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What Is Functional Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is defined as any involuntary leakage of urine. People who suffer from the condition cannot predict when an episode will occur, so the condition can have a severe impact on the lives of the people affected by the condition. While urinary incontinence can create embarrassing situations and inconvenience, it usually is the result of other medical conditions, some of which are treatable.

  1. Functional Incontinence

    • There are various types of urinary incontinence. One of the most common types is functional incontinence. Functional incontinence occurs when a person actually senses the need to urinate, but cannot make it to the restroom before an accident occurs. The amount of urine leakage can vary, from minor leakage to the emptying of the entire bladder.

    Causes

    • Causes of functional incontinence include dementia, poor eyesight, confusion, refusal to use the restroom due to depression, poor dexterity or mobility, dementia, anger or anxiety.

    Age

    • Functional incontinence typically affects the elderly, rather than those in other age groups. This is due to the fact that many of the causes of functional incontinence, such as confusion, are side effects of other conditions that usually affect people as they age. Alzheimer's disease is an example of a condition that may lead to functional incontinence.

    Non-Medical Causes

    • While functional incontinence in common in the elderly, other seemingly healthy individuals may experience the condition from time to time. For instance, if you are driving in a vehicle, cannot locate a restroom, and experiences urine leakage, this would be considered functional incontinence. Drunkenness is also a common cause of functional incontinence in otherwise healthy adults.

    Treatment

    • There are a variety of treatments available for functional incontinence. These include weight loss, exercises to strengthen bladder muscles, electrical stimulation, bladder training techniques in which patients urinate only at scheduled times, urethral injections, and medication and pessaries (a device inserted into the vagina to control urges). In extreme cases, after other treatment methods have been used, surgery is recommended.

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