence and bladder control Talk to your doctor about

Urinary incontinence and bladder control
Don’t let your bladder control your life
Do you stay at home because you know that a sneeze or a hearty
laugh might cause you to leak urine? Do you worry that you will not
get to the bathroom in time to prevent an accident? This issue is
called “urinary incontinence.” Though millions of people have urine
leaks, they are not a normal part of aging. There are many causes,
and your doctor can offer many solutions. Whether you have mild
or major urine leaks, talk to your doctor. There’s probably a solution
for you.
What is urinary incontinence?
Incontinence is when the body leaks urine without meaning to.
Urine is stored in a balloon-like organ – the bladder. Urine leaves
the body through a tube called the urethra. When bladder muscles
tighten without warning, or the muscles at the base of the
urethra relax without warning, you can have leakage. These muscle
changes can also cause you to urinate more often or
more urgently.
Both men and women can have incontinence due to:
• Nerve injury
•Caffeine
• Stroke
•Infection
• Medicines
• Alcohol
Talk to your doctor
about managing
urine leakage
• Excess weight
•
Diseases like diabetes,
Parkinson’s, or multiple sclerosis
Many cases of incontinence in men are related to problems with
the prostate gland.
An enlarged prostate gland can lead to benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), which is a condition where the prostate grows as men age.
Symptoms of BPH include:
• Weak or irregular urine stream
• Feeling of urgency with leaking or dribbling
• Frequent urination, especially at night
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How can I get help?
Urinary incontinence is common, but you don’t have to live with it.
Most of the time it can be treated, so don’t be embarrassed to talk
to your doctor about it.
Treatments may include:
1.Pelvic muscle exercises, also called Kegel exercises, to
strengthen the pelvic muscles so you can hold urine in the
bladder longer.
2. Bladder control training like timed urination (or timed voiding),
which involves emptying the bladder regularly. You might
urinate every hour at first and then increase the time slowly,
as instructed by your doctor.
3. Lifestyle changes that could help. These include losing weight,
Source: National Institute on
Aging www.nia.nih.gov/health/
publication/urinary-incontinence
quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, drinking less caffeine,
preventing constipation and avoiding lifting heavy objects.
4. Medicines to help the bladder empty more fully during
urination or tighten the muscles to lessen leakage.
5.Other options like special devices, injections or surgery. An
estrogen vaginal cream may help relieve incontinence. A
doctor may inject a substance to thicken the area around the
urethra to keep the bladder opening closed. If incontinence is
due to a change in the position of the bladder or a blockage
due to an enlarged prostate, surgery may help.
Finding the right treatment for you could take time. It can also
take time for the treatment to start working. Stick with it so you
can enjoy all of your favorite activities, without worry. Learn more
at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov.
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment
in any Humana Medicare plan depends on plan renewal.
This publication offers general health-related information and is not a substitute for professional
healthcare. For individualized medical guidance, talk to your doctor.
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