The term "urinary incontinence" means the involuntary discharge of urine from the body. At the same time, a person cannot keep her inside. This pathological condition is not an independent disease, it always serves as a symptom of any ailment. Information on what to do with urinary incontinence should be provided only by a doctor. Self-medication leads to a deterioration in the course of pathology and further reduces the quality of life. Currently, it is possible to get rid of an ailment by both conservative and operational methods. Another name for the disease is incontinence.
Development mechanism
Depending on the etiological factor, the pathogenesis may be different. It is important to understand that urine leakage is a symptom that does not appear on its own. In all cases, there must be a root cause. For example, in men after 60 years of age, urinary incontinence often indicates prostatitis. Only getting rid of the underlying disease can symptomatic treatment be carried out .
In women after 50 years of age, urinary incontinence occurs amid weakening of the pelvic muscles. They lose their ability to hold organs in a physiological position. As a result, a lowered bladder begins to exert pressure on the vagina, causing a number of other ailments.
Thus, there are two mechanisms for the development of urinary incontinence:
- Pathology of the sphincters or directly the urethra, due to which the closure function is disturbed.
- Changing the location of the urethra against the background of a weakening of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus.
In order to establish the true cause of the disease, you must consult a doctor. Only a specialist can tell you how to treat urinary incontinence in each case.
Causes
There are two main classifications of the disease. The first distinguishes the following forms of incontinence:
- Stressful.
- Urgent.
- Overflow Incontinence (another name is paradoxical).
- Temporary (transistor).
- Mixed.
According to another classification, incontinence can be of the following forms:
- Stressful.
- Enuresis at night.
- Extraurethral.
- Imperative.
- Leak after urination.
- Unconscious.
In most cases, the following forms of urinary incontinence are diagnosed:
- Stress (leakage under voltage). This type of incontinence is detected most often. In such cases, both men and women experience urinary incontinence when sneezing, laughing, coughing, running, lifting heavy objects, etc. In other words, urine leakage occurs due to factors that increase intravesical and intraperitoneal pressure. The cause of stress urinary incontinence in women and men is a weakened ligament in the pelvic floor. This is due to a decrease in collagen production. As a result, the neck of the urethra becomes extremely mobile, and the work of the urethral sphincter is also disrupted. The latter ceases to fully close, due to which a certain amount of liquid is involuntarily released outside. As a rule, stress urinary incontinence is diagnosed in women after 50 years (during menopause), in men after surgery in the prostate gland, and in smokers.
- Urgent (or imperative). Characterized by unexpected urge to urinate. At the same time, it is impossible to retain urine in the body even for a few minutes. Patients note that urination begins before they have time to reach the toilet. In some cases, the urge is absent or very weak. The provoking factors are: a change in ambient temperature, the sounds of pouring water, overexcitation, alcohol intoxication. It occurs in both men and women with frequent urination without pain. The cause of this condition is a violation of the peripheral and central nervous system. Against the background of the disease, leakage is often associated with events. For example, when appearing in public.
- Transistor (or temporary). Involuntary urination occurs with alcohol-containing drinks, with constipation, inflammation in the vagina or directly in the bladder. If these factors are eliminated, urine leakage will stop without any medication.
- Incontinence overflow. As a rule, this form is diagnosed in elderly people suffering from diseases of the genitourinary system. The leak in this case is associated with excessive stretching of the walls of the bladder against the background of existing obstacles to the outflow of fluid. The latter may be neoplasms or strictures.
- Mixed. In practice, there are often combined forms of incontinence. The most common symptoms of stress and urgent incontinence are detected. In most cases, the mixed form occurs without pain. In women, the causes of frequent urination are nervous tension and weakening of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus. In men, this form is extremely rarely diagnosed.
How to treat urinary incontinence depends on the patient's age, gender, physical activity, as well as on existing diseases.
