Incontinence – Causes and Symptoms

IncontinenceEveryone likes to be in control of his life, whether it involves choosing a job, where to go on vacation, or when to walk the dog. Each decision becomes a tiny statement of control .That is why losing control of basic body functions may seem like a loss of power or independence. But that doesn't have to be the case. Remember, there are physi­cal reasons for your incontinence. Most of them require professional attention.

It's time to see your doctor if you have incontinence and:

  1. Headache
  2. Blurred or double vision
  3. Dizziness and confusion
  4. Vomiting
  5. Fever
  6. Inability to speak
  7. Inability to move one side of your body

You suffer brain damage when your blood and oxygen supply is reduced or cut off to a portion of your brain. This is a stroke — a medical emer­gency. You may have different symptoms depend­ing on how severe the stroke is and which artery it affects. Get help immediately.

  1. Memory loss
  2. Disorientation/confusion
  3. Anxiety
  4. Insomnia
  5. Lack of concentration
  6. Difficulty communicating and completing tasks
  7. Gradual changes in personality and mental abili­ties

These are just a few symptoms of Alzheimer's dis­ease, a condition where your brain function gradu­ally breaks down. Many treatable diseases, includ­ing depression, have the same symptoms as Alzheimer's, so get a thorough medical exam if you suspect this problem.

  1. Muscle weakness, clumsiness, stiffness
  2. Blurred or double vision
  3. Difficulty speaking
  4. Impotence
  5. Fatigue
  6. Numbness or tingling

This combination of symptoms could mean you have multiple sclerosis, a disorder of your nervous system. It usually begins in early adulthood.

  1. Unusual discharge from penis (men)
  2. Blisters or sores on penis that may or may not be itchy or painful (men)
  3. Genital itching (women)
  4. Vaginal discharge (women)
  5. Swollen lymph nodes
  6. Painful urination

If you have any one of these symptoms, you may be suffering from a sexually transmitted disease. See your doctor immediately for treatment.

  1. A sudden sharp pain down the back of your leg
  2. Numbness or tingling in an arm or leg
  3. Back pain

These symptoms could indicate pressure or dam­age to your spine from a ruptured disk.

(For men only)

  1. A frequent and urgent need to urinate, but difficulty beginning
  2. A weak stream of urine that sometimes dribbles
  3. Inability to empty the bladder completely

The prostate is a gland that lies under the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Most men over 50 will experience some enlargement of this gland, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, perhaps due to hormonal changes. If the overgrowth is severe enough, it will interfere with the flow of urine.

  1. Inability to have a normal bowel movement
  2. Feeling of constipation, but involuntary diarrhea
  3. Abdominal pain or cramping (sometimes)

You could be suffering from a severe case of con­stipation, called fecal impaction. This condition is usually curable, but you and your doctor need to determine what caused the impaction to prevent it from recurring.

Involuntary loss of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or during physical activity.

If you suffer this common problem, you're a victim of stress incontinence.