Many people with COPD may experience incontinence or bladder leakage. Often, they suffer in silence because they are ashamed of it. But there’s nothing to be embarrassed about! Incontinence is fairly common in people with COPD. There are several reasons why you may be experiencing bladder leakage; and luckily, there are treatment options available for each one.
When you are short of breath or coughing, the muscles in your body are under extra stress. Your bladder muscles, especially if they are not strong enough, can “let go” when you cough hard or are short of breath. When you feel breathless, the muscles in your pelvis can relax, causing your bladder to empty unexpectedly. While this can be embarrassing and concerning, it is not uncommon. Even some medications can cause bladder control problems. There can be many causes for your bladder leakage, and often there are treatment options that can help.
If you experience incontinence or bladder leakage, talk to your health care team. Your health care provider, pulmonary rehab team, and other medical professionals can help you to start a treatment plan that is right for you. Treatment options can include exercises to strengthen your bladder control muscles, medications, and more. If you are in a pulmonary rehab program, your health care team can work with you to strengthen your muscles and improve your stamina. This improvement in your overall health and activity level can help improve your incontinence, too. Don’t be afraid to talk to your health care team about your concerns. They can’t help if they don’t know the problem is happening.
You may also be interested in learning from others with the same condition. On COPD360Social, our online community, many folks have recently discussed their struggles with incontinence. Maybe their stories will help you in your journey to be leakage-free! And be sure to check out our Tips for Living Well with COPD flyer, which offers more helpful tips for staying well and avoiding infections and flare-ups. Remember, we are here for you as you move through your COPD journey. Let’s share our experiences and learn from each other. We'd love to hear from you!