If you’ve ever had a coughing fit, then you might have noticed your pants getting wet. This is actually a fairly common phenomenon that is often referred to as bladder leakage or stress urinary incontinence. A recent poll of women over 40 showed that a whopping 75% of us have experienced it at least once (1). Luckily, there is some good news for those of us who have the bladder leak bug. The best part is that it can be managed and in most cases prevented.
When I Cough Or Sneeze I Wet Myself?
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If you leak a little every time you cough or sneeze, then you’re not alone. It’s called stress urinary incontinence and is common for both men and women. It’s usually not a sign of a serious problem but should be talked about with your doctor.
The reason that you wet yourself when you cough or sneeze is because your urethra, the tube that moves urine out of your bladder, is under increased pressure. This is particularly common during pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and chronic coughing. It can also be a symptom of nerve injury to your lower back or pelvic floor muscles, obesity, diabetes, and having had a surgery for an enlarged prostate (BPH). Your doctor may do some tests that will help them determine what’s going on.
Is Stress Incontinence Serious?
Stress incontinence (also known as bladder weakness) is a very common condition. It usually develops because the sphincter muscle in the bladder and pelvic floor are weak or damaged.
People who have stress incontinence may leak urine when they cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise. Often the amount of leakage is very small and is not noticed until it happens.
However, it can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable. Some women feel hesitant to go out or to be far from a bathroom, or they may choose not to participate in certain activities because of the fear of leaking urine.
Fortunately, symptoms of stress incontinence can usually get better with nonsurgical treatment methods such as Kegel exercises and pelvic floor physical therapy. But if they don’t, your doctor may prescribe medications, devices or surgery.
There are several surgical options to treat stress incontinence, including male slings, retropubic suspensions and pelvic floor surgeries. In many cases, the procedures can be done without the need for a hospital stay and are performed by the same urologist who performs other surgical procedures.
Is There a Cure For Stress Incontinence?
If you’re leaking urine while sneezing, coughing or running or lifting heavy objects (like furniture or weights), you may have stress incontinence. This happens when the pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder are weaker than they should be.
If this is the case, your sphincter muscle (the tube that controls the flow of urine out of the bladder) can’t close properly. That’s how the urine leaks out.
Fortunately, stress incontinence can be prevented or better managed with treatment. These include exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor and medication.
Surgery to place a sling made of your tissue, donor tissue or surgical mesh under your urethra to support it can also help with stress incontinence.
Another type of stress incontinence treatment is urethral injections. This involves injecting a drug that can temporarily bulk up your urethral muscle to keep your sphincter muscle closed.
If you’re suffering from stress incontinence, you can talk to your doctor or a continence health professional to find out what treatment options are available. They can give you information about treatments and recommend a specialised care plan that will work best for you.
What Causes Bladder Leakage?
When you sneeze or cough, the pressure on your bladder and urethra (the tube that moves urine out of your body) can cause leakage. This is called stress urinary incontinence.
It is common in women of all ages and can be embarrassing. If you think you may have stress incontinence, ask your doctor to perform a physical exam and talk about symptoms.
Your doctor will also ask you to keep a urine diary to note when you have leaks and what you do before they happen. She might also recommend a urinary pad test, where you wear an absorbent pad at home for 24 hours to see how much you leak.
A healthy lifestyle can help improve your symptoms, including exercise and incorporating Kegel exercises. These are pelvic floor muscles exercises that tighten specific muscles in your pelvis to strengthen them and make you more leak-proof.
Should I Be Worried About a Wet Cough?
A wet cough is an important part of your body’s natural response to a respiratory infection. Wet coughs are also called productive coughs, and they help your body break up mucus so it can flow out of your nose, lungs and throat.
A productive cough that lasts more than 10 days is usually a sign of a viral infection, like a cold or the flu. These types of coughs usually go away on their own with over-the-counter medications, but if they persist more than a few weeks or are combined with other symptoms, it may be time to see a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor can recommend a variety of treatment options for both dry and wet coughs. For example, salt water gargling reduces phlegm in the back of the throat, which can lessen your need to cough.
If your wet cough is caused by chronic bronchitis, antibiotics can relieve symptoms and help prevent lung infections. Depending on the underlying cause, your doctor may suggest breathing treatments, such as oxygen therapy or inhaled medication.
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