Am I At Risk Of Getting Urinary Incontinence?

Are you over 60?

Are you a woman?

If you are a woman, are you pregnant, have you just given birth or are you menopausal?

If you are a woman, have you had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) or do you have pelvic organ prolapse (the bladder, rectum, or uterus shift out of their normal place into the vagina)?

If you are a man, do you have an enlarged prostate or prostatitis (a painful inflammation of the prostate gland)?

Are you overweight or obese?

Do you smoke?

Do you consume excessively caffeine, alcoholic, carbonated and artificially sweetened drinks, chocolate, hot peppers or spicy foods?

Do you have a family history of urinary incontinence (especially urge incontinence)?

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, or have you survived stroke?

Do you take heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives, and muscle relaxants?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of getting urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control is a common medical problem. It is characterized by involuntary leakage of urine. The severity of the problem can be different; it can range from occasional leakage of urine when you cough or sneeze to a sudden urge to urinate when you have to rush to the toilet. In women, urine leaks more often when they put pressure on the bladder by coughing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy. In men, urinary incontinence is usually associated with benign prostate enlargement.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of getting urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a medical problem characterized by leakage of urine that you cannot control. Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging, although it often occurs with age. It can affect your daily life and become an embarrassing problem. About a third of Americans have some degree of urinary incontinence. It often occurs in obese people. Losing weight can improve your bladder function and reduce unpleasant symptoms. Urinary incontinence is also more common in smokers, as well as in people taking heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives and muscle relaxants.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of getting urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a medical problem in which a person leaks urine by accident. It can affect anyone, but it is more common in people who have a urinary tract infection, vaginal infection or constipation. Women who develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy usually have the same problem after childbirth. Urinary incontinence is associated with diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. People who survived the stroke also have an increased risk of losing bladder control. Certain drinks and foods (spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, sparkling water) can increase the urge to urinate.