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Incontinence Definitions

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Incontinence is the reduction or total loss of voluntary control of our excretory functions. Incontinence can involve our ability to control our bowel movements or our urinary functions.

Bowel incontinence refers to the reduction or total loss of our ability to control our bowel movements. With bowel incontinence, you experience involuntary secretion of stool that can range from an occasional leakage of stool during the passage of gas, to a total inability to control of bowel movements.

Urinary incontinence is the reduction or total loss of voluntary of bladder control.

Urinary stress incontinence is an issue with bladder storage ability due to the loss of strength of the muscles that are used to maintain control of urination. The sphincter is not able to prevent urine flow when there is increased pressure from the abdomen. Small amounts of urine are released as some form of pressure is extolled on abdomen wall; which in turn places increased pressure on the bladder. Various movements, such as, coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising can place pressure on the abdominal wall which can bring on urinary stress incontinence.

Urge Incontinence involves involuntary loss of urine right after you feel a strong, sudden need to urinate Basically, you do not recognize the need to urinate quickly enough. By the time you feel the pressure build up in the bladder (a signal to urinate), it is too late, and urine is released without notice.