Some people suffer from an excruciating, sudden urge to urinate that forces them to rush to the bathroom. Urgeincontinence, an involuntary loss of urine, can sometimes occur.
What is Urgeincontinence?
Urge incontinence or urge incontinence is a medical term used to describe an abrupt urge to urinate that can hardly be controlled, which can be accompanied by involuntary urination. This form of incontinence is caused by a sensitive, overactive bladder. There are two main types of urge incontinence:
- In sensory urge incontinence, the bladder reacts with the urge to urinate even when it is low.
- In motor urge incontinence there is a disorder in the nerves responsible for emptying the bladder, which causes the bladder sphincter to contract spasmodically.
In both cases, it is not a question of a sphincter disorder, but of a malfunction of the bladder muscle, in which even a low bladder filling level triggers extreme bladder pressure. For keratocyst explained, please visit psyknowhow.com.
Causes
The most common causes include inflammation of the lower urinary tract, particularly in sensory urge incontinence. It can be caused by frequent bladder infections or bladder stones. The sensors that transmit the filling level of the bladder to the brain are sensitive. The brain reacts by reflexively contracting the bladder muscles. When the bladder is not properly filled, this leads to frequent passing of small amounts of urine.
In urge motor incontinence, the signals between the bladder and the brain do not work properly. Uncontrollable leakage of urine occurs when the muscle responsible for emptying the bladder contracts and the pressure in the bladder increases. Those affected feel a strong urge to go to the toilet quickly.
Neurological diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s can also lead to Urgeinkontinenz. Sometimes a cup of coffee or other beverage is enough to trigger the urge to urinate. During menopause, it can also be due to a weakness of the pelvic floor.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
The main symptom of urge incontinence is a sudden, tormenting urge to urinate, which usually cannot be suppressed. The urge can be so intense that sufferers sometimes cannot reach a toilet in time. There may be an involuntary loss of urine, but there may also be shorter intervals between emptying the bladder.
Anyone suffering from Urgeinkontinenz is constantly looking for the nearest toilet. Those affected usually have to urinate more than eight times a day, usually also at night. When you are excited or under psychological stress, the pressure increases. Cold can also promote the urge to urinate or a sound of water. A lack of estrogen, as occurs during menopause, exacerbates the symptoms.
Diagnosis & course of disease
The doctor first takes a detailed medical history of the symptoms and whether there is involuntary loss of urine. This is followed by a physical examination, usually a gynecological examination for women, to determine whether the uterus or vagina is prolapsed, whether there is a lack of estrogen and what the condition of the pelvic floor is. The urine is examined to rule out a bladder infection.
A cystoscopy is usually also performed to detect bladder tumors, bladder stones or an enlarged prostate. The filling capacity and degree of filling of the bladder can be assessed via an ultrasound examination . With a special transducer, the bladder and urethra can be examined from the vagina, including whether coughing or straining leads to a change in position.
Changes between periods of rest and stress can also be recorded. A bladder pressure measurement is useful to find out the causes of involuntary urine loss. Due to the good technical possibilities of ultrasound examinations, X-ray examinations are only rarely carried out. A voiding log can be a valuable addition.
Complications
Urgeincontinence usually has a very negative effect on everyday life and the life of the person affected. The patients suffer from very frequent urination and in many situations can no longer hold the water in their bladder. In children, Urgeinkontinenz can also lead to bullying or teasing, so that the patients also suffer from psychological problems or depression.
These symptoms can also occur in adults. Those affected feel uncomfortable with this and in many cases are ashamed of the symptoms of primary incontinence. This can also lead to reduced self-esteem or strong inferiority complexes. If Urgeinkontinenz is not treated, the disease can continue to lead to urinary poisoning.
In the worst case, the patient can die from this. The kidneys are also damaged in the course of the disease, which can lead to kidney failure. Those affected are then dependent on a donor kidney or on dialysis. The risk of prostate cancer increases significantly as a result of the disease.
The treatment always depends on the cause, but proceeds without complications. The symptoms cannot be completely alleviated in every case. The patient’s life expectancy may also be limited by the disease.
When should you go to the doctor?
