Urinary incontinence is a condition where someone unintentionally leaks urine.
It is a common problem thought to affect millions of people, according to the NHS.
There are several types, but stress incontinence and urge incontinence are the two most common.
The former is when urine leaks at times when the bladder is most under pressure – such as when you cough or laugh – but is not related to feeling stressed.
However, the latter is the sudden, intense urge to go to the toilet, and can triggered by a sudden change of position or even the sound of running water.
According to the NHS, urinary incontinence happens when the normal process of storing and passing urine is disrupted.
Here are some of the main reasons it can happen, and they are all avoidable.
Obesity
This can trigger stress incontinence, according to the NHS.
The extra weight places increased pressure on your tummy which can also put pressure on your bladder as it fills with urine.
Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol and caffeine can be causes of urge incontinence.
They can lead your detrusor muscles – which relax and contract in the walls of the bladder to control urine flow – to contract too often.
Lack of fluids
Poor intake of fluids can cause strong, concentrated urine to collect in your bladder.
This can irritate the bladder and cause symptoms of overactivity.
Medications
Some medicines can interrupt the normal process of storing and passing urine, or raise the amount of urine produced, and trigger stress and urge incontinence.
These include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, diuretics, some antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and sedatives.
Constipation
Urge incontinence and overflow incontinence – caused by a blockage or obstruction in the bladder – can be caused by constipation.
You can ensure your stools pass regularly by eating enough fibre, drinking enough fluids, being active and going to the toilet when you feel the urge.
Other factors which can cause urinary incontinence include damage to the bladder through surgery, Crohn’s disease, a spinal cord injury, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
More than 10 per cent of men aged 65 and over have urinary and bowel incontinence to some degree.
This group are also the least likely to talk about the problem.
Often because of embarrassment or denial, men will wait, on average, 4.2 years after first experiencing bladder control problems before seeing a healthcare professional.
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