Involuntary urination when laughing or sneezing… What is its cause and what is its treatment?

9.30pm

Thursday 22 December 2022

I wrote – Asmaa Morsi

Many suffer from the inability to control urine when they laugh, sneeze or cough severely, trying to control themselves, but without success.

We tell you about the causes of this condition, symptoms, risk factors, health complications and treatment options, according to the “healthline” and “mayoclinic” websites.

Urinary incontinence is involuntary urination that occurs when movement or physical activity, such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, running, or lifting heavy objects, puts pressure (exertion) on the bladder, causing urine to leak.

It is different from urge incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB), in which the muscles of the bladder contract, causing a sudden need to urinate before being able to go to the bathroom.

Stress incontinence is more common in women than in men.

Symptoms:

Urine may leak from you in the following cases:

cough or sneeze

laugh.

bowing.

Lifting a heavy object.

Do exercise.

have sex.

– the reasons:

It occurs when the muscles and other tissues that support the urethra (pelvic floor muscles) and the muscles that control urine output (urinary sphincter) weaken.

The bladder expands as it fills with urine, and usually the valve-like muscles of the urethra (the short tube) that carry urine out of the body remain contracted as the bladder expands to prevent urine from leaking before it reaches the bladder. bath.

But when these muscles weaken, anything that puts pressure on the abdominal and pelvic muscles, such as sneezing, bending over, lifting, or forcefully laughing, can put pressure on the bladder and cause urine to leak.

Pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter can lose strength due to: childbirth and prostate surgery.

Contributing factors:

Other factors that can aggravate stress incontinence include:

Diseases causing chronic cough.

Obesity.

Smoking, which can cause frequent coughing.

High intensity activities such as running and jumping for many years.

Risk factors:

1. Age:

Certain physical changes associated with aging, such as muscle weakness, can make you more susceptible to stress incontinence, however, it can occur at any age.

2. Birth type:

Women who have had vaginal deliveries are at a higher risk of developing incontinence than women who have had a cesarean section.

3. Body Weight:

Overweight or obese people are at a higher risk of developing stress incontinence. Excess weight increases the pressure on the abdominal and pelvic organs.

4. Previous Pelvic Surgeries:

Hysterectomy in women and prostate cancer surgery in men weakens the muscles that support the bladder and urethra, increasing the risk of stress incontinence.

complications

1. Difficulty And Distress:

If you suffer from stress incontinence during your daily activities, you may feel embarrassed and distressed about the condition, which could hamper your work, social activities and relationships.

2. Mixed Enuresis:

It is a common condition and indicates that you have both stress incontinence and urge incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of urine resulting from contractions of the bladder muscles (overactive bladder) causing an urgent need to urinate.

3. Rash Or Irritation:

The area of skin that is in constant contact with urine may become irritated, painful, or prone to loosening, which can happen with severe incontinence if precautions are not taken, such as the use of moisture barriers or sanitary towels. incontinence.

When is it necessary to consult a doctor?

You should see a doctor right away if symptoms bother you or prevent you from carrying out daily activities, such as work, hobbies, and social life.

– Methods of treatment:

1. Bladder Training:

You should do exercises, such as pelvic floor exercises or bladder training, which can help increase bladder control.

2. Behavioral Therapy:

Managing your fluid intake, changing your diet, or using the bathroom on schedule before you feel the need to go all help manage incontinence, depending on the cause.

3. Case Management:

If your incontinence is caused by another condition, such as constipation or a urinary tract infection, treating that condition can help treat the incontinence as well.

4. Medicines:

Sometimes medications can help, depending on the cause of the incontinence, and antimuscarinic drugs are used to treat overactive bladder.

5. Placement of the catheter:

If your incontinence is ongoing and significantly affecting your life, your doctor may suggest internal or external catheters to help manage your incontinence or, in some cases, functional incontinence.

6. Weight Loss:

Losing weight helps manage symptoms because it can relieve pressure on the bladder.