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Urinary Incontinence

An Embarrassing Problem For Many Seniors

Among seniors over the age of 65, it is estimated that as many as 35% of the women and 22% of the men suffer from urinary incontinence. This is the inability to hold back urine until getting to the toilet. How embarrassing this can be for the victim and their caregivers. It can also be physically uncomfortable and very inconvenient.

Even though seniors are commonly afflicted, this is not a disease that inevitably comes with age. Actually, urinary incontinence is not a disease at all. It is a symptom that is caused by some other disease or problem. (See Types & Causes below.)

In many cases, urinary incontinence can be controlled with treatment. It may even be cured. But before treatment can be recommended, diagnosis of the root problem must be made. So it is important to get over the embarrassment, be honest with your doctor and ask for help.

Not being able to get to the bathroom fast enough can be the root cause of urinary incontinence...or just make the problem worse.

Types & Causes

There are 4 primary types of urinary incontinence, each known by a simple, descriptive term.

  1. Urge - A sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate. Large amounts of urine can leak out. The most common type among seniors.
    • Causes: Irritation of muscles in the bladder due to a urinary tract infection or diseases that effect the nervous system’s ability to control urination. (The diseases include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and dementia.)
  2. Overflow - Leakage from a bladder that is always full due to a blockage of the urethra or a weak bladder. Most common in men.
    • Causes: The urethra can be blocked by an enlarged prostate, kidney stones or tumors. The bladder can be weakened by nerve damage from diabetes and other diseases. Severe constipation, medications and alcohol abuse may also cause overflow.
  1. Stress - A leakage of urine that occurs when added pressure is placed on the abdomen and bladder from exercise, laughing, sneezing, coughing, lifting heavy objects, etc. Most common in young and middle-aged women.
    • Causes: Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles or sphincter to the point they can not hold back urine when stressed. May be the result of pregnancy or childbirth. Incidents increase following menopause.
  2. Functional - The inability to get to the toilet or bedpan in time, even when bladder control is normal.
    • Causes: Physical and mental disabilities. The loss of speech, hearing and vision can also contribute to functional incontinence.

There is also mixed incontinence which is usually a combination of the urge and stress types. It is most common in women. And there is transient incontinence, caused by temporary circumstances.

(Sources: National Institutes of Heath, American Foundation for Urologic Disease)