The difference between bedwetting and urinary incontinence

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on May 31, 2025
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Bedwetting, commonly known as wetting the bed, mainly refers to involuntary urination during sleep. Urinary incontinence, on the other hand, primarily refers to the situation where urine leaks from the urethral opening during the process of cleansing. There are many causes of urinary incontinence, and there are also various types, usually divided into stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, and true incontinence. Treatment should be based on the specific type and cause of the incontinence. For mild stress urinary incontinence, it can be improved through exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and the detrusor muscle. For moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, surgical treatment is recommended. If the urge incontinence is caused by an infection, antibiotic treatment is needed.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is urinary incontinence due to kidney deficiency?

Generally, urinary incontinence is also considered a symptom of kidney deficiency, and kidney deficiency can also lead to urinary incontinence. Actually, these are two symptoms but both can potentially lead to the disease, so it is important to pay close attention. If urinary incontinence occurs, it is essential to get timely treatment. One should visit a reputable hospital and undergo effective treatment under the guidance of a doctor to avoid impacting daily life. It is also important to maintain personal hygiene, wash frequently, and change clothes regularly to effectively prevent the worsening of the condition. In terms of diet, it is necessary to avoid eating cold, raw foods or fruits to prevent exacerbating the condition.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can fecal incontinence be cancer?

The most common causes of fecal incontinence are neurological dysfunction or relaxation of the local anal sphincter. In some cases of advanced rectal cancer, excessive tumor growth can enlarge the local intestinal contents, leading to involuntary expulsion of feces. Diagnosis involves further examination using electronic colonoscopy, digital anal examination, and assessment of neurological function. If the cause is related to a neurological disorder, treatment by a neurologist is required. If the cause is relaxation of the anal sphincter, then anal sphincter tightening surgery may be considered. In cases where fecal incontinence is caused by an intestinal tumor, surgery to remove the tumor is recommended, along with radiation or chemotherapy.

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Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
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What should I do about urinary incontinence due to brain atrophy?

Urinary incontinence due to brain atrophy is mainly because the brain centers controlling urination and defecation have atrophied. This can be caused by vascular reasons leading to brain atrophy, such as cerebral infarction or hemorrhage affecting the adjacent centrolobular region, leading to urinary incontinence. Therefore, treatment should primarily target the underlying disease. Rehabilitation treatments are recommended, particularly traditional Chinese medicine methods like acupuncture and moxibustion. Modern rehabilitation, establishing regular urinary habits, and pelvic floor rehabilitation are also beneficial for treating urinary incontinence. Additionally, both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine can be used for treatment.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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What causes urinary incontinence in the elderly?

Urinary incontinence in the elderly varies due to different mechanisms and types, with the two most common categories being genuine urinary incontinence, which is due to neurogenic bladder dysfunction or overactive detrusor muscles, damage to the urethral sphincter, or loss of bladder storage function. These are commonly seen in conditions like chronic stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and psychiatric diseases. The other major category is caused by relaxation of the urethral sphincter or pelvic floor muscles surrounding the urethra, leading to reduced urethral pressure. Incontinence in this category may occur when negative pressure increases, such as during coughing, sneezing, straining during bowel movements, or changing body position. This type of urinary incontinence is more common in elderly women and in elderly men who have had prostate removal, leading to damage to the external urethral sphincter.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What department should I go to for fecal incontinence?

"Fecal incontinence requires registration at a colorectal surgery department for consultation. The causes of fecal incontinence mainly include neurogenic and local organic lesions of the anus. If it is due to neurogenic reasons, then it is necessary to coordinate with a neurology department to examine whether the local contraction function of the anus has deteriorated, leading to relaxation of the anal sphincter or incontinence during defecation. If there is an organic lesion in the anal sphincter, especially when the tightness of the sphincter increases leading to excessive relaxation of the anal sphincter, this can also cause fecal incontinence. To treat fecal incontinence, one can opt for local surgery to tighten the relaxed anal sphincter, thereby preventing feces from involuntarily leaking out of the anus."