Final answer:
Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary leakage of urine. Stress urinary incontinence is leakage that occurs with increased abdominal pressure during physical activity, often due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. Urge incontinence involves involuntary urination due to overactive bladder contractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Urinary incontinence is the inability to control the release of urine from the bladder. Among the types of incontinence, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when physical movements or activities, such as coughing, sneezing, running, or heavy lifting, increase intra-abdominal pressure and cause inadvertent leakage of urine.
SUI is primarily due to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, often resulting from childbirth or other factors that stretch these muscles. The weakening of support for the urethra leads to incontinence during moments of physical stress. Another form of incontinence is urge urinary incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, which involves sudden, intense urges to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine.
Treatment for stress incontinence can include Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and surgery may be considered for more severe cases. On the other hand, urge incontinence may be treated with medication to relax the detrusor muscle of the bladder.
Regardless of type, urinary incontinence is a common issue, particularly in older adults and more frequently in women. It can significantly affect quality of life, causing embarrassment, distress, and inconvenience. Different factors contribute to incontinence in males and females, such as an enlarged prostate gland in males and weakened pelvic floor muscles in females.