How to Recognize When to Seek Medical Care for Urinary Incontinence

When urine leakage has begun to interfere with your life, you should recognize that it is time to seek medical care for urinary incontinence. Read on to learn how to recognize when to seek medical care for urinary incontinence.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook
• Urinary charts

Keep Track of Your Urination

1. Keep a log of your urination. Write down the time and amount of urine you produce.
2. Write down each incidence of urine leakage you experience. This information can help your doctor determine the cause of urine leakage.
3. Pay attention to what activity you were engaged in when you experience urinary incontinence. Some activities, such as sports and lifting, can cause harmless leaks of urine which do not require you to seek medical care.
4. Note any discoloration in your urine. Discoloration can be a symptom of problems more serious than simple urinary incontinence and must be checked out by a medical professional.
5. Check for an abnormal smell to your urine. Unusual orders from your urine can also be a sign of infections or other underlying problems. You should recognize that this must be checked out by a medical professional.
6. Write down any incidence of lower back pain. Lower back pain can also be a sign of kidney problems, which require immediate medical care.
7. Notice changes in your urination habits. Increased urination or feeling that you need to urinate when you do not can be symptoms that you have a urinary tract problem.
8. Download easy to print urinary charts at the Food and Drug Administration's website. See the Resources section below for a link. Pay special attention to your caffeine and alcohol consumption.

Research Causes of Urinary Incontinence

9. Know the causes of urinary incontinence. Urine leakage is often caused by stress, infection or weak bladder control. Websites such as Everyday Health can give you more information about the most common causes of urinary incontinence. See the Resources section below for a link.
10. Read about medical treatments for urinary incontinence on the National Institute of Health website. See the Resources section below for a link. You need to seek medical care to determine if you have underlying problems such as prostrate cancer.

Tips & Warnings

• Treatment for urinary incontinence can be as simple as taking an antibiotic regimen. Recognize that you need medical care to get your normal life back.
• It is important to remember that urine leakage is often not incontinence, but a reaction to an infection or other irritation. Keeping this in mind may curb any embarrassment you feel when speaking to your doctor about leakage problems.