Author: Sarah Barber
Do you find yourself stifling laughs or avoiding activities you enjoy because of incontinence?
Do you find yourself stifling laughs or avoiding activities you enjoy because of incontinence? You’re not alone. Urinary incontinence affects millions of men and women every year. The good news is, urinary incontinence is a symptom of both urologic and non-urologic conditions and, most of the time, is easily treated.
“There are four types of incontinence: stress, urge, overflow, and functional. At times, physicians also see a mixture of stress and urge incontinence,” said Rafid Yousif, MD-MPH, urologist at Lansing Urology Institute and co-director of Robotic Surgery at McLaren Greater Lansing.
- Stress incontinence: A patient leaks urine when pressure is applied on his or her bladder by performing strenuous activity, such as lifting, laughing, or sneezing.
- Urge incontinence: A person has a sudden feeling to urinate and may not make it to the bathroom on time.
- Functional incontinence: Occurs when a person’s bladder is working correctly, but due to physical or mental ailments, the person does not recognize the need to go to the bathroom or does not have the ability to access the bathroom.
- Overflow incontinence: A person cannot empty his or her bladder completely, leading to the overspill of urine. This can be caused by an enlarged prostate. Learn more about this by clicking here.
“Treatment for urinary incontinence varies by the type,” said Dr. Yousif. “It can range from pelvic floor exercises, behavior modifications like weight loss, and avoiding caffeine, to medications or even surgery.”
If you are experiencing urinary incontinence, it is best to speak with your primary care physician or a urologist to find out what type of incontinence you are experiencing and what the best treatment options are for you.
Click here to contact Dr. Yousif at Lansing Institute of Urology if you have additional questions or are interested in an appointment.
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