When a patient’s bladder is unable to hold the urine in, it’s a condition known as incontinence. It’s usually because the muscles of the pelvic floor aren’t properly contracting and releasing. There are a few things that might be the cause of this.

Infection

Infections of the urinary tract happen because bacteria have gotten inside the bladder and urethra. This often leads to incontinence.

Pregnancy

Many times the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened during pregnancy and this can cause her bladder to function improperly.  This can happen during pregnancy or sometimes after pregnancy when the woman’s body is still recovering from delivery.

Inflammation

There’s a condition known as interstitial cystitis, which causes the bladder’s walls to become inflamed, and this can lead to incontinence.

Prostate

There are different prostate problems that might cause incontinence. These conditions include prostate cancer, a prostate that is enlarged, and inflammation. This is one of the main causes of incontinence in men and sometimes one of the things that show that a man has a problem with their prostate.

Pills

There are different medications that interfere with the proper function of a bladder and therefore cause incontinence. Two examples of such medications are sleeping pills and diuretics. Sometimes something like muscle relaxants can also cause incontinence since all of the muscles are relaxed.

Alcohol Consumption

Drinking a lot of alcohol can quickly fill the bladder and alter your mind. This is going to make you unaware of the fact that you have to use the bathroom and therefore may cause you to have an accident.  Caffeine can also cause incontinence since it’s a diuretic and therefore makes you have to go to the bathroom quickly and sometimes without any warning.  People who drink caffeine before going to bed can also have trouble with incontinence.

These are the things that can cause adult incontinence. One of the things that people who are incontinent can really feel are embarrassed because they often will have accidents before they realize what is happening to them.  But if you have a problem with it, it’s important to go see a doctor and find out what it is that is wrong and why it’s happening.  The doctor can give you some advice and can also give you antibiotics if it’s because of an infection or check you if there’s a problem with your prostate that needs to have some attention.