Urinary incontinence – the loss of bladder control – is a common and often embarrassing problem.
Those affected from the problem often suffer in silence.
The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that is so sudden and strong that you don’t make it to a toilet in time.
SYMPTOMS OF UI According to Dr Puskar Shyam Chowdhury- Sr Consultant Urologist Fortis Hospital, HOD of Urology KPC Medical College Kolkata “A normal person can hold up to 400 – 500 ml of urine in the bladder, post that, they feel the urge to pass urine.
But people who have a weak sphincter or weak valve tend to leak before that amount of urine is stored.
They feel a sudden urgency or involuntary contractions.
Inappropriate coordination between the bladder muscles and the sphincters lead to this leaking.
Feeling sudden uncontrollable urges to urinate, frequent urination, waking up many times at night to urinate, urinating during sleep and leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise are some of the common symptoms.” Causes Detailing about the other causes of UI, Dr Madhusudan Agrawal- Professor, Consultant Urologist, Rainbow Hospital Sikandra, Agra said, “Being overweight, suffering from chronic constipation, urinary tract infection, surgery involving a woman’s reproductive organs and damaged nerves are some of the reasons that can trigger UI.” DIAGNOSING IT RIGHT There are various types of UI, and the first step in diagnosis or treatment starts with identifying which type of UI is ailing the patient.
Said Dr Rajesh Kumar Tiwari- Prof & Head of Dept.
Urology, IGIMS Patna “There are various common types, like Total UI, Overflowing UI, Urge UI, Stress UI, Mixed UI, and even rare ones like giggle UI and sexual UI.
We need to delve deep into the patient’s history and first find out the probable causes.” In some cases, UI may also be an indicator of a bigger underlying medical condition, and this should be examined likewise as suggested by a specialist, he added.
Dr Vilas Sabale- Head of Dept, Urology DY Patil Hospital, Pune on his part said that the symptoms are in a way a diagnosis in itself.
“There is an involuntary leak from the bladder and medical experts look for the root cause in order to determine the line of treatment.
Nocturnal enuresis which happens at night is a common problem among kids.
If the problem is left untreated, it might create issues pertaining to the social and mental well-being of an individual.
It could gradually hamper the kidney functions and lead to kidney failure in the long run.” Women and UI Dr K Lalitha- Consultant Urologist, Dr Lalitha’s Urogynecology Centre, Hyderabad, said, “Women are more prone to develop this condition due to short length urethra, hypermobility of urethra (multiple pregnancies), vaginal prolapse etc.
It is more common among women over 50.
The bladder and urethra have external muscular support, which often weakens due to multiple pregnancy, prolonged labor, and complicated delivery.
Pelvic floor exercises must be advised to antenatal women.
It is also advisable for women after menopause TREATMENT OPTIONS Detailing about treatment options, Dr Rajesh Kukreja- Director, Urocare Hospital, Indore said it is a three-step process: Lifestyle modification, medical treatment, and surgical treatment.
“First, conservative treatments that do not involve medication or surgery are tried.
These include lifestyle changes, exercising the pelvic floor muscles (Kegel exercises) and exercising the bladder.
In many cases, medications can work very well to return normal function to the bladder.
Thereafter surgery may be considered,” said Dr Kukreja.
“From mild lifestyle changes to surgical interventions, an entire spectrum or treatment is available including pharmacotherapy, vaginal pessaries, injecting botulinum toxins and incontinence aids to manage the condition,” Dr R.Shanmugasundaram- Consultant Urologist, SS Urology Centre Chennai, pointed out while emphasizing the need for family’s physical, emotional, psychological, and financial support for the patient Youth and UI Urinary incontinence involves involuntary discharge of urine and Dr Apul Goel- Professor, Department of Urology KGMU Lucknow, elaborated, it occurs due to abnormalities in the bladder or urethra.
He further said common types of incontinence include an overactive bladder.
