Urinary Incontinence – Types and Palliative Measures

 

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine, loss of bladder control, or inability to control urination. It is a common problem that primarily affects quality of life.

Urinary incontinence is not a disease in itself, but rather the consequence of an alteration in the bladder filling phase that occurs in numerous pathologies.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Spain:

  • 6.5 million people suffer from urinary incontinence.
  • 50% of women and 20% of men over 65 experience urine leakage.
  • It also affects women after childbirth, individuals with neurological injuries, or postoperative patients. Other causes include: diabetes, obesity, menopause, prostate cancer, pelvic floor injury, etc.

 

Types of Urinary Incontinence:

  • Stress incontinence: the most common type. Leakage occurs as a result of an action that increases abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing, sneezing, straining, or during sports or physical exertion).
  • Functional incontinence: encompasses physical or mental impairment that prevents reaching the bathroom in time.
  • Mixed incontinence: when some leaks are related to exertion and others to urgency.

 

Causes of Urinary Incontinence:

Urinary incontinence occurs when the pressure in the bladder is greater than the pressure in the urethra.

The main reasons are:

  • Neurological problems or damage.
  • Due to an alteration of the external sphincter and pelvic floor muscles.
  • Due to internal sphincter failure from inappropriate relaxation or organic injury.

 

How to Prevent Urinary Incontinence?

  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • Do not smoke
  • Avoid overweight
  • Perform pelvic floor exercises
  • Reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption

 

Palliative Measures to Prevent Urinary Incontinence:

  • Avoid exciting substances
  • Wear comfortable clothing and engage in physical activities
  • Use of various products as a solution to the problem:

 

Use of incontinence briefs that help retain urine without odors or discomfort.

Use of urine bags, connected via a urinary collector or catheters.

Use of silicone ring pessaries or urethral pessaries.