What is Urinary Incontinence?
Almost 20 million women this country are affected by
uncontrollable urinary leakage. This results in health
care costs of almost $30 billion annually. In addition to the
embarrassment which often forces women into greater degrees of
inactivity, incontinence is one of the three leading causes for
elderly women to be admitted to nursing homes.
Causes For Incontinence
The two most commonly seen are referred to as stress and urge
incontinence. Stress incontinence results from a faulty
closure mechanism resulting in sudden spurts of urine loss
accompanying an impulsive increase in abdominal pressure such as
occurs with coughing or sneezing. Urge incontinence occurs
when bladder muscle contractions cannot be suppressed and
results in leakage which for shortly after a strong sensation of
the urge to void due to the inability to get to the bathroom in
time. Other less common causes are related to neurological
disease, diabetes trauma medications and congenital defects.
Millions of women have the same problem.
Much has been learned about the causes and cures of urinary
incontinence. Many women today have grown up in the
presence of family members who have developed incontinence and
have been told that hiss is the price one pays for having
children. many of the women withdraw progressively
further from any social involvement in order to avoid the
stigma and embarrassment caused by the incontinence.
Fortunately, women can be cured of this problem. very
effective nonsurgical treatments include medications.
exercise, and behavior modification. Surgical treatments
designed to restore support to the base of the bladder can now
often be done with the laparoscope using
"belly-button" surgery techniques. This
enables many of these procedures to be performed in outpatient
or overnight - stay settings. In order to maintain
optimal health in older age, it is very important to stay
physically active. No one should be forced into
inactivity because of urinary incontinence.
The First Step
If you have urinary incontinence or know a friend or loved
one who suffers from this problem, please consider contacting
our Bladder Control Clinic at (251) 633-0793 to make an
appointment for a consultation or return the enclosed card to
obtain more information.
There's treatment that works.
Points To Remember
- Urinary incontinence is common in women.
.
- Urinary Incontinence problems do not have to be part of
aging.
.
- All types of urinary incontinence can be treated.
.
- You need not be embarrassed by incontinence.
.
- Ask your doctor for help.
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