Why am I peeing so much all of a sudden? A guide to urinary incontinence
There are many reasons why you may start to uncontrollably wet yourself, so if you’re suffering from this, it’s best that you identify a symptom or a common cause of urinary incontinence as early as possible as sometimes, identifying the issue earlier can make them a lot easier to treat.
Incontinence Shop has shared some insight into the common causes of urinary incontinence and how to deal with them.
Overactive bladder
An overactive bladder, commonly known as OAB, can cause a frequent and sudden urge to urinate which, unfortunately, you may find difficult to control. You may feel the uncontrollable desire to pass urine many times during the day and night, which can be very inconvenient during work hours and wake you up in your sleep.
You may feel a bit embarrassed if you suffer from an overactive bladder, especially if you have to discuss it with your employer at work, and it can also lead you to the feeling you need to isolate yourself or limit your social life.
There are several treatments you can use to help manage your symptoms and your healthcare provider may recommend pelvis floor exercises, medication, or lifestyle changes to help you regain control, which could be a change in your diet or activity.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
A more common cause of urinary incontinence is a urinary tract infection, otherwise known as a UTI.
Most people would have suffered from a UTI in their lifetime and although they’re painfully uncomfortable and inconvenient, they can be easily treated with the use of antibiotics.
It is advised that you visit your GP or healthcare provider as soon as you spot the problem, as you can prevent it from escalating further and clear up the infection.
Weakened pelvic floor muscles
There are a handful of reasons why you may be experiencing weakened pelvic floor muscles, such as pregnancy, post-birth, some cancer treatments, chronic constipation and being overweight.
Just like any other muscle, your pelvic floor will just naturally weaken and degrade over time.
Weakened pelvic floor muscles can unfortunately contribute towards urinary incontinence. The good news is that there are medical treatments for weakened pelvic floor muscles, such as electrical stimulation.
If you have any fears about wetting yourself in public, you can also build your pelvic floor muscle strength in the comfort of your own home by performing certain exercises, such as a quick tone-up, or sitting and squeezing your pelvic floor muscles between 10 and 15 times.
Neurological conditions
Certain neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, can cause urinary incontinence.
This can be caused by a disruption in the signals between the brain and the bladder, causing bladder leakage.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. Your healthcare provider or GP can devise a personalised treatment plan, which can contribute to effectively managing your symptoms and also providing a greater quality of life.
Medications
Some medications, such as certain antidepressants, sedatives and hormone replacement therapy, can cause varied side effects – one of these can be urinary incontinence.
It is definitely worth consulting with your GP or healthcare provider if your medications begin to lead to urinary incontinence, as they may have other alternatives to provide you with.
How to deal with the symptoms of urinary incontinence
There are many ways to deal with the above symptoms of urinary incontinence – ultimately, getting professional advice from your healthcare provider or GP is a wise move, especially if you become concerned about your symptoms.
Incontinence specialists such as Incontinence Shop supply a wide variety of high quality and discreet incontinence products, such as insert pads, pull-up pants and more, to enable to you combat the inconveniences of living with incontinence.