Bladder function in the elderly

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Urinary incontinence or what some people call leakage is a problem that many elderly people have to face, such as urine leakage, bed wetting, urine leakage when coughing and sneezing, causing both physical and mental pain for the elderly. Bladder function in the elderly, as we age, what happens is:

  • Bladder function begins to deteriorate. Some may contract their bladder too frequently and uncontrollably, or conversely, they may contract too little.
  • The muscles in the pelvic floor and sphincter area begin to deteriorate and cannot contract or relax normally, especially in women who have given birth, whether by natural birth or cesarean section.
  • The amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination is greater than that of normal people.
  • In men, a common condition is an enlarged prostate gland, which can cause urinary incontinence.
  • More urine is produce at night.

Urine leakage can occur in many ways, such as:

Functional Incontinence: Urinary incontinence is a condition that is cause by physical, mental, or environmental factors that cause the elderly to not have time to use the bathroom, such as mobility limitations, the bathroom is far away สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่, the room is on a different floor, or there is arthritis that may make it difficult to unbutton or take off pants.

Urge Incontinence: It is a sudden and intense urge to urinate, causing some elderly people to be unable to hold their urine until they reach the toilet and incontinence. This type of incontinence in the elderly can be cause by infection, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebrovascular disease.

Overflow Incontinence: It is a symptom where a small amount of urine leaks out because the elderly person does not completely urinate or because the elderly person’s bladder is always full for some reason. The cause is due to problems with the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the urinary system, such as an enlarged prostate gland or a stricture of the urethra.

Stress Incontinence: Symptoms often occur in people with reduced strength of the muscles in the pelvic floor and sphincter. Even though the bladder capacity is not full, urine leakage can occur with just a little straining, coughing, or sneezing.

Some older adults may experience multiple types of urine leakage at the same time. Any type of leakage can affect their daily lives, make it difficult to get around, and reduce their self-confidence. In addition, pain, frequent urination, and sudden urges to urinate can disrupt their sleep and overall health. Waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom can also increase the risk of accidents.