Symptoms of Bladder Problems

5. Urinary Incontinence

There are multiple types of urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when you exert pressure on your bladder by laughing, coughing, sneezing, or lifting something heavy. Urge incontinence can happen as a result of urinary urgency and occurs when you have the sudden urge to urinate but do not make it to the bathroom in time. Overflow incontinence can happen when the bladder does not empty and continues to dribble, even after using the bathroom.

Another type of incontinence is functional incontinence, which occurs when a mental or physical impairment prevents one from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you have arthritis, you may be unable to unbutton your pants quickly enough.

Temporary incontinence can occur from certain drinks or medications that stimulate increased urinary volume, like alcohol, caffeine, and heart and blood pressure medications. Persistent urinary incontinence can result from pregnancy, childbirth, age-related changes, menopause, and an enlarged prostate.

Other conditions that can lead to incontinence are prostate cancer, obstruction, and neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, a spinal injury, or stroke. These conditions can interfere with the nerves of the bladder, leading to incontinence.