Research shows that up to 50 million people worldwide suffer from urinary incontinence. Frequent urination or urinary incontinence may develop by diseases or injuries affecting the urinary tract.
Your urinary tract includes the kidneys, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder, the bladder, and the urethra. Issues in any of these parts can cause frequent urination or urinary incontinence.
Even though this symptom is disruptive and stressful, it’s also treatable and manageable with the help of a qualified healthcare provider. Below we discuss the common conditions that cause urinary problems and effective ways to treat them:
Neurogenic Bladder
Neurogenic bladder refers to a disrupted relationship between the nervous system and bladder function. Several muscles and nerves work together to ensure your bladder holds and empties urine safely and effectively. The process involves the back and forth of complex nerve messages between your brand and muscles to prompt your bladder to empty at the right time.
However, various diseases and injuries can harm your nerves, leading to a lack of bladder control. In people with neurogenic bladder, the muscles can no longer tighten and relax at the necessary time. As a result, your bladder fails to empty and fill appropriately.
Millions of people worldwide struggle with neurogenic bladder. The condition is particularly prevalent among people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and spina bifida. It can also affect spinal cord injuries, stroke, or diabetes patients. Here are several symptoms of the neurogenic bladder to look out for:
- A weak or dribbling urinary stream
- Frequent urination
- Painful urination
- Urgency (a need to urinate immediately)
- Urinary leakage
Although there is no cure for neurogenic bladder, you can alleviate its symptoms. It includes introducing lifestyle changes, taking medicine, and trying catheterization.
Pelvic Floor Weakness Or Prolapse
Your pelvic floor muscles support the bowel, bladder, and uterus. They prevent bladder and bowel incontinence and play a crucial role in sexual function. However, significant bodily stress, such as pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, and the straining caused by chronic constipation, can weaken your pelvic floor.
If your pelvic floor muscles stop functioning appropriately, the internal organs will lack support. It can impact your ability to control urine, feces, or wind and cause urinary difficulties.
Besides this, prolapsed bladders, caused by the bladder pushing on the wall of the vagina, can cause discomfort while urinating, coughing, and sneezing. The condition often occurs after menopause since the women’s body stops creating high amounts of estrogen, which weakens the muscles.
Here are several symptoms of pelvic floor weakness and prolapse to be aware of:
- Feeling of heaviness or dragging in the pelvis or back
- Leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or running
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
- Vulval pain
Fortunately, prolapse is treatable! Although mild and moderate prolapse doesn’t require surgery, you might need it in severe cases.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is a common condition affecting up to 81,000 people yearly. You can spot this condition early since it begins in your bladder cells and causes blood in your urine.
In most cases, blood in the urine is the first sign of cancer and might be enough to change the color of the urine to orange or pink. In rare cases, it can turn dark red. Here are several other symptoms of bladder cancers:
- Experiencing trouble urinating
- Feeling the need to pee even if your bladder isn’t full
- Having to urinate more often than usual
- Painful or burning sensation during urination
Most bladder cancers are diagnosable at an early stage, which makes them highly treatable. However, it’s critical people with bladder cancer do follow-up tests to ensure cancer doesn’t recur.
Enlarged Prostate
The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that undergoes two primary growth periods as a man ages. The first occurs during puberty, and the second phase begins around age 25 and continues most of their lives.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that occurs during the second phase and causes inflammation of the prostate gland. Consequently, the enlargement can block the urethra and cause difficulty emptying your bladder.
Urinary problems caused by PBH include:
- A sensation that the bladder is full after urination
- The need to urinate frequently
- Urinary urgency
- Urine dribbling sometimes after urinating
There are several effective treatments for enlarged prostate, including medications, non-invasive therapies, and surgery.
How To Treat Urinary Problems
Here are several effective ways you can treat urinary problems:
- Bladder Training: Delay your urge to urinate by trying to hold off for 10 minutes to lengthen the time between trips to the toilet.
- Clean Intermittent Catheterization: These are thin, flexible tubes that you can insert through your urethra to empty your bladder safely and effectively.
- Lifestyle Changes: Your healthcare provider might recommend you avoid particular foods and drinks to alleviate irritation and pain in the bladder.
- Scheduled Toilet Trips: Instead of waiting for the need to urinate, you should go every two to four hours.
Summary
You can control and often stop frequent urination and urine incontinence with treatment and minimally invasive therapies. Ensure you visit your healthcare provider to identify the root of your urinary problems and avoid further complications.
Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle can also help with urinary incontinence. Your doctor may also suggest coping and supporting strategies, such as wearing absorbent pads or catheterizing if you’re looking for high-quality catheters to urinate safely and effectively.
How Active Life Medical Products Can Help With Incontinence Supplies
You need a trusted incontinence product supplier when you require incontinence supplies. Active Life Medical Products makes ordering the entire incontinence supply process easy. Our Product Specialists can help you get your prescribed incontinence supplies covered through most insurances. Everything will be delivered directly and discreetly to your front door.
Call Active Life Medical Products at (800) 319-2336 to place your order.
