The NAFC (National Association For Continence) says that among the twenty five million American adults who suffer from urinary incontinence, 75% are women. Urine leaks when laughing, sneezing, coughing or exercising are the symptoms of incontinence.
What causes urinary incontinence?
There are several reasons for urinary incontinence
- Hormonal imbalances in women
- Weak muscles in the bladder region
- Bladder muscles that are overactive
- Weakness of pelvic muscles after delivery
- Aging
- Temporary health issues like high impact aerobics, constipation, infection in the vagina, obesity and smoking
- Prostate enlargement in men leading to blocked urethra
- High calcium levels seen in blood
- Abnormality of the urethra
- Diabetes
- Neurological disorders
Medication and treatment options
The sheer number of people affected by the problem creates a premise for accelerated sales of adult diapers, panty liners and several other prescription medications. The medicines usually prescribed for the problem are alpha-adrenergic agonists, estrogen and anticholinergics.
But all these drugs come with side effects ranging from simple to complicated to those that are of serious concern. Some of the known side effects are heartburn, blurred eyesight, dryness of the mouth, confusion, constipation and dizziness. Some of the prescription drugs are also reported to be carcinogenic.
The extra weight on the bladder, when a person is overweight, leads to urinary problems. Bladder control becomes an issue and incontinence follows. Maintaining a regular exercise regimen, eating healthy, nutritionally balanced food and sometimes weight loss surgery has been seen to reduce bladder control problems effectively in women. Weight loss, therefore, more specifically in the abdomen region can reduce the pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and the bladder. That is why the researchers concluded that weight loss measures should be the first option for treating bladder incontinence,
Endorsing this, Griffin P. Rodgers M.D, Director of NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), in a statement to the media, says, “Clearly, weight loss can have a significant, positive impact on urinary incontinence, a finding that may help motivate weight loss which has additional health benefits like preventing type 2 daibetes”.
Weight loss surgery
Now, Australian researchers have found out that weight loss surgery too goes a long way to benefit women with urinary problems
The research was led by Dr. Weranja Ranasinghe of the Austin Hospital in Melbourne. It was seen that women who had had the gastric band surgery found that the urinary function had improved considerably, affording them a better quality of life.
The Journal of the British Association Urological Surgeons published the study. The study also threw light on the fact that weight loss surgery for men worsened erection issues. The gastric banding surgery was conducted on 34 men and 142 women with urinary problems.