Urinary Incontinence: Current Non-Surgical Solutions
are many whose quality of life is significantly altered because they can think of nothing else. These individuals live on a daily basis with some degree of leaking urine due to urinary incontinence (UI). Liv- ing with UI often results in feelings of embarrassment, depression, helplessness, isolation and loss of dignity, to name a few. Urinary Incontinence affects approximately 33 million people
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nationally. UI is a sensitive issue and many people believe it to be a natural result of aging or childbirth. This is NOT the case; still, many individuals are too embarrassed or upset to ask for help. The result of not asking for help is that many go without treatment and conse- quently deny themselves significant improvement in the quality of life.
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine from the
bladder. Although it is more common in women over 60, inconti- nence affects all ages, both sexes and people of every social and economic standing. Incontinence is usually the result of an ‘over- active’ bladder or caused by a weak sphincter muscle at the bladder outlet which normally helps to hold urine in. As we age, the muscle ‘floor’ which supports the bladder and other pelvic organs begins to weaken and sag down often with the help of extra body weight and/ or gravity over time. Causes of UI can include but are not limited to infection in the urinary tract (UTI) or vagina, enlarged prostate (BPH), pregnancy, childbirth and certain medications. In some cases, UI can be the result of the disease process of neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. There are several different kinds of UI. Over-active bladder, oth- erwise termed ‘urge incontinence’ is the leaking of urine when the bladder contracts without warning. As the bladder contracts, pelvic floor muscles relax and consequently individuals feel they can’t wait to reach a toilet or may leak urine on the way. Possible causes include the blockage of urine flow, aging, bladder infection which ir- ritates the lining of the bladder or ingestion of foods and liquids high in bladder irritants such as coffee, tea, soda, chocolate and acidic fruit juices.
ost people do not think about the bladder until it begins to feel full. They go about their daily routines unencumbered and without bladder concerns or worries. However, there
Stress incontinence, otherwise thought of as ‘effort-related’ incontinence, is leakage of urine with increased physical activity or effort. Increased pressure in the abdomen due to sneezing, coughing, laughing, bending over, walking or even movement to get up out of a chair, causes urine to exit the bladder because the pelvic floor muscles or bladder sphincter are too weak to hold urine back. The major risk factor for women is damage to the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy/childbirth. For men, the major risk factor is pros- tate surgery causing damage to the sphincter at the bladder neck. Mixed incontinence is incontinence resulting from a combination of urge and stress incontinence. In this case, UI is attributed to any increase in abdominal pressure along with unpredictable bladder muscle contraction resulting in leakage. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder does not empty
properly. When the amount of urine stored in the bladder exceeds the storage capacity, the bladder itself is weakened or a blockage prevents normal emptying, individuals experience frequent urina- tion or dribbling of urine and the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. In men, the prostate (a gland at the base of the bladder) becomes enlarged and restricts urine flow. For this reason, overflow incontinence is more common in men than women. However, blad- der weakness can develop in both sexes and can also be caused by diseases such as diabetes (the body’s inability to use carbohy- drates effectively), heavy alcohol use or decreased nerve function. Overflow incontinence is also experienced by women who have a ‘dropped’ bladder or uterus.
Although not classed as UI, bladder prolapse is worth mention- ing as it often has similar symptoms. The bladder is held in place by support muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor. In some situations, these structures can become stretched or weakened resulting in the bladder moving or ‘sagging’ backwards into the vaginal cavity. This is termed a ‘bladder prolapse’ and is also referred to as a cystocele. There are various degrees of severity of prolapse and it is rarely life- threatening. Women who have delivered their babies vaginally, or who have had multiple pregnancies are at higher risk for prolapse. Other causes include chronic cough, constipation, heavy lifting, previous pelvic surgery, obesity and menopause due to the change of hormonal levels.
MOBILE MEDICAL, LLC
DR. HEATHER M. VERONESI NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN
191 Albany Turnpike,Suite 301 PO Box 193,Canton, CT 06019 860-601-1318
8 Natural Nutmeg August 2012
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