What Is Lack Of Bladder Control
Urinary incontinence is typically perceived as urinary leakage when your dog is relaxed or sleeping and discovered as puddles of urine where your dog has been laying. Lack of bladder control is distinct from behavioral urination such as marking, submissive urination, or housetraining accidents, as your dog will be unaware that he is urinating.
Any dog may lose bladder control however, urinary incontinence is most common in middle-aged and older female dogs of medium to large breed size.
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Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence
Having urinary incontinence means you pass urine unintentionally.
When and how this happens varies depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have.
Although you may feel embarrassed about seeking help, it’s a good idea to see your GP if you have any type of urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is a common problem and seeing your GP can be the first step towards finding a way to effectively manage the problem.
Who Is At Risk For Urinary Incontinence
In adults, you are at higher risk of developing UI if you:
- Are female, especially after going through pregnancy, childbirth, and/or menopause
- Are older. As you age, your urinary tract muscles weaken, making it harder to hold in urine.
- Are a man with prostate problems
- Have certain health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, or long-lasting constipation
- Have a birth defect that affects the structure of your urinary tract
In children, bedwetting is more common in younger children, boys, and those whose parents wet the bed when they were children.
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Risk Factors For Urinary Incontinence
Other conditions that can lead to incontinence in both males and females are:
- Other medical conditions, such as diabetes
- Neurological condition such as MS, spinal cord injuries, or Parkinsons disease
- Being overweight
- Obstructions along the urinary tract that block the flow of urine
- Certain medications
How Is Urinary Retention Diagnosed
You may have a bladder scan. This test uses ultrasound to measure the amount of urine in your bladder. If you are able to pass urine, a bladder scan can measure how much urine is left in your bladder after you urinate.
Your doctor may also examine you and order tests to look for the cause of your urinary retention.
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Who Is Most At Risk
In addition to the causes mentioned above, there are some things that can increase your risk of developing urinary incontinence without directly being the cause of the problem. These are known as risk factors.
Some of the main risk factors for urinary incontinence include:
- family history there may be a genetic link to urinary incontinence, so you may be more at risk if other people in your family have experienced the problem
- increasing age urinary incontinence becomes more common as you reach middle age and is particularly common in people over 80
- having lower urinary tract symptoms a range of symptoms that affect the bladder and urethra
Causes Of Bowel Incontinence
Bowel incontinence is usually caused by a physical problem with the parts of the body that control the bowel.
The most common problems are:
- problems with the rectum the rectum is unable to retain poo properly until its time to go to the toilet
- problems with the sphincter muscles the muscles at the bottom of the rectum dont work properly
- nerve damage the nerve signals sent from the rectum dont reach the brain
These problems are explained in more detail below.
Its important to discuss any bowel problems with your GP as theres a small chance they could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as bowel cancer.
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When To Get Medical Advice
It’s a good idea to see your GP if you think you might have a UTI, particularly if:
- you have symptoms of an upper UTI
- the symptoms are severe or getting worse
- the symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days
- you get UTIs frequently
Your GP can rule out other possible causes of your symptoms by testing a sample of your urine and can prescribe antibiotics if you do have an infection.
Antibiotics are usually recommended because untreated UTIs can potentially cause serious problems if they’re allowed to spread.
How Common Are Bladder Control Issues
Bladder control issues are twice as common in women and people AFAB because pregnancy, childbirth and menopause can affect your pelvic muscle strength.
As your body changes throughout pregnancy to accommodate a growing baby, pressure may build on your bladder. This bladder pressure is normal for many during pregnancy.
Bladder control issues affect approximately 30% of women and people AFAB over 50 and approximately 15% of men and people assigned male at birth over 50.
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Why Does It Happen
As the rectum fills up, the rectal walls expand. Stretch receptors, or nerves, in the rectal walls stimulate the desire to defecate. If the person does not defecate on feeling this urge, the stools may return to the colon, where more water is absorbed.
The internal sphincter works automatically and unconsciously, while the external sphincter responds when we want it to.
Bowel incontinence can happen for a number of reasons:
The sphincter muscles do not work as they should. Childbirth can cause the sphincter muscles to become stretched and torn, especially if forceps or other devices are used during delivery, or if the mother had an episiotomy. A complication of bowel or rectal surgery and some other types of injury can also cause damage to the sphincter muscles.
Other causes include:
Drinks containing caffeine or artificial sweeteners may act as laxatives.
