Medical Causes Of Urinary And Fecal Incontinence

There are many reasons for fecal and urinary incontinence. Incontinence is the inability to control your urine and bowel movements. You may feel the urge to go and feel like you are not going to make it to the toilet. Or, you may have leakage from the bowel or bladder without realizing it. More than five million Americans have some form of incontinence problem. This problem affects people of all ages from children to adults, to senior adults. It is more common in women than men and much more common in older adults although this is not a normal part of the aging process!

When incontinence hits, the patient may be devastated. They may feel embarrassment, shame and humiliation. People with incontinence problems often become secluded. They do not want to leave their house out of fear they could have an accident in public. Most patients with incontinence problems will try to hide it for as long as possible and will avoid contact with friends and family. This in turn leads to depression and other mental conditions. It is important for an incontinent patient to know that in most cases, fecal and urinary incontinence can be treated and easily managed.

There are many medical reasons why a person can develop incontinence. A person may have an impacted bowel causing constipation and leaking of liquids around the impacted stool. This may also affect urinary incontinence because of pressure on the urethra. Infection may also cause urinary incontinence. An infection in the bladder may cause an urgency to go and may worsen any existing incontinence problems.

A drop in the estrogen hormone in women often leads to softening of the tissue around the vagina and the urethra. An inflammation can be caused from this lack of estrogen and can create more problems for patients who have urge and stress related incontinence problems. A patient may also have a large amount of urine production because of medical problems such as mellitus, hypercalcermia, and diabetes. People with congestive heart failure, high calcium levels and swelling in the legs can also lead to incontinence problems. The bladder may fill rapidly with urine and cause excessive filling. Increased sugar levels in the bladder can also cause the muscle irritation and lead to urinary incontinence.

Another medical reason for urinary incontinence occurs when a person cannot empty their bladder completely when they go to the toilet. Urine remains in the bladder after using the toilet allowing the bladder to fill fuller faster. Restricted mobility is also a problem for some patients. This may be a problem, especially in older adults because of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, or poor eyesight. If this is the problem, the underlying problem can be treated or corrected. Making a large sign indicating where the bathroom is located could help those with poor vision. Patients with Alzheimer's or dementia problems may be helped by placing a picture on the door of the toilet to help them recognize the bathroom and jog their memory that they should use the toilet.

Recommended Reading

1. Understanding Urinary And Fecal Incontinence - The most current estimate suggests that over 20 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence and at least 10 percent of...
2. Causes Of Urinary Incontinence - There are about 12 million adults who suffer from urinary incontinence in the United States. Incontinence is more common in...
3. Men And Urinary Incontinence - Urinary incontinence is a potentially embarrassing condition that is most commonly associated with women. However, men too can suffer from...
4. Alzeheimer's And Dementia Caused Incontinence - Many people in the United States are caring for their elderly parents or relatives and many of these patients suffer...
5. The Four Basic Types Of Urinary Incontinence - There are four basic types of urinary incontinence. If you suffer from some form of incontinence, chances are that it...