No one is safe from aging. From a certain age, each person begins to notice a gradual deterioration in their general condition. Over time, pathological disorders begin to develop in the body, various ailments appear. One of the most common problems is urinary incontinence. This pathology affects the quality of human life. In this article, we will examine why it appears in men, how to deal with it.
general information
Incontinence is a condition characterized by uncontrolled excretion of urine amid impaired functioning of the urinary organs. Such a disorder is several times more likely to occur in women, than in men. One of the predisposing factors is pregnancy. The risk of developing pathology increases with the aging of the body. Urinary incontinence in older men is a fairly common problem that requires comprehensive, qualified care. Far from always, it is an inevitable condition for elderly people.
Urinary incontinence belongs to the category of insufficiently diagnosed disorders, as a result of which the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced. Today, more than 200 million people are familiar with this diagnosis, 25% of whom are men. According to statistics, about a third of patients wake up in the middle of the night repeatedly to go to the toilet. At the same time, one in eight states that urination occurs before he reaches the restroom.
The problem of treating men with such a pathology is that only a few are ready to talk about it. Two-thirds of patients who experience this type of disorder do not receive high-quality therapy and do not use auxiliary means to eliminate it.
Causes of incontinence
Among the main causes of urinary incontinence in elderly men, two types of disorders are distinguished: pathologies of the central nervous system and diseases affecting the prostate gland.
Every disorder or trauma that results in nerve damage can lead to incontinence. The following categories of men are at risk:
- Diabetes patients. In this case, there is a high probability of the occurrence of diabetic angiopathy. One of the primary symptoms of central nervous system damage is the loss of control over all pelvic organs. And this inevitably entails urinary incontinence in older men. Treatment for diabetes is prescribed individually. Most often resort to the help of drug therapy.
- Persons with a stroke suffering from multiple sclerosis.
- Men with a diagnosis of overactive bladder. This is a specific disorder in which the smooth muscles of the bladder contract involuntarily. The disease can occur both against the background of damage to the central nervous system, and for no apparent reason.
- Persons who have suffered spinal cord injuries. Any mechanical damage can also cause urinary incontinence in older men.
A common cause of this pathology are lesions of the prostate gland. These include the following:
- Benign hyperplasia. As the disease develops, the prostate begins to squeeze the ureter, which leads to impaired urination.
- Total prostatectomy. This is the most common and effective treatment for prostate cancer. Side effects of the operation are erectile dysfunction, as well as incontinence.
- The effect of ionizing radiation.
Manifestations of incontinence
Pathology is accompanied by a constant sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the urethra, frequent urges to urinate, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. As a result of constant moistening of the skin with urine, diaper rash, dermatitis appears, and infectious processes join them.
A complication of incontinence can be considered the so-called hypodynamic obesity, since a person loses the ability to maintain a full-fledged regime of physical activity. Due to the lack of restful sleep, fatigue and insomnia appear. The main problem nevertheless remains the psychological discomfort caused by incontinence.
If the described symptoms appear, seek medical attention. Only after a comprehensive examination can a specialist confirm the diagnosis of urinary incontinence. In older men, treatment in most cases is effective. If you neglect the problem and postpone the visit to the doctor every time, complications cannot be avoided.
Types of incontinence
Depending on the root causes, involuntary urination can be:
- Stressful. In response to physical exertion, coughing or laughing, small volumes of urine are released. Stress incontinence occurs due to weakening of the pelvic floor organs.
- Urgent. Incontinence appears against a background of increased bladder activity. Pathology, as a rule, is provoked by external irritants (noise of water, washing dishes, cold season).
- Transient. A sharp urge to urinate occurs so quickly that a person does not have time to run to the toilet. In older people, the pathology of this type may be associated with an infectious and inflammatory lesion of the bladder.
- Incontinence overflow. This is a rare form of the disorder. In most cases, its appearance is due to prostatic hyperplasia of a benign nature.
Many men have several types of incontinence at the same time.
Medical examination
The treatment of urinary incontinence in older men primarily involves determining the cause of the disorder. For diagnosis, certain tests and analyzes are used. The volume of required studies is determined by the doctor individually, based on the symptoms and type of ailment.
- Urination diary. Using records allows you to control the amount of fluid consumed and the frequency of emptying the bubble.
- Analysis of urine. Helps detect the presence of bacterial flora and blood impurities, as well as diagnose diabetes.
- Ultrasound of the bladder, kidneys.
- Uroflowmetry. Allows you to determine the volume of urine excreted, its speed and the time it takes to completely empty the bladder.
- Profilometry. During the diagnosis, the pressure in the urethra is determined.
When the urologist fails to detect abnormalities in the urinary system, he directs the patient to a neurologist. Based on the test results, doctors can confirm the diagnosis of urinary incontinence. In older men, the treatment of this disorder is complex and includes several treatment methods at the same time. They are described in more detail below.
