Urinary incontinence in men – symptoms, causes, treatment. What are home remedies for urinary incontinence?

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Urinary incontinence is the accidental, uncontrolled leakage of urine. Indicates a problem with the male urinary tract. It affects many adults, but much more is known about urinary incontinence in women than in men.

Types of urinary incontinence

1. Urinary incontinence in stressful situations – the cause is weakness of the sphincter and / or pelvic floor muscles. It occurs when the pressure builds up in the abdominal cavity, such as coughing, sneezing, jumping, lifting, and exercising.
2. Sudden urinary incontinence – ‘bladder overactivity’, which means the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily and without warning. Urine leakage is usually preceded by a sudden and strong urge to urinate, usually on the way to the toilet.
3. Mixed urinary incontinence – a combination of stress and sudden urinary incontinence. It is important to identify the dominant and most bothersome symptom for the patient. This symptom must first be treated.
4. Complete Bladder Failure – This occurs when the bladder does not empty completely. Possible causes include obstruction of the bladder outlet (e.g. due to enlarged prostate), abnormal bladder muscle function, or nerve damage.
5. Functional incontinence – involuntary loss of urine is caused by physical or mental limitations.

Male urinary incontinence – what are the most common symptoms?

The main symptom of urinary incontinence is urine leakage when coughing, laughing, lifting, exerting or changing posture. Symptoms of sudden urinary incontinence include:

1. A sudden, urgent need to urinate.
2. Emergency situations where you lose a lot of urine.
3. The need to urinate frequently, especially at night.

Urinary incontinence in men – diagnosis

The doctor will perform a thorough physical examination. He will check the penis, prostate and nervous system. He will also conduct a medical interview. They will also order routine diagnostic tests, such as a general urinalysis. It allows you to see if there is a urinary tract infection or inflammation of the urinary gland. This test may also detect blood or sugar in the urine.

Male urinary incontinence – urodynamic test

Uroflowmetry measures the flow and strength of the jet during urination. It is a common, non-invasive test used to diagnose symptoms such as pain while urinating or urinary incontinence. The result can help you assess bladder and sphincter function or check for obstacles to normal urine flow.

During normal urination, the initial stream starts slowly, then speeds up, and then slows down. This test records any deviation from the norm. It helps the doctor make a diagnosis.

1. Find out more about urodynamic testing

Urinary incontinence in men – additional research

1. Cystometrogram – assesses the bladder’s ability to store and pass urine.
2. Electromyogram – used to record the electrical activity of the muscles.

The doctor may also perform a cystoscopy to look into the urinary tract. It allows you to exclude other causes of urinary incontinence.

Causes of urinary incontinence in men

It can be caused by damage or narrowing of the urethra, nerve damage, urinary tract infections. It may also indicate a prostate problem. Occasionally, urinary incontinence is caused by another medical condition, including a nervous system disorder or trauma (such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke or spinal cord injury), certain medications, or diabetes.

When to call the doctor?

Call your doctor right away when urinary incontinence continues or is accompanied by:

1. Weakness or numbness in the buttocks, legs and feet
2. Fever, chills, stomach ache
3. Blood in the urine or a burning sensation when urinating
4. Bowel problems.

Make an appointment with your doctor when:

1. The problem with urinary incontinence is becoming more and more serious.
2. You must wear protective inserts.
3. Urinary incontinence affects your life in any way.

What is the treatment of urinary incontinence?

Treatment depends on the type of urinary incontinence and how it affects your life. It most commonly involves medications, simple exercises, or both. Some men need surgery.

Urinary incontinence in men – home remedies

1. Limit or stop drinking caffeinated and fizzy drinks such as coffee, tea, coca-cola, pepsi.
2. Limit alcohol to a maximum of 1 drink per day.
3. Eat less food that irritates your bladder. Avoid citrus fruits, chocolate, tomatoes, vinegar, spicy foods, dairy products, and aspartame.
4. If you smoke, quit.
5. If you are overweight, try to lose weight.
6. Avoid constipation.

To avoid constipation:

1. Eat fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains daily. They contain a lot of fiber.
2. Drink enough fluids. Don’t avoid drinking just because you are concerned about urine leakage.
3. Exercise daily.

Talk to your doctor about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications. He will check to see if any of them are exacerbating the problem of urinary incontinence. Such medications include antidepressants, tranquilizers, and even some allergy and cold remedies.