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A person with Urinary Incontinence accidentally releases pee.

When bladder control is lost, it can range from a minor leak of pee after laughing, sneezing, or coughing to a full inability to control urination. Another name for Urinary Incontinence is an Overactive bladder. 

Urinary Incontinence is more prevalent in older persons, especially women, although it can affect anyone.

Bladder control problems can be humiliating and make people refrain from participating in daily activities.

More than half of women who are 45 or older experience urinary Incontinence.

Nearly one in five women report having UI that interferes with their regular activities.

Ayurveda Perspective: What is Urinary Incontinence?

According to Ayurveda, urinary Incontinence is caused by Improper diet & lifestyle, which causes an imbalance of Vata, Kapha & Aam formation.

The Vata dosha controls the nervous system, movement, and elimination in the body.

Aggravated Vata carries Aam & Kapha all over the body and settles in the urinary channel. 

Incontinence can occur when the Vata dosha is aggravated, leading to weakened bladder muscles and an inability to control urine flow.

It leads to malnourishment of the tissues & excess production of toxins, i.e., Kleda.

In this pathological state, urine removes excess toxins it. As there is more production of Kleda, more urine is excreted. 

Ayurveda also recognizes that other factors, such as weak pelvic muscles, urinary tract infections, hormonal imbalances, and certain medications, can cause Incontinence.

Additionally, lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise can also contribute to Incontinence.

At Ayushakti Ayurved, we aim to identify the root cause of Incontinence and address it through dietary changes, effective home remedies, natural detox (panchkarma) and marma therapy, herbal medicines, and lifestyle modifications.

Ayushakti's treatment aims to balance the Vata dosha and strengthen the bladder and pelvic muscles, improving bladder control and reducing the frequency of incontinence episodes.

What are Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence?

• Leaking urine during everyday activities, such as lifting, bending, coughing, or exercising
• Feeling a sudden, strong urge to urinate right away
• Leaking urine without any warning or urge
• Being unable to reach a toilet in time
• Wetting your bed during sleep

Facts on Urinary Incontinence

• Females are more prone to urinary Incontinence than males are. 
• Numerous factors can contribute to urine incontinence. 
• Smoking and obesity both increase the risk of urine incontinence.

Types of Urinary Incontinence and Its Symptoms:

The type of urinary Incontinence is normally linked to the cause. Urine leakage that occurs unintentionally is the main symptom. The type of urinary Incontinence will determine when and how this happens. They include: 

Stress incontinence:

Urine leaks out while coughing, laughing, or doing some activity, such as running or jumping. Most women who have given birth or experienced menopause experience this type of urinary Incontinence. 

Instead of mental stress, physical pressure is meant by the term "stress" in this context. The person may urinate involuntarily if the muscles controlling the urinary tract and the bladder are suddenly subjected to additional pressure.

Stress incontinence may be triggered by the following actions listed below:

• Exercising 
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Laughing 

Urge incontinence:

There is a sudden and intense urge to urinate, and urine leaks simultaneously or just after. 

The second most typical type of urinary Incontinence is also referred to as "overactive bladder" or "reflex incontinence."

A sudden, involuntary contraction of the bladder's muscular wall results in an uncontrollable urge to urinate.

No matter what a person does when they feel the urge to urinate, they only have a very short window of time before the urine is released.

The need to urinate could be caused by the following:

• A sudden shift in position, 
• The sound of water running 
• During sex

Damage to the bladder nerves, the nervous system, or the muscles themselves can cause the muscles to contract involuntarily.

Overflow incontinence:

The inability to empty the bladder can result in leaking. Men with prostate gland issues, damaged bladders, or blocked urethras are more likely to experience this. The bladder can become blocked by an enlarged prostate gland.

Small amounts of urinary leakage occur when the bladder cannot hold as much urine as the body produces or when the bladder cannot empty.

Patients frequently experience frequent urination and "dribbling," or a continuous drip of urine from the urethra.

Total Incontinence:

The bladder cannot store urine.

This indicates that the individual either continuously leaks large amounts of urine or frequently experiences uncontrollable urine leaks.

The patient may suffer from a congenital condition (born with a defect), a spinal cord or urinary system injury, or a fistula between the bladder and, for instance, the vagina.

Functional Incontinence:

Urine escapes because a person cannot reach the bathroom in time, possibly due to a mobility issue. When people have functional Incontinence, they know they need to urinate but cannot get to the bathroom in time because of a mobility issue.

The following are typical symptoms of functional Incontinence:

• Confusion
• dementia
• Poor mobility or vision
• Lack of dexterity makes it difficult to undo the pants' buttons
• An unwillingness to use the restroom can result from depression, anxiety, or anger
• Older adults are more likely to have functional Incontinence, which is common in nursing homes.

Mixed Incontinence:

A combination of types of Incontinence. There will be symptoms of both stress and urge Incontinence.

What are the main causes of Urinary Incontinence?

• Obesity: This increases pressure on the muscles surrounding the bladder. It weakens the muscles, increasing the likelihood of leakage when the person coughs or sneezes.
• Smoking: This can cause a chronic cough, which can cause incontinence episodes.
• Gender: Women are more likely than men to develop stress incontinence, particularly if they have had children.
• Age: As we get older, the muscles in our bladder and urethra weaken.
• Chronic Health Illness: The risk is increased by several illnesses and conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease, spinal cord injury, and neurologic conditions like a stroke.
• Surgery: Incontinence may develop due to radiation treatment or prostate surgery for prostate disease.

Complications

The inability to retain urine can occasionally cause discomfort, humiliation, and other physical issues. These consist of the following:

• Skin issues: Because their skin is frequently wet, people with urinary Incontinence are more likely to develop skin sores, rashes, and infections. This hinders the healing of wounds and encourages fungus infections. 
• Urinary tract infections: The risk of infection is greatly increased by the long-term use of a urinary catheter.
• Prolapse: When a portion of the vagina, bladder, or, occasionally, the urethra falls into the vaginal opening. Weakened pelvic floor muscles are typically to blame for this.

Embarrassed people may withdraw socially, which can result in depression. You can consult an Ayushakti expert about Urinary Incontinence and its natural treatment.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Incontinence

Incontinence is a medical condition characterized by the inability to control the bladder or bowels, resulting in the involuntary release of urine or feces.

It can be a frustrating and embarrassing condition affecting a person's quality of life.

While many conventional treatments are available for Incon