Weakness is a sneaky beast, involving a state of low energy, weakness and lethargy Creeps slowly with age. But even before this path begins, you could be dealing with a hidden risk factor, especially if you’re a woman: incontinenceOr loss of bladder control.
Urine leakage is Twice as common in women For men – affects up to 60% of women in the United States– Due to factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, and hormonal changes of menopause. All of the above can have ripple effects on the pelvic floor and bladder.
No matter the cause, unexpected leaks can hinder your ability to stay active as you age. The result is a faster path to weakness: “The less you move, the less you can move.” Karen Elber, MDa Los Angeles-based urogenital urologist and member of PlusOne Collective Wellnesssays the self. and become weak Not only does it increase your risk of suffering a disabling fall; Makes you More susceptible to disease or So he dies younger.
Read on to learn why urinary incontinence can contribute to frailty as you age and how to get ahead of the downward spiral.
How urine leakage can increase your risk of impotence later in life
There are two main types of urinary incontinence, and they can have different effects on your strength as you age. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) Includes squirming when laughing, coughing, or jumping. It happens when Pelvic floor muscles are weak or damaged Dr. Elber explains that ligaments bend under pressure. In some cases, a collapse of the pelvic muscles can result narrow“With constant constipation, you lose coordination of those muscles, and then they gradually weaken.” Patti Beers, PT, DPTsays a physical therapist and clinic director at the Houston Clinic in Orlando.
In contrast, urge incontinence, or overactive bladder (OAB), occurs when you have to Urinating often Urgently, at unexpected times, Savitha Krishnan, MDsays a urologist and pelvic floor reconstructive surgeon at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He – she Its prevalence is high among women over the age of sixty Because it is associated with age-related neurological changes and transformations in bladder tissue caused by Loss of estrogen Of menopause, she says.
Where any type of urinary incontinence can cause a problem is long-term strength in restriction of movement: If your OAB threatens to leak at any moment, you probably don’t want to step away from the bathroom. And if the SUI causes you to dodge while running or JumpingFor example, “you’ll be less inclined to do high-impact exercise,” the kind of exercise that’s crucial to exercise, Dr. Elber says. Maintaining muscle and bone mass With age.
