Friday, March 29, 2024

Why Have I Lost Control Of My Bladder

Must Read

How Is A Blackout Diagnosed

6 Secret Ways to STOP Urinary Urgency FAST | Overactive Bladder 101

A psychogenic blackout can be difficult to diagnose. Most often it occurs in young adults as a result of stress or anxiety. However, the link between blackouts and stress may not be obvious.

Psychogenic does not mean that people are putting it on. In most cases a psychogenic blackout is an involuntary reaction of the brain to pressure or distress. Psychogenic blackouts sometimes develop after people have experienced ill treatment or trauma. They are sometimes a reaction to a horrific experience in the past which a patient has not able to come to terms with.

Specialists in treating blackouts can sometimes make a clear diagnosis when you, or someone who has seen an attack, describes it in detail. Although a psychogenic blackout does resemble an epileptic seizure or reflex syncope, there are small but important differences between these types of attacks:

  • Psychogenic attacks tend to be numerous, often occurring several times a day, or at the same time each day. This differs from reflex syncope which is typically no more frequent than four or five times a year.
  • During an episode, the eyes may be tightly closed with a lid flutter, whilst during reflex syncope or epilepsy the eyes are often open.
  • Patients can experience psychogenic syncope when they are lying on their back.
  • Typical symptoms associated with reflex syncope, such as looking pale or becoming sweaty, maybe absent.
  • A psychogenic blackout often lasts much longer than reflex syncope.

Use The Right Absorbent Products

Coping with accidents is much easier if you use the right tools for the job.

Choices include panty liners, sanitary pads, absorbent adult briefs, and reusable garments with protective outer layers. Pads and panty liners might help if you have small, occasional leaks — but they may not always be enough.

Because the urine-holding capacity of each product can vary, you may have to try several products and brands before you find the right one for you.

What Is Neurogenic Bladder

Alzheimers diseaseNeurogenic bladder is a bladder dysfunction caused by damage to the bodys nervous system. Typically, the muscles and nerves of the urinary system work together to carry messages from the brain to the bladder.

When communications break downbecause of a physical injury to the nervous system or other impairmentit can result in a loss of bladder control and problems such as kidney or bladder stones, leaking or incontinence.

You May Like: Does Overactive Bladder Cause Pain

Related Conditions And Causes Of Urinary Incontinence

Fecal incontinence is light to moderate bowel leakage due to diarrhea, constipation, or muscle or nerve damage.

As described in the section above on causes of urinary incontinence, common conditions may contribute to chronic urinary incontinence, including: urinary tract infection , constipation, interstitial cystitis or other bladder conditions, nerve damage that affects bladder control, side effects from a prior surgery, and neurological disorders.

You May Like: Can Bladder Infections Clear Up On Their Own

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Why do you work out?

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.

Don’t Miss: Bcg Treatment Schedule For Bladder Cancer

What Are The Symptoms Of Bladder Control Problems

Signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence can include

  • leaking urine during everyday activities, such as lifting, bending, coughing, or exercising
  • being unable to hold in urine after feeling a sudden, strong urge to urinate
  • leaking urine without any warning or urge
  • being unable to reach a toilet in time
  • wetting your bed during sleep
  • leaking during sexual activity

Risk Factors For Urinary Incontinence

The following factors may put you at higher risk for developing UI.

Being female Women experience stress incontinence twice as often as men. Men, on the other hand, are at greater risk for urge and overflow incontinence.

Advancing age As we get older, our bladder and urinary sphincter muscles often weaken, which may result in frequent and unexpected urges to urinate. Even though incontinence is more common in older people, it is not considered a normal part of aging.

Excess body fat Extra body fat increases the pressure on the bladder and can lead to urine leakage during exercise or when coughing or sneezing.

Other chronic diseases Vascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, and other conditions may increase the risk of urinary incontinence

Smoking A chronic smokers cough can trigger or aggravate stress incontinence by putting pressure on the urinary sphincter.

High-impact sports While sports dont cause incontinence, running, jumping, and other activities that create sudden pressure on the bladder can lead to occasional episodes of incontinence during sports activities.

Dont Miss: How Long Is Bladder Surgery

Don’t Miss: Interstim Implant For Bladder Control

What Is Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence happens when you lose control of your bladder. In some cases, you may empty your bladders contents completely. In other cases, you may experience only minor leakage. The condition may be temporary or chronic, depending on its cause.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, millions of adults in the United States experience urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence affects women more often than men in a ratio. However, this condition can affect anyone and has many different causes.

As you age, the muscles supporting your bladder tend to weaken, which can lead to urinary incontinence.

Many different health problems can also cause the condition. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can be a sign of cancer, kidney stones, infection, or an enlarged prostate, among other causes.