This can identify:
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What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Retention
The signs can vary. Some people with the chronic form have a hard time starting the flow of urine. Some have a weak flow once they start. Others may feel the need to go but cant start. Others have to go a lot, while others still feel the need to go right after going. You may leak urine when you arent going because the bladder is full.
With the acute form, youre all of a sudden not able to go at all, or only able to go very small amounts. This occurs even though you have a full bladder. See a healthcare provider right away if this happens to you.
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How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated
You and your doctor or nurse will work together to create a treatment plan. You may start with steps you can take at home. If these steps do not improve your symptoms, your doctor or nurse may recommend other treatments depending on whether you have stress incontinence or urge incontinence or both.
Be patient as you work with your doctor or nurse on a treatment plan. It may take a month or longer for different treatments to begin working.
What To Expect At Your Healthcare Providers Appointment
During your appointment, your healthcare provider will likely ask questions about your symptoms. Theyll probably want to know how long youve been incontinent, which types of incontinence youve experienced, and other details.
They may also ask about your daily habits, including your typical diet and any medications or supplements that you take.
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider may order additional tests, including:
- Collecting a sample of urine for analysis. Laboratory staff can check the urine sample for signs of infection or other problems.
- Measuring the amount of urine that you release when urinating, the amount left over in your bladder, and the pressure in your bladder. This information is gathered by inserting a catheter, or a small tube, into your urethra and your bladder.
- Conducting a cystoscopy. During this test, theyll insert a small camera into your bladder to examine it up close.
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What Is Urinary Retention
Urinary retention occurs when you are not able to completely empty your bladder. It can be:
- acute if your bladder feels full but you cant pass any urine
- chronic if you can pass urine, but your bladder is still partially full when you finish
Urinary retention needs to be treated. If not, it can cause kidney or bladder damage.
How Is Chronic Urinary Retention Diagnosed
History and physical exam: During the diagnosis process, your healthcare provider will ask about your signs and symptoms and how long you have had them. He or she will also ask about your medical history and your drug use. A physical exam of the lower abdomen may show the cause or give your provider additional clues. After this, certain tests may be needed. Men may have a rectal exam to check the size of their prostate.
Your urine may be saved and checked to look for infection.
Ultrasound of the bladder: The amount of urine that stays in your bladder after urinating may be measured by doing an ultrasound test of the bladder. This test is called a postvoid residual or bladder scan.
Cystoscopy: Cystoscopy is a test in which a thin tube with a tiny camera on one end is put into your urethra. This lets the doctor look at pictures of the lining of your urethra and bladder. This test may show a stricture of the urethra, blockage caused by a stone, an enlarged prostate or a tumor. It can also be used to remove stones, if found. A computed tomography scan may also help find stones or anything else blocking the flow of urine.
Urodynamic testing: Tests that use a catheter to record pressure within the bladder may be done to tell how well the bladder empties. The rate at which urine flows can also be measured by such tests. This is called urodynamic testing.
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According to the Urology Care Foundation, women are at greater risk for UI than men because they have a shorter urethra than men. As a result, any weakness or damage to the urethra in a woman is more likely to cause urinary incontinence. This is because there is less muscle keeping the urine in your bladder until you are ready to urinate.
Products For Urinary Incontinence
There are also many products on the market that can help keep you dry day and night. Some of these are:
Absorbent Products
Theres a world of different types of absorbent products on the market today. Whether youre looking for light protection or heavy, daytime or nighttime use, pads, or absorbent briefs, disposable or reusable, theres a product out there for you.
Finding the right one for you can be tricky at first and you may have to try several before finally finding one that fits you properly and works with your lifestyle. But dont give up. An absorbent product can give you a lot of peace of mind and can help avoid accidents.
Catheters
If your bladder does not empty completely, your doctor may tell you that you need an intermittent self-catheter. Catheters can help improve quality of life by allowing you to completely empty your bladder at regular intervals. This helps protect your kidneys, and lowers the risk of stretching your bladder .
Theyre safe and, once you get the hang of it, easy to use. Both males and females can use catheters.
Pessaries
Many females with a pelvic organ prolapse , a condition that causes the bladder, rectum or uterus to collapse or drop into the vaginal canal, use a pessary for support.
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Incontinence And Continence Problems Are Common
Incontinence and continence problems affect people of all ages, gender, cultures and backgrounds. Despite popular beliefs, older people are not the only ones affected.Some incontinence facts include:
- One in three women who have had a baby experience loss of bladder control.
