Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Urinary incontinence is a very embarrassing problem that isolates patients from society, which can lead to depression. Proper treatment is the basis for returning to the physical activities undertaken. The basis is the patient’s diagnostics. For this reason, we decided to check what tests the patient must perform, and how to minimize the problem of urinary incontinence.
Treatment of urinary incontinence – patient diagnostics
Urinary incontinence is also called incontinence. It applies to older and younger people. It may be one of the symptoms of a disease (Alzheimer’s, diabetes, circulatory failure or stroke). In order to take proper treatment, first of all, the patient must be diagnosed, which consists in a series of tests, including morphology, ultrasound of the urinary system and urodynamic examination. On their basis, the doctor can determine whether we are dealing with stress urinary incontinence (associated with weakening of the pelvic floor muscles) or urinary incontinence with excessive urgency (related to a malfunction of the bladder muscles).
Treatment of urinary incontinence – Kegel exercises
For women who have a problem with urinary incontinence, it is very important to exercise the Kegel muscles, i.e. the muscles of the pelvic floor. It consists in tightening them. During the exercise, the most important and the most difficult thing is learning to tighten your muscles – while sitting with your legs slightly bent, imagine that you are trying to stop urinating. Kegel muscles are responsible for this movement. For the exercise to be effective, it should be done at least three times a day for three months.
Treatment of urinary incontinence – bladder training
The main goal of bladder training is to control the need to urinate. This means an end to “just in case” and “last minute” visits, which can also aggravate the embarrassing problem. Emptying must be fully controlled.
Urinary incontinence treatment – drug therapy
Pharmacotherapy is also helpful in the treatment of urinary incontinence. It is especially effective for seniors who have more diseases, and the problem with defecation may be the cause of another disease. Medicines taken by patients include, among others tolterodine, fesoterodine and oxybutynin.
Surgical treatment of urinary incontinence
Surgical treatment of urinary incontinence is used in extreme cases. Most often, embarrassing symptoms come back over time. Among the procedures, the most popular is hanging the bladder neck. You can also perform a looping operation.
Treatment of urinary incontinence – lifestyle change
In the treatment of urinary incontinence, changes in lifestyle and eating habits appear to be the most important, including quitting smoking, which can cause coughing, leading to involuntary urination. In addition, alcohol and caffeine should be excluded. In the case of obese people, the most important thing is diet and limiting the intake of certain fluids.
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.