Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary leakage or a loss of control of the urine. It is a common affliction for many people, but more so for older men and women. Having an overactive bladder can at times lead to embarrassing situations and for some, will have quite an impact on their daily activities.
There are a variety of causes and types of urinary incontinence. Two of the most common types are stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Stress incontinence is when small amounts of urine leak from the bladder when you move, such as when exercising or sneezing. Urge incontinence results in the leakage of large amounts of urine and often occurs together with stress incontinence. When it is a combination of both, it is referred to as mixed incontinence.
The severity and types of symptoms of urinary incontinence vary from person to person. Some of the most common leaking bladder symptoms include:
· urinating frequently (frequency); A sudden urge to rush to the toilet to urinate
· Urinary leakage; small or large amounts of urine leaking without warning or without feeling the urge to go to the toilet
· Involuntarily leakage when sneezing, coughing, laughing or exercising
· The need to get up to pass urine two or more times a night
· Bedwetting/Accidents occur (mainly in children).
These problems happen when the bladder is small and overly active (spastic). Rather than expanding to hold the accumulating urine, the bladder begins to contract as soon as a small amount has been collected. And the urinary sphincter keeps opening to let the urine out.
There are many types and causes of urinary incontinence, and not all types and causes are known. However, some rare but specific types of leaking bladder symptomsinclude multiple sclerosis-related urinary incontinence, which causes poor control of the muscles that keep the bladder closed. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The term ‘sclerosis’ actually means scarring, and ‘multiple’ relates to the fact that the scarring can occur in many different places in the brain and spinal cord.
Many people with multiple sclerosis have neurogenic bladder dysfunction, which means they have a decreased ability to control their bladder. Some people may find that they need to urinate more frequently or urgently, whereas others may experience difficulty emptying the bladder or a feeling of incomplete emptying. Leaky bladder in MS patients occurs with approximately 80 to 90 percent of people afflicted with MS. Basically;leaky bladder in MS patientsarises in two distinct ways: Keeping it in when you want to and getting it out when you want to.
Urinary incontinence can range from mild to severe, but fortunately it can almost always be treated. It is not a disease, and can be caused by daily habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems. To rule out possible medical or physical causes, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive evaluation by an experienced and trained medical professional.
Author’s Bio: This article is written by Vanessa Felton about the Leaky bladder in MS patients. Leaky bladder in MS patients occurs with approximately 80 to 90 percent of people afflicted with MS.