If you experience urinary incontinence, make an appointment with a healthcare professional. Urinary incontinence can interfere with your daily life and lead to potential accidents. A healthcare professional can also determine if a more serious medical condition may be the cause. They may also be able to treat the cause.

Urinary incontinence is divided into three general types. You can potentially experience more than one type at the same time.

Take Care Of Your Skin

Female Bladder Leakage: Solutions to Get Control | Christopher Tarnay, MD | UCLAMDChat

If you’ve got OAB, you may also have a higher risk of rashes and skin breakdowns.

There are several reasons for that. To keep harmful bacteria at bay, skin is slightly acidic, but when urine touches flesh, skin becomes moist and more alkaline.

The result is an inviting environment for bacteria and yeast , which can lead to rashes and infection.

Prevention can be simple:

  • Check your skin daily, looking for rashes or other signs of irritation. Be sure to separate and check any skin folds, too.
  • Wash carefully after every accident, using mild soaps or perineal washes additionally, avoid hot water, which can make irritated skin even worse.
  • To avoid skin tears and even more irritation, let skin air-dry don’t rub.
  • Apply a cream, ointment, or film-forming skin protectant regularly to help keep urine away from tender skin.

Also Check: Bladder Cancer Surgery Recovery Time

The Signs And Causes Of Fainting

Fainting occurs when ones blood pressure suddenly drops, resulting in a decrease of blood flow to the brain.

A number of things can affect blood pressure, from abrupt changes in posture , dehydration, and certain medications. Feeling faint can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. Ones field of vision may even black out. This loss of consciousness triggers a loss in muscle control. Thats what causes the person to fall to the ground.

One of the most common types of fainting is caused by a sort of crossed signal between the brain and the vagus nerve, a large nerve that runs from the brain to the stomach. When this nerve is overstimulated, a person may faint. In such cases, you can usually figure out the reason maybe you were standing for a long time, fainted at the sight of blood, or due to some kind of emotional distress, trauma, or pain.

Some people faint because theyve suddenly constricted their carotid artery by turning their head abruptly or wearing a too-tight collar. Straining to make a bowel movement or even urinating can sometimes cause fainting, too.

Fainting can also occur in people who have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, most common among diabetics because of fluctuating insulin levels. Dehydration can also cause fainting, particularly in the elderly. Certain types of medications, including

diuretics, heart medications, psychiatric drugs, antihistamines, and narcotics, can also trigger a fainting episode, as can alcohol.

Incontinence A Big Problem For Young Women

Among teens and young women, incontinence problems are typically related to sports injuries, says Pamela Moalli, MD, a professor of urogynecology at the University of Pittsburgh Magee-Womens Research Institute. “About 20% of college athletes report leakage of urine during sports activities,” she tells WebMD.

“Women in high-impact sports are at highest risk — parachuters, gymnasts, runners,” says Moalli. “In these sports, you’re hitting the ground hard, which can damage pelvic muscles and connective tissue that support the bladder.”

Many young women have pre-existing biological reasons putting them at higher risk, says Niall Galloway, MD, FRCS, professor of urology and director of the Emory Continence Center at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

“It runs in families,” he tells WebMD. “Just as bad eyesight runs in families, so can weak pelvic muscles. It’s not that they’ve been overdoing it with exercise. It’s just that they’ve reached the tolerance of their own tissues.”

For these girls and women, simply wearing a tampon or pessary — a device similar to a diaphragm — during exercise is a good solution, says Galloway. “They just need a little something to support those pelvic tissues, something to put pressure on the urethra.”

Read Also: Why Is Cell Type And Staging Of Bladder Cancer Important

Forms Of Urinary Incontinence That Affect Men Only

How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated

Postpartum Urinary Incontinence: Why It Happens and How To Fix It ...

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.

You May Like: What Is The Most Aggressive Type Of Bladder Cancer

Try Simple Measures First Like Using A Fiber Supplement And Treating Underlying Conditions

Nobody wants to talk about or even imagine it. But loss of bowel control known as fecal incontinence is a problem for millions of adults in the United States, especially women.

It becomes more common with age. Its socially isolating and takes away your dignity. You live in fear that you have stool in your pants and people can smell it. Some people wont even tell their doctors about it, says Dr. Kyle Staller, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Bad Cough Causes Loss Of Bowel Bladder Control

  • THE PEOPLEâS PHARMACY Joe and Teresa Gradeon

Q. Iâve had a terrible cough, so violent that Iâve wetand sometimes even soiled myself. For the past several weeks, Iâvebeen vomiting from coughing so hard.

I take lisinopril and amlodipine for high bloodpressure. I suspect that one of them is the cause of my horridcough. Is this possible?

A. The most common and bothersome side effectof popular blood pressure drugs like benazepril, captopril,enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril and ramipril is an uncontrollablecough. Many readers have reported throwing up because of this sideeffect. Patients should always be alerted to this potential adversereaction.

