Healthy Living

“I laughed so hard, tears ran down my leg.” This can be a funny image, but it’s no laughing matter to those experiencing true urinary incontinence.

Leakage of urine results from a loss of bladder control and it can happen to anyone. Urinary incontinence becomes increasingly common with age and is twice as common in women as in men, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms can range from mild leaking to uncontrollable wetting.

Most bladder control problems happen when muscles are either too weak or too active. If the muscles that keep your bladder closed are weak, you may have accidents when you sneeze, laugh or lift a heavy object. This is stress incontinence.

On the other hand, if bladder muscles become too active, you may have a strong and frequent urge to void when there is very little urine in the bladder. This is called overactive bladder and can result in urge incontinence. Both problems can be distressing and embarrassing, and are usually under-reported to health care providers.

There are lifestyle changes, exercises, medications, and surgical interventions that can help improve bladder control, according to Urologist Brandon Stahl, MD, of Eastern Connecticut Urology Associates in Norwich.

“Incontinence is a medical problem that can affect people’s social life and emotional well being and should not be viewed as a normal part of aging,” said Stahl, a member of the Backus Hospital Medical Staff. “Sometimes the fix for this can be simple dietary changes such as a reduction of caffeine and alcohol or perhaps pelvic floor strengthening exercises. Other times evaluation and treatment require additional testing in the office before deciding which type of procedure would be most beneficial.”

If you are experiencing this common problem, rest assured you are not alone. The bottom line is, don’t hesitate to discuss it openly with your primary care provider or urologist.