Associate Professor of Urology at Department of Surgery MLN Medical College Dr Dileep Chaurasia said that at least one out of 10 people above 65 years of age suffer from the problem of urinary incontinence or loss of urinary bladder control.
In India over 50 million people suffer from urinary incontinence. It is twice more common in females as compared to males. People with urinary incontinence are frequently depressed and regressed. They often curtail all social activity and stay at home, he said.
Addressing the mediapersons here on Saturday Dr Chaurasia said ageing does not cause urinary incontinence and it is not a sign of natural ageing process.
But ageing can decrease bladder capacity, as also urinary stream and increase frequency of urination. Urinary incontinence may be transient or permanent.
"Normally people are reluctant to talk about this problem and keep on avoiding social activities. But this only affects their personal and social life despite the fact nearly all types of urinary incontinence can be treated and often cured at all ages," he said.
Dr Chaurasia said there were different types of urinary incontinence like stress urinary incontinence in which urine leakage occurs because of sudden pressure on lower stomach muscles during coughing, laughing, sneezing, weight-lifting or exercise. Urge urinary incontinence occurs when need to urinate comes on too fast usually seen in elderly.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Chaurasia said there were different types of urinary incontinence like stress urinary incontinence in which urine leakage occurs because of sudden pressure on lower stomach muscles during coughing, laughing, sneezing, weight-lifting or exercise. Urge urinary incontinence occurs when need to urinate comes on too fast usually seen in elderly.
{{/usCountry}}Overflow urinary incontinence occurs as result of constant dribbling of urine due to overfilled bladder because of obstruction or blockage to urinary flow as in prostatic enlargement or urethral structure.
Functional urinary incontinence occurs when there is lack of mobility in reaching bathroom in severe arthritis or bed ridden cases.
"The common causes of urinary incontinence are post menopausal state in females, prostatic enlargement or prostatic surgery in males, weakness of pelvic muscles, constipation, immobility, drugs, urinary infection or diabetes," he added.
Dr Chaurasia said the bladder control training using 'Kegel Pelvic' floor muscle exercises, 'Biofeed back ' and timed voiding technique gives good results in various types of urinary incontinence. Various new medicines are also available for effective treatment of stress urine incontinence.
"Injection of implant into area around the urethra also helps in keeping the passage closed. Some simple devices available in the market also help in reducing the problem. The advance surgeries can also help in getting rid of the problem," he pointed out.