Diagnostics
If there is an alarming sign, you need to contact a urologist or gynecologist. The doctor will draw up a referral for a comprehensive examination, based on the results of which will be the most effective treatment. Also, a specialist can additionally refer for consultation with an endocrinologist, psychiatrist, neurologist or oncologist.
The primary diagnosis is to interview the patient, a gynecological examination (for women) and palpation. The doctor must provide information on whether urinary incontinence occurs day or night, and how often, on the amount of urine excreted. In addition, it is important to indicate whether the patient is taking any medications.
In the process of gynecological examination, the doctor can identify inflammatory processes, prolapse or prolapse of the uterus and vagina. On palpation, the localization of painful sensations is detected (if they are present), it is also possible to detect various kinds of neoplasms.
Based on the results of the initial diagnosis, the doctor draws up a referral for a comprehensive examination. It includes:
- General urine analysis. Allows you to identify the inflammatory process.
- Sowing urine on the microflora. Bakanalysis is necessary in order to detect and identify a pathogenic microorganism. In addition, during the study, the degree of its sensitivity to antibiotics and other medications is assessed.
- Cytological and histological analysis of biopsy. It is prescribed if the cause of urinary incontinence is a neoplasm. The biomaterial is taken by puncture. The analysis determines the nature of the tumor.
- Ultrasound of the bladder. In women and men, the state of the pelvic organs is also assessed during the study. With the help of ultrasound it is possible to identify neoplasms and inflammatory processes.
- Retrograde cystometry. It is carried out with a full bladder. The doctor determines the pressure inside the body, so that he gets the opportunity to assess its reservoir function.
- Cystography. This is an x-ray examination of the bladder, which is carried out using a contrast medium.
- Uroflowmetry. The method involves recording the speed of the outflow of urine during urination.
- Urethrocystoscopy The study of the organ cavity using endoscopic equipment.
- Electromyography. Allows you to evaluate the contractility of muscles and sphincters.
In addition, urodynamic tests are indicated. The approximate amount of urine released spontaneously can be determined using sanitary pads. In addition, the doctor directly at the reception may ask for a cough. With urinary incontinence, urine will begin to leak.
Also, within 2 days, the patient must keep a special diary. He should record the frequency of urges, the amount of urine, as well as the amount of involuntary leakage of fluid.
Conservative Therapies
Information on how to treat urinary incontinence should be provided by a doctor. This is due to the fact that only on the basis of the diagnostic results it is possible to draw up an effective treatment regimen. In addition, in some cases it is not required to take medication. It is enough to follow the doctor’s recommendations.
Non-drug treatment includes the following items:
- Compliance with the diet. The patient must exclude foods and drinks from the diet that irritate the mucous membrane of the bladder and urethra.
- Weight loss. After a successful treatment, weight also needs to be strictly controlled.
- Doing exercises. There is a special complex designed specifically to strengthen the bladder. The main exercise in it is the following exercise: during the controlled release of fluid, it is necessary to stop the jet by willpower for several seconds. Then continue the act of urination. At the same time, it is important to remember which muscles were strained in order to do several repetitions during the day.
- Urination on schedule. The doctor individually draws up a plan according to which the patient needs to go to the toilet.
In addition, according to indications, a pessary can be installed.
Drug therapy, if necessary, is carried out with all forms of incontinence. The purpose of taking medications is to increase the functional capacity of the organ and reduce the degree of its contractile activity.
Regarding how to treat urinary incontinence. Antidepressants and antispasmodics are mandatory. At present, the most effective drug is Oxybutin. This is a medicine whose active substance interrupts irritating and irregular impulses from the nervous system, and also helps to relax the detrusor. The dosage regimen is compiled individually. The duration of treatment is at least 3 months.
With the right therapy, urinary incontinence does not appear after discontinuation of the drug.
Surgical intervention
In most cases, a positive result is achieved against the background of conservative treatment. If it turned out to be ineffective, the doctor decides on the advisability of surgical intervention. The method of treatment depends on the form and cause of the disease.