- One in five children wet the bed at some time.
- One in 100 adults never achieve bladder control at night.
- One in 20 adults experience bladder and bowel control problems.
Bladder and bowel control problems are not an inevitable part of ageing. Visit your doctor to discuss treatment and management options.
Managing Bladder Or Urinary Incontinence
Sometimes urinary incontinence can last a short time, depending on what’s causing it. But sometimes incontinence can be long-term and uncomfortable, making some everyday activities difficult to manage.
Your health care team will ask you questions to determine the type of bladder incontinence you might have. Then, you might need tests to verify the type and learn the cause of it which will help them know the best way to manage it.
- Pelvic floor muscle strengthening may be recommended. A physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor muscle exercises can help. This might help muscle strength and bladder control get better by doing exercises that tighten and relax muscles that control the flow of urine.
- Bladder training canhelp manage how often you need to urinate throughout the day, by assigning certain time intervals to empty your bladder.
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Causes Of Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is when the pressure inside your bladder as it fills with urine becomes greater than the strength of your urethra to stay closed. Your urethra is the tube that urine passes through to leave the body.
Any sudden extra pressure on your bladder, such as laughing or sneezing, can cause urine to leak out of your urethra if you have stress incontinence.
Your urethra may not be able to stay closed if the muscles in your pelvis are weak or damaged, or if your urethral sphincter the ring of muscle that keeps the urethra closed is damaged.
Problems with these muscles may be caused by:
- damage during childbirth particularly if your baby was born vaginally, rather than by caesarean section
- increased pressure on your tummy for example, because you are pregnant or obese
- damage to the bladder or nearby area during surgery such as the removal of the womb , or removal of the prostate gland
- neurological conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
- certain connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- certain medicines
The Mental Impact Of Urinary Incontinence
While the physical impact of incontinence is substantial, the effect of incontinence on a persons mental health can be truly devastating. Many people with incontinence carry an emotional burden of shame and embarrassment in addition to the physical disruption on their lives.
They learn to hide their problem from close friends and family, and even significant others for years. They shy away from social activities for fear they will have an accident in public, and stop doing things they once took joy in. Slowly, their isolation and shame may lead to depression and anxiety.
And, the impact doesnt stop there sexual function also takes a hit as many females are nervous of leaking during intercourse.
When you think about the anxiety that many feel in relation to possible incontinence during sex, its easy to see why many females with incontinence may avoid the act altogether.
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How Do You Fix Bladder Control Issues
Nonsurgical treatments are the first choice for fixing bladder control issues. These treatments may include:
- Bladder control devices that reposition your urethra to reduce leakage.
- Bladder retraining .
- Biofeedback to help you learn to regulate your muscles.
- Cutting back on drinking alcohol and caffeine.
- Electrical stimulation of the nerves that regulate your bladder function.
- Kegel exercises .
- Physical therapy and exercise.
If your bladder control issue doesnt respond to nonsurgical treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. Bladder control surgeries may include:
Burning Or Painful Urination
People with UTI often feel a burning sensation when they urinate. This symptom is one of the key signs that a person may have a urinary tract infection.
Burning urination or painful urination is medically known as dysuria. It can be caused by infectious and noninfectious conditions.
A urinary tract infection makes the lining of the bladder and urethra become red and irritated.
In addition to the burning sensation, there is also an itchy or stinging feeling as the urine comes out. The pain can be felt at the start of urination or after urination.
Pain is often felt in the urethra. These are the tubes that carry urine to the bladder. The pain can also extend to the area around the genitals.
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Pelvic parasympathetic nerves: arise at the sacral level of the spinal cord, excite the bladder, and relax the urethra. Lumbar sympathetic nerves: inhibit the bladder body and excite the bladder base and urethra. Pudendal nerves: excite the external urethral sphincter.
Likewise, can bulging disc cause bladder problems? If the herniated disk presses on nerves in the nearby spinal canal, this can cause variety of nerve-related symptoms, including pain, numbness and muscle weakness. In the most severe cases, a herniated disk can compress nerves that control the bowel and bladder, causing urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control.
In respect to this, what nerves control the bladder and bowels?
Can a pinched nerve cause urinary problems?
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Urinary Incontinence In Dogs
Dogs are sometimes unable to control their bladder activity, a medical condition that is often caused by an impaired bladder, or from an obstruction in the bladder. This disorder is medically referred to as incontinence. Incontinence is more common in middle to older-aged dogs, and in larger dog breeds.