We are sending you our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment with adiscussion of the pros and cons of a range of medications and manynondrug alternatives. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3in check or money order with a long , stamped ,self-addressed envelope to:

Graedonsâ Peopleâs Pharmacy

No. B-67, P.O. Box 52027

Durham, N.C. 27717-2027

Although amlodipine is unlikely to cause cough, it can lead toswollen ankles because of fluid retention. Other side effects mayinclude headache, dizziness, nausea and fatigue.

Q. My family has switched almost entirely to using seasalt in cooking. Are we now at greater risk of developing a goiterbecause weâre not using iodized salt?

You May Like: Herbal Remedies For Bladder Problems

Find Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

Overactive bladder is one common cause of bladder control problems, especially among women. Doing regular Kegel exercises can help treat this condition. These exercises also called pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Kegel exercises are relatively easy to do. But before you can start, you need to find your pelvic floor muscles. The next time you urinate, try to stop your flow of urine midstream. The muscles you use to do that are your pelvic floor muscles.

Loss Of Bowel Control

Men getting help for bladder and bowel control problems

Bowel incontinence the inability to control bowel movements can occur when you are unaware that your rectum is full. If you cant feel the sensation that you need to empty the bowel, you may pass stool without knowing it.

Sometimes a bulge in an intervertebral disc in the lower back irritates a nerve. When this happens, bladder and/or bowel dysfunction can occur along with pain depending on which nerve a herniated disc irritates.

Recommended Reading: What Causes An Overactive Bladder At Night

You May Like: Can Sugar Cause Bladder Infection

Treatments For Urgency Incontinence

Urgency incontinence is when you get the urge to go, and if you dont make it to a bathroom, your bladder will empty. It can have serious effects on your life and your work.

Experts dont know what causes urgency incontinence, but there are different ways to approach it. First we start with behavioral changes, which vary based on your situation. Steps could include:

  • Weight loss again, losing even a small amount of weight can help.

  • Avoiding excess fluids. If youre having trouble sleeping, we talk about limiting fluids before bedtime so sleep is less interrupted.

  • Time voiding, which is retraining the bladder. If the patient is in the bathroom every hour, well slowly lengthen that interval so theyre in the bathroom less often.

  • Pelvic floor exercises, with help from a physical therapist.

  • Changing your diet. I review a list of bladder irritants: coffee, chocolate, alcohol, spicy foods, and other things. We have patients skip those foods and drinks for a week or two and see what their urgency or frequency is like.

If behavioral changes dont help, there are other options to explore. We can try certain medications that relax your bladder muscles and prevent leakage. Botox, injected into the muscles of the bladder, can help some patients temporarily. And there are several medications we can try, including anticholinergics, which block the impulse to urinate. This can help you get more sleep at night.

Medications For Urinary Incontinence

If medications are used, this is usually in combination with other techniques or exercises.

The following medications are prescribed to treat urinary incontinence:

  • Anticholinergics calm overactive bladders and may help patients with urge incontinence.
  • Topical estrogen may reinforce tissue in the urethra and vaginal areas and lessen some of the symptoms.
  • Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant.

Also Check: Antimuscarinic Drugs For Overactive Bladder

What Causes Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging, but it is particularly common in older people. It is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications and/or the onset of an illness. Sometimes it is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Women are most likely to develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause.

Syncope: What Really Happened When You Fainted

Why do you work out?

Syncope is the medical term for fainting or passing out. Losing consciousness is very scary and may be caused by many different reasons. The most important part about making the right diagnosis with your doctor is to provide a good history of the incident. This may be difficult because you might not remember all the details due to fainting. If possible, make sure to talk with those around you who witnessed the episode to hear what they observed.

Before seeing the doctor, prepare your answers to these questions:

  • What were you doing immediately before the event?
  • What symptoms did you have immediately preceding the event?
  • Did you injure yourself?
  • Any past history of fainting?
  • What medications are you taking?

Syncope is defined as having the following features:

  • Usually preceded by symptoms such as dizziness.
  • An abrupt loss of consciousness for a brief amount of time
  • Spontaneous recovery
  • Syncope is commonly mistaken for seizures. Differentiating between the two may be tricky and has major implications for treatment. History is key!

    Syncope is due to a drop in blood pressure and decreased blood flow to the brain. People fall to the ground or slump over in a chair and subsequently regain full consciousness in a short period of time because of the return of blood flow. Syncope is very common one out of every three people will experience it in their lifetime .

    Other causes of syncope include:

    You May Like: Medicine To Stop Bladder Spasms

    Read Also: Loss Of Bladder Control Pregnancy

    Causes Of Urinary Incontinence

    Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.

    Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.

    Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.

    Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area .

    Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:

    • pregnancy and vaginal birth

    Find out more about the causes of urinary incontinence.

    More articles

    Popular Articles