The affected person should always consult a doctor immediately in the event of Urgeinkontinenz, since this is a serious illness that can significantly reduce the quality of life of the person affected. It cannot heal on its own, so the patient should contact a doctor as soon as the first symptoms and signs of Urgeinkontinenz appear. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better the further course is, as a rule.
A doctor should be consulted if the patient suffers from incontinence due to severe physical or mental stress. Small amounts of urine escape, which can also only be small droplets. Those affected do not always recognize this drop. In many cases, severe pain in the bladder or ureters can indicate urinary incontinence and should also be examined by a doctor. The symptoms do not have to be permanent. With this disease, a urologist should be consulted. However, since the disease can also lead to mental upsets or depression, a visit to a psychologist is usually necessary.
Treatment & Therapy
Since in most cases Urgeinkontinenz is not caused by organic problems, the treatment is primarily aimed at improving the symptoms. First of all, targeted bladder training should enable better control over the bladder and increase the intervals between emptying the bladder.
It is best to keep a voiding diary that provides information about when the urge to urinate occurs, how quickly those affected give in, whether there is involuntary leakage of urine, and how much is drunk. In the case of urge incontinence, targeted pelvic floor training makes sense in most cases to strengthen the muscles. In addition to bladder training, medication is usually prescribed that relaxes the bladder muscles and enables a larger amount of urine to be stored again.
In most cases, anticholinergic drugs are administered. However, they can cause dry mouth, gastrointestinal problems and dry skin. In milder cases, herbal remedies containing pumpkin can also relieve the irritation. Antibiotics are only prescribed for infections. Surgical procedures are not indicated for urge incontinence because the bladder’s occlusive system is intact. Bladder stones are an exception because they have to be removed.
Prevention
One of the most important preventive measures is regular pelvic floor training. Anyone who is overweight should reduce it, as the excess kilos put a strain on the pelvic floor. Regular exercise is good. Eating a balanced, healthy diet can help prevent constipation, which in turn puts strain on the pelvic floor. Sufficient drinking ensures that the capacity of the bladder is trained. In addition to bladder training, it makes sense to learn relaxation techniques.
Aftercare
Follow-up care for Urgeinkontinenz is necessary if the symptoms are permanent and cannot be treated causally. Affected persons must experience sufficient support in their everyday life. The effects of the symptoms should burden life as little as possible. To this end, the doctor and patient agree on a rhythm of presentations in order to discuss the effectiveness of the measures.
In practice, medication, bladder training and psychotherapy promise a promising treatment success. The last aspect in particular is an important building block. If it is severe, uncontrolled urination can restrict everyday life. Many patients hardly dare to leave their homes. The medical history plays an important role in the scheduled follow-up examinations. In addition, neurological approaches can also be pursued.
Basically, doctors try to eliminate the causes of Urgeinkontinenz. Unfortunately, according to a statistical survey, this only works in 20 percent of all cases. Since the elimination of the trigger means that there are no longer any symptoms, there is no longer any need for close follow-up checks, as is the case with tumor diseases. After complete healing, a recurrence is not to be expected. So far, no effective preventive measures are known to prevent a renewed urge incontinence.
You can do that yourself
Urge or urge incontinence is treated with medication and physical therapy. Any organic faults must be identified and eliminated. Targeted bladder and toilet training is a good way to help yourself. The results are recorded in a voiding diary so that the patient and doctor can treat the condition in a targeted manner.
In addition, we recommend a medically instructed pelvic floor training, which is supported at home by physiotherapy, yoga and other strengthening measures. At the same time, drug treatment is necessary. The most important self-help measure here is to take the prescribed medication properly. If unusual side effects such as dry mouth or gastrointestinal disorders occur, the treatment must be stopped and the doctor informed.
Urge incontinence also requires preventive measures. Many patients wear adult diapers or special panty liners. A change in the daily routine creates space for relaxed visits to the toilet. The diet should be changed. It is important to avoid diuretic foods as well as spicy or potassium-rich foods. It is best for those affected to consult with a nutritionist to create an adapted diet. The association incontinence self-help e. V. provides those affected with further advice and contact persons.
