Difference Between Overactive Bladder and Incontinence
Interruptions in the body’s natural way of functioning can be challenging and frustrating to deal with. One such condition—urine leakage can not only restrict a sufferer’s lifestyle and freedom of movement, but also impair their mental health due to prevailing social stigma.
As patients, caregivers or family members the best we can do in such situations is to stay informed and aware of the best practices to help sufferers cope with dignity and ease.
Incontinence Vs Overactive Bladder
We’ve all seen advertisements for adult diapers and are familiar with the product. However, little awareness exists on the conditions that necessitate the use of adult diapers. Two names that commonly come up alongside the mention of disposable adult diapers are urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
Both these conditions involve malfunctions in the urinary bladder that result in premature or unexpected bladder contractions or pelvic muscle contractions.
However, they are not the same. Overactive bladder is a condition that involves issues with one’s urge to urinate. Urinary incontinence, meanwhile, is not a condition, it is a symptom. This occurs when one loses control of their bladder causing the frequent or uncontrolled leakage of urine.
Let us explain in detail.
Overactive Bladder
Overactive or irritable bladder is basically classified as experiencing sudden, overwhelming urges to urinate.
Usually, after a person’s bladder fills close to its capacity with urine, the bladder sends a signal to the brain. The brain interprets this and sends a message back to the urethra, signalling that it must open and empty the bladder. This same signal is interpreted by our conscious selves as the urge to urinate, requiring us to find a toilet. However, in a patient with an overactive bladder, this system of signals is interrupted.
Instead of starting as a mild need to urinate, getting stronger as the bladder fills; a person with an Overactive Bladder may only receive strong, urgent signals; even when the bladder is not entirely full. An Overactive Bladder can also cause patients to experience a more frequent need to urinate, requiring them to rush to the toilet more than eight times during the day and over twice at night.
Overactive bladders are more commonly experienced by women and may be caused due to neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke or diabetes. Overconsumption of diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine, which cause the body to produce more urine, can also contribute to the condition. However, for most people the cause is unknown.
Pelvic floor exercises, Kegels, weight loss and bathroom training can help in a large way to manage urinary incontinence. In the last few years with greater access and lowering in prices, the use of adult diapers have become increasingly common. Overnight diapers for adults can especially help both sufferers and their caregivers receive much needed rest at night.
Oral medications and Botox injections are also becoming increasingly popular in dealing with the condition. However, surgeries are not often fool proof especially in elderly patients with other health complications.
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence, meanwhile, has more to do with a failure in the structure of the urinary system. This usually happens when pelvic floor muscles that support the urinary system weaken, allowing urine to seep out of the bladder due to activities that stress these muscles.
Urinary incontinence can be of five types:
Stress incontinence - when activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy exert a pressure on bladder muscles causing them to squeeze out urine.
Urge incontinence - this resembles an overactive bladder and may be caused due to a sudden urge to urinate followed by the involuntary loss of urine.
Overflow incontinence - when you experience a constant leak or dribbling of urine, perhaps in tiny spurts, due to a bladder that fails to empty completely.
Functional incontinence - when a physical or mental impairment such as say arthritis stops you from reaching the toilet in time.
Mixed incontinence - when one experiences a mixture of these types.
Urinary incontinence is often induced as a by-product of ageing which may cause the loosening and weakening of one’s pelvic muscles; or post-surgery, post-pregnancies and due to obesity. It occurs in both men and women and is often handled simply by the use of disposable adult diapers.
Adult diapers are unisex and easy to use. They come in pant-style and tape-style and also have overnight adult diaper variations. Various brands now manufacture disposable adult diapers that can be used up to 16 hours without discomfort. Adult diapers with anti-bacterial technologies can also help keep dampness and skin rashes caused due to cloth liners at bay.
Differences in Overactive Bladder and Urinary Incontinence
Thus, to recap, the frequent urge to urinate, and use of adult diapers and pelvic floor muscle exercises as methods of management, are common to both overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. The differences between the two are as follows:
Overactive bladder is a condition in itself while urinary incontinence is usually a symptom of a different cause.
Overactive urge has more to do with the urge to urinate while urinary incontinence pertains to the actual leakage of urine.
While both are related to the urge to urinate, the urge caused by an overactive bladder may not actually be followed by urine leakage.
Urinary incontinence has more to do with a weakening of muscles while an overactive bladder is linked to neurological issues.
Overactive bladder commonly affects women, while urinary incontinence, often as a by-product of ageing affects both men and women equally.
The normal adult bladder can hold up to 300-400ml (roughly 2 cups) of urine during the day and up to 800ml (4 cups) during the night. Issues that disrupt the functioning of the bladder can be difficult to deal with. But with the right attitude, support, exercises and a few adult diapers everything can be managed.
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