Urinary incontinence, although far more common among adults over the age of 65 can also be found in younger adults. Because of pregnancy and childbirth more women than men have issues with urinary incontinence in the younger age groups. As you are beginning to learn about urinary incontinence it is simplest to group it into three main categories, which are stress incontinence, overflow incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence is the most common type of incontinence found among younger women, and it occurs when any sudden pressure is exerted on the bladder, causing the bladder to leak slightly. This type of pressure can come from a cough, laugh or sneeze, or it can occur if you are straining while lifting something heavy. Any sudden pressure to the abdomen can cause stress incontinence. The reason that this the most common type of urinary incontinence for younger women is because the urinary sphincter, the muscle that regulates urine flow, can be weakened during pregnancy and childbirth. This type of incontinence is also found in postmenopausal women as the urethra becomes less elastic due to lower estrogen levels, and it can be found in men who have recently undergone prostate surgery. Another segment of adults that suffer from stress incontinence are obese adults.

The next type of urinary incontinence, overflow incontinence, occurs when the bladder continually leaks tiny amounts of urine because it never completely empties. A blockage can cause this type of incontinence, and this type or incontinence is found in older men as they begin dealing with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Again, as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, women can find themselves left with nerve damage that translates into a weak contraction in the bladder causing overflow incontinence. As this condition progresses it can cause the bladder to enlarge as a result of being constantly overfilled.

The third type of incontinence is urge incontinence, and the best way to describe this type of incontinence is that a person feels a sudden and very strong urge to urinate. Often this urge is followed by involuntary leakage as well. Since this type of incontinence offers little to no warning, it is not uncommon to have an accident before you are able to get to the bathroom. Urge incontinence is the most common type of incontinence found among the elderly. To further exacerbate the problem, an elderly person often has limited mobility, so a sudden urge becomes just that much more difficult to deal with. The most common cause for urge incontinence is an overactive bladder that violently contracts before it is full. Changes in brain chemistry due to stroke or dementia can also contribute to the symptoms of an overactive bladder.

Oftentimes incontinence is thought to be an normal part of aging, but it is not. Incontinence is a symptom, so it is important to always discuss any new incidents of incontinence with your doctor to ferret out the underlying cause. Incontinence can be the harbinger of a disease like diabetes; it can be the side effect of a medication, or it can be the result of an infection or weakened muscles. Discussing the problem with your doctor is the first step to uncovering the root cause of your incontinence.

Many times incontinence can be cured, and when it is chronic, it can always be managed. Working with your health care professional is the best way to find methods and incontinence products that support your lifestyle. Then learn all you can about your condition, because the more you know about your specific condition, the better you will be able to manage it.