Urinary bladder function is a careful balance between pressure
from the bladder to empty and resistance from the sphincter
(valve) at its outlet. Pressure to empty increases suddenly when
the bladder reaches a certain volume. Sphincter resistance
depends not only on the strength of the muscle but also on its
position. Both forces are controlled mostly by your autonomic
(automatic) nervous system, the same system that regulates body
temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and
everything else your body does without you thinking about it.
You do, however, have control over the sphincter and can
strengthen it with exercise. Urinary incontinence is common,
especially in older men and women. This is especially true of
people who are living in a nursing home. Those who are obese may
be more likely to have urinary incontinence.What are the causes
of incontinence?What are the risk factors for urinary
incontinence?What are the symptoms of urinary incontinence?How
is urinary incontinence diagnosed?What are t