How To Recognize Urinary Incontinence

Recognizing the problem and who is affected
Who is affected
Although urinary incontinence can occur at any age in any population, primarily affects children, women and elderly population.
Moreover, the incidence increases sharply with age, being more common after 40 years and affects 15% of the population.
Factors that favor the occurrence of urinary incontinence
Women
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Strenuous exercise
Obesity
Smoking
Diabetes
Urinary infections
Postmenopause
Elders
Degenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
Immobility
Depression
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Men
Prostate Pathology
Recognizing the problem
Experts say that in many cases, this disease is underestimated as those affected often do not seek medical help, which affects their quality of life.
At certain points in time there may be difficulty in containing the urination, urinary incontinence is temporary due to easily correctable situations (infections, medications …). However, the problem may be persistent (chronic urinary incontinence) interfering with our normal daily activities. In both cases we must see a doctor without any hesitation, as there are solutions for this disorder.
Has developed various medical questionnaires to patients, trying to recognize and address incontinence in all its breadth from the medical consultation.
The most important thing is to recognize and deal with the problem by the patient. The doctor will try to identify the cause and classify the type of urinary incontinence, to find the most appropriate therapeutic measures.
This place:
- Detailed medical history, conducted about the potential facilitating factors for urinary incontinence
- Physical examination, with emphasis on neurological examination, abdominal and perineal
- Investigations, including:
* Urinalysis to rule out infection
* Cystoscopy: visualization of the bladder
* Urodynamic testing: consists of a series of technologies to diagnose the existence and type of urinary incontinence. Include:
1. Flowmetry. Measure the speed of urine flow during urination. It is a noninvasive technique has the advantage of not causing discomfort to the patient.
2. Cistomanometria. It measures the pressure inside the bladder and urethra. Used as an additional technique but there has been diagnose the type of incontinence with the previous tests and medical history.