Actually I’ve heard from my aunt who went through this, it’s pretty rough. She’d be in the middle of something and then had to zip to the loo. Turns out it’s quite common especially as you get older. She mentioned something about doing some exercises to strengthen her pelvic muscles and changing some of her drinking habits. Also, got some meds prescribed by her doctor. Seems like there’s quite a bit you can do about it.

Types of Incontinence:

Urinary incontinence, the loss of bladder control, is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that’s so sudden and strong you don’t get to a toilet in time.

Stress Incontinence: This occurs when there is exertion or pressure on the bladder, often caused by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. Urge Incontinence: Characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. Overflow Incontinence: Occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty properly, leading to overflow. Functional Incontinence: Arises when a physical or mental impairment prevents reaching the toilet in time.

Treatment: Treatments vary depending on the type of incontinence. Lifestyle changes, such as fluid and diet management, can help manage symptoms. Pelvic floor exercises, particularly Kegel exercises, strengthen the pelvic muscles and can be very effective. Medications are available that can alter bladder muscle contraction dynamics. Surgical options are also an avenue for those with severe cases where other treatments have failed. Consultation with a healthcare provider is crucial for determining the suitable treatment plan.

I’m not an expert, but I’ve read quite a bit about this because my grandma suffered from it, poor thing. Basically, there are a few types like stress incontinence, where you leak urine when you cough or sneeze. Then there’s urge incontinence, which means you suddenly really have to go. There’s also overflow incontinence; this one means the bladder can’t empty properly. My grandma used to do some exercises called Kegels, which seemed to help a bit. We also got her some medicine, but I think the type depends on the specific kind of incontinence.