Guide To The Types Of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a condition where an individual experiences the involuntary leakage of urine from their body. When an individual is not able to stop urine from leaving their body when they do not intend for it to, it is considered urinary incontinence. According to the American Urological Association, between twenty-five and thirty-three percent of all women and men in the United States population have urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is also known to be more prevalent among women between the third and sixth decades of their life. 

The diagnosis of incontinence is made with a physical examination, blood testing, urine testing, stress testing, pelvic ultrasound, urodynamic testing, cystogram, cystoscopy, PVR measurement, and a bladder diary. The causes of urinary incontinence are closely linked with the type of incontinence an individual is experiencing.

Functional Incontinence

Functional incontinence is incontinence that occurs due to an individual being unaware, unconcerned, or unable to physically make it to the bathroom fast enough to stop urine from leaking from their bladder. An individual affected by mental illness, dementia, or the adverse effects of certain medications may be unconcerned or unaware of the fact they need to find a restroom. Mobility is also a prevalent cause of functional incontinence because affected individuals are unable to physically move their body to the toilet. 

Common issues that affect mobility and cause functional incontinence include arthritis, being restrained, being hospitalized, or having a toilet that is not close enough. Diuretics utilized to treat patients affected by heart failure or high blood pressure can cause an individual to produce excessive amounts of urine. These excessive amounts of urine cause the patient to have to empty their bladder more than twice as often as a healthy individual and can lead to functional incontinence if a toilet is unable to be reached quickly or is unavailable.