31 August 2017
Common Causes of Incontinence
Bowel and bladder weakness affects around one in four people during their lives - and the condition can affect men and women of any age. The NHS estimates that up to 6 million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence. Studies suggest that "major faecal incontinence" affects 1.4% of the population over 40 years old and constipation affects between 3% and 15% of the population. More than 10 per cent of men aged 65 and over have urinary and bowel incontinence to some degree, however this group are the most likely not to talk about the problem. Below are some of the common causes of incontinence:- Increase pressure on the stomach - including being overweight
- Damage to the bladder which could be caused by surgery including prostate surgery
- Certain medications
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease
- Diabetes and multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer's & Dementia disease - incontinence
- Constipation - faecal incontinence
- Cystitis - constant urge to urinate
- Disc Disorders
- Female genital disorders
- Heart failure - night urination
- Kidney stones - urinary urgency
- Paralysis - loss of bladder control
- Pregnancy - bladder incontinence
- Prostate conditions - night urination
- Sports Injuries - bladder incontinence