Currently minimally invasive methods are successfully used. The patient is given collagen, Teflon paste or a homogenized autogyro. After injections, incontinence episodes stop. Before the intervention, an ultrasound of the bladder is necessarily performed in women. This is necessary in order to confirm or exclude a significant omission of the organ, which is a contraindication to injections.
Alternative treatment methods
Alternative treatment of urinary incontinence is permissible, but only after the permission of the attending physician. This is due to the fact that some medicinal products can worsen the course of pathology or reduce the effectiveness of medications.
The most effective recipes:
- Take 20 g of dill seeds, pour them with 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for several hours. Filter the resulting product. It is necessary to use the infusion daily before meals, 200 ml per day. The drug is contraindicated for pregnant women and people suffering from low blood pressure.
- Take a small amount of lingonberry and hypericum. Mix the components in equal proportions, pour them with 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for several hours. The resulting product is consumed in small sips in the afternoon.
- Take 20 g of crushed roots of elecampane. Pour them with 200 ml of boiling water and put the container on fire. After 25 minutes, you need to cover it with a towel and put it in a cool place. After a few hours, the product will be ready. Consume 100 ml of broth daily and before each meal.
Regular use of folk methods allows you to quickly get rid of the disease.
Selection of urological pads
These are special tools that help people with urinary incontinence. There are gaskets for both men and women. These hygiene products are distinguished by their large size, the presence of an absorbent and a high-quality filler, their surface does not irritate the skin. Thus, the patient may not worry about the possibility of an unpleasant odor.
The most popular urological pads:
- "Seni". Used not only for incontinence, but also in the postpartum period. They have 7 sizes and an exact anatomical shape, which eliminates fluid leakage. Urological pads "Canopy" are easily attached to both male and female underwear.
- "Molimed" (Molimed). Made in Germany. They have a neutral pH level and are coated with an antibacterial layer. Also can be used in the postoperative period.
- "Abri-San" (Abri-San). These are Czech-made hygiene products designed for people suffering from severe incontinence. The liners are universal. Their shape allows them to be used by both men and women.
Features of pathology in children
In order to find out the cause of the ailment, urological and neurological studies are prescribed. A pediatrician is involved in the treatment of pathology. Often, a consultation with a urologist and a neurologist is required.
The main causes of urinary incontinence in children:
- Injuries to the spinal cord and brain.
- Infectious diseases.
- Neoplasms.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Mental pathologies (autism, epilepsy, oligophrenia, schizophrenia).
- Features of the anatomical structure of the genitourinary system.
- Endkrino diseases.
- Sleep apnea.
- Acceptance of certain medications.
- Urogenital pathologies.
- Allergic reactions.
- Nervous strain.
Treatment can also be medication, so it does not imply the use of drugs. In addition, it is necessary to create a favorable atmosphere around the child, surround him with attention and prevent him from getting into stressful situations.
Prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of pathology, it is necessary to regularly train the muscles of the bladder. This event will help to avoid the disease, which develops against the background of age-related changes in the body, for example, in women after 50, urinary incontinence is not uncommon, as in men after 60 years.
In addition, it is important to treat all detected diseases in a timely manner. Currently, only a small percentage of patients turn to specialists, as a result of which their quality of life is significantly deteriorating, and the underlying ailment is progressing.
Finally
The term "urinary incontinence" refers to a pathological condition in which urine is released involuntarily. Another name for the disease is incontinence. Urinary incontinence is not an independent disease, it is always a symptom of a pathology developing in the body.
If there are alarming signs, you should contact a gynecologist or urologist. The doctor will conduct an initial diagnosis, based on the results of which he will draw up a referral to laboratory and instrumental studies. You may also need to consult other specialists with a narrow profile.
Treatment can be carried out both by conservative and surgical methods. In addition, it is possible to achieve positive dynamics if you regularly use recipes for alternative medicine.