Lifestyle
Incontinence control should begin with the elimination of stressful activity. For this, men are advised to sleep at least nine hours a day. It is better to go to bed no later than 11 pm. Before going to bed, you should not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages, as this affects the tone of the muscles of the urinary system. If you cannot fall asleep at this time, you can take a soothing infusion or decoction. For this purpose motherwort, tea with lemon balm, valerian are excellent.
Proper nutrition
Changing your usual diet is an important step in the fight against such a pathology as urinary incontinence in older men. Home treatment does not imply a strict diet, but some rules still exist:
- It is necessary to exclude spicy and pickled dishes, as well as all spices.
- Salty and sweet foods fall under strict control.
- You should try to abandon drinks that have caffeine in their composition.
- The basis of nutrition for incontinence is fiber foods. If the intestine is completely empty, it will not put pressure on the bladder.
In general, doctors recommend adhering to the standard rules of healthy eating. The diet should consist of low-fat varieties of meat and fish, a large number of fresh vegetables, dairy products. Improving nutrition is necessary for correcting body weight and controlling overweight. After all, it is the latter problem that predisposes to incontinence.
Kegel exercises
This set of exercises is recommended by many specialists with a disorder such as urinary incontinence in older men. Treatment in this case is aimed at eliminating spontaneous urination. To do this, it is necessary to strain and alternately relax the muscles of the perineum.
Initially, you should determine exactly where they are. To do this, try to abruptly stop the urination process and remember the sensations. After that, you can go directly to the exercises themselves. It is necessary to tighten the muscles of the pelvis for 3 seconds, and then relax for the same time. Gradually, you can increase the time interval.
Drug therapy
If, using the methods described above, it is not possible to eliminate urinary incontinence in older men, treatment is complicated. Also, drug therapy is prescribed for infectious or neurological etiology of the disorder. To eliminate the violation, use:
- Antibiotics.
- Alpha-blockers ("Terazozin", "Uroxatral"). These drugs are prescribed to combat incontinence caused by an increase in the size of the prostate gland.
- Antispasmodics for relaxing the bladder.
- Some antidepressants ("Duloxetine", "Imipramine").
The duration of drug therapy usually does not exceed three months. If after some time the doctor re-diagnoses urinary incontinence, in older men, treatment with pills is resumed.
Surgical intervention
In most cases, drug treatment for incontinence can achieve positive dynamics. If such therapy is ineffective, surgery is prescribed. The tactics of treatment are determined depending on the form of the disorder and the results of previous attempts to combat the disease. Surgery is usually required for patients with paradoxical / stress incontinence. The following types of interventions can be performed:
- Implantation of an artificial form of the sphincter. In the perineal area, the surgeon makes a small incision, through which a silicone prosthesis is inserted into the urethra. It consists of a cuff, a pump and a reservoir of sterile fluid. Inflating the cuff prevents urine from leaving.
- Sling operation. Under the urethra, the doctor places a loop of inert material. Its main function is to slightly raise the urethra. Thus, intra-abdominal pressure will not be reflected on it.
- The introduction of a special gel in one of the walls of the urethra.
Cancer is one of the main reasons why urinary incontinence develops in older men. Medications with such a diagnosis are usually ineffective, so the bladder is removed. However, the human body cannot fully function without this organ. An artificial version of the bladder is made from part of the intestine, and the ureters are sewn into it. It will open on the anterior abdominal wall, so an urinal is additionally located in this area.
Using the above options for surgical intervention, it is possible to completely eliminate urinary incontinence in elderly men.
Treatment with folk remedies
Many patients do not trust conservative therapy and prefer to use folk medicine prescriptions for treatment. This approach is the place to be, but you must first consult with your doctor. The following are the most popular treatment options for folk remedies.
Sage is considered a medicinal plant, healing from many ailments. To prepare a decoction of incontinence, 40 g of dry grass will be required. The mixture must be poured with a liter of boiling water and left for 2 hours. It is recommended to take a decoction one glass three times a day.
Yarrow is ubiquitous. Healers in his practice are actively using it. If you need to get rid of involuntary urination, you will need 10 g of grass to pour a glass of water. The resulting mixture must be boiled for about 10 minutes. After the broth is infused, it can be taken 150 g three times a day.
Prevention
How to prevent urinary incontinence in older men? The treatment (pills, surgery, folk remedies) presented in the materials of this article requires patience and time. This is especially true in cases where patients each time postpone a visit to a specialist.
So that you do not have to face this problem, you must periodically undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. If pathologies and diseases of the genitourinary sphere are identified, treatment should not be neglected. Otherwise, health complications may develop, the main symptom of which is incontinence.
In preventive measures, a key role belongs to strengthening the muscles of the pelvis and the fight against excess weight. It is very difficult to influence other factors.
Conclusion
Now you know what treatment should be for a diagnosis of urinary incontinence. The reviews of many patients indicate that this problem can be fought. The main thing in this matter is to timely identify the disorder and clearly follow medical advice. Be healthy!