It is not particularly a problem with the young but that does not mean a younger person cannot suffer from this.
“An overactive bladder could worsen, stabilize or the patient could be in remission for a few years.
Medication sometimes needs to continue for a lifetime.” He stressed that many a times patients feel they are getting better and abruptly stop medication.
“This is certainly not recommended as stopping the treatment may not help at all.” The session ended with the doctors answering a round of queries posed by the audience.
Doctors Who participated in No More Leaks Campaign: Agra: Dr Madhusudan Agrawal Professor- Consultant Urologist, Rainbow Hospital Sikandra Dr Vijay Bora- Consultant Urologist S.R Medical Institute & Research Centre Dr Dipak Paruliya- Consultant Urologist Maitri Urology & Stone Clinic Dr Prashant Lavania- Senior Urologist Surgeon, SN Medical College Chennai: Dr.R.Shanmugasundaram- Consultant Urologist SS Urology Centre Dr.Arun Kumar K- Sr.
Consultant Urologist Gem Hospital Dr.A.
K.Jayaraj- Consultant Urologist Dr.Kamakshi Memorial Hospital Dr.Venkat Subramaniam.D- Consultant Urologist RG Stone Dr.Pavan Arcot Prakash- Consultant Urologist Abirami Nulife Hospital Hyderabad: Dr DVS Rama Krishna Prasad- Consultant Urologist, Asian lnstitute of Nephro & Urology Hospital Dr AV Ravi Kumar- Consultant Urologist Medicover Hospitals Dr N.P.Padmakar- Consultant Urologist Apollo Hospitals Dr K Lalitha- Consultant Urologist Dr Lalitha’s Urogynecology Centre Dr B Laxman- Consultant Urologist Hyderabad Urology and Andrology Hospital Indore: Dr.Rajesh Kukreja- Director, Urocare Hospital Dr.Saurabh Chipde- Head of department, Urology, Rajshree Apollo Hospital Dr.Vineet Naja Jain- Head of department, Urology, Shalby Hospital Dr.
Nitesh Patidar- Consultant Urologist, Apple Hospital Dr.
Saurabh Julka- Consultant Urologist, CHL Hospital Kolkata: Dr Puskar Shyam Chowdhury- Sr Consultant Urologist Fortis Hospital, HOD of Urology KPC Medical College Dr Nilanjan Mitra- Consultant Urologist AMRI, Dhakuria Dr.
Nabankur Ghosh- Sr Consultant Urologist AMRI Salt Lake Dr.
Sayak Roy- Consultant Urologist Zenith Hospital Dr.
Mukesh Kumar Vijay- Consultant Urologist Kothari Medical Centre Lucknow: Dr Apul Goel Professor- Department of Urology KGMU Dr Manmeet Singh- Director, Dept.of Urology, Chandan Hospital Dr Alok Srivastava- Professor Department of Urology DR.RMLIMS Dr Feroz Mohd.
Khan- Consultant Urologist Sahara Hospital Dr Rahul Yadav- Sr.
Consultant Urologist Apollo Medics Patna: Dr.Amitabh Kumar Sinha- Head Sheila Urology & Laparoscopy Centre Dr A K Malviya- Associate Professor Urology, PMCH Dr Rajesh Kumar Tiwari- Prof & Head of Dept.
Urology, IGIMS Dr Nitesh Kumar- Consultant Urologist Sri Kripa Urocare Dr Md Shadab- Associate Professor Urology, NSMCH Pune: Dr.
Deepak Kirpekar- Consultant Urologist Dr.
Suresh Patankar- Prof & Consultant Urologist, Ace Hospital Dr.
Prakash Patwardhan- Consultant Urologist DMH Hospital Dr.
Vilas Sabale- Head of Dept, Urology DY Patil Hospital Dr.
Jaydeep Date- Consultant Urologist Poona Hospital Disclaimer: Content Produced by Times – Red Cell