Types of Bladder Weakness
There are many different terms people use to describe bladder weakness including: sensitive bladder, overactive bladder and urine leaks, as well as a few more medical terms. The symptoms described below should help you start to identify a specific type.
Depending on its physical cause, incontinence can be experienced in many different ways. Whatever type your loved one has, though, it’s important to remember that it can be successfully managed with the right products. The most common types are Stress Incontinence and Urge Incontinence, and it can also quite often be a combination of the two.
Once you have determined the type of incontinence your loved one has you’ll need to know what you can do to make life as comfortable as you can for your loved one, go to what you can do for practical advice.
Stress Incontinence
Are unexpected leaks caused by physical exertion?
This is Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) or usually shortened to Stress Incontinence. It is more common in women than men. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder have become weakened. Laughing or coughing increases the pressure on the bladder and the pelvic floor muscles are unable to tighten enough to keep all the urine in. It is usually only small amounts but in some cases it can be more.
Urge Incontinence
Have they an uncontrollable urge to urninate without warning?
This is Urge Incontinence, often referred to as an overactive bladder. This is a person experiences a sudden urge to urinate and the bladder involuntarily expels urine. There is usually little warning and moderate to large amounts of leakage. The average person empties their bladder between 4 and 8 times a day but if you find that your loved one needs to urinate more frequently than is usual for them, even perhaps waking several times during the night on a regular basis, this could be a symptom of Urge Incontinence.
The exact cause of this type of bladder weakness is not known but it’s thought that the bladder muscles send incorrect signals to the brain indicating that the bladder is fuller than it actually is. In certain cases you can ‘train’ your bladder not to do this and you’ll find advice on this in What you can do about bladder weakness. Most people manage the symptoms of Urge Incontinence with protective liners, pads or pants. TENA’s range of products offer discretion and security, so the impact of Urge Incontinence can be minimised. You’ll find information about our products and the opportunity to order free samples in the Product Information.
Mixed Incontinence
Do they have mixed symptoms?
Some people experience Mixed Incontinence. It will usually be a combination of Stress Incontinence and Urge Incontinence. If there are both types of bladder weakness present you will usually find that one is more prominent than the other, so when you look at What you can do, you should focus on the symptoms experienced the most. When you feel sufficient improvement has been achieved, you can then concentrate on the other symptoms.
Functional Incontinence
Does your loved one have a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for them to reach the toilet in time?
Functional Incontinence is the inability to reach the toilet in time due to lack of mobility or mental illness such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s. If your loved one is bedridden, confined to a wheelchair, or just unable to move about unaided, incontinence is a very common occurrence. Get some tips and hints on helping make toilet access easier in What you can do about incontinence
Neurological Bladder Disorders.
Have they experienced nerve damage?
Illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis or accidental brain damage can interfere with the way the bladder and brain communicate leading to an inability to control the bladder or empty it completely. These are known as Neurological Bladder Disorders.
Overflow Incontinence
Have they experienced dribbling after urination?
Overflow Incontinence affects men when the bladder does not empty completely and urine collects in the end of the penis and begins to dribble out. It is usually caused by an obstruction such as faecal impaction, an enlarged prostrate, nerve damage, or an abnormality in the urethra.
Faecal Incontinence
Have they experienced Faecal Incontinence?
Faecal Incontinence is the involuntary passage of faeces. Some causes of faecal incontinence are constipation or diarrhoea, damage to the anal sphincter muscles or the rectum, loss of storage capacity in the rectum or pelvic floor dysfunction.
If your loved one has faecal incontinence you should consult a healthcare professional on the treatment and management of this. You could also try TENA Duo to help manage the issue whilst being treated.