Urine leakage while running -- also known as stress incontinence -- is a common problem that occurs twice as frequently in women than in men. Stress incontinence results from pressure on the bladder, and can also be caused by coughing and laughing. The severity of the disorder can range from a mildly annoying inconvenience to a debilitating condition that limits activities. See your doctor if your stress incontinence causes you to limit your running or avoid it.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is more common with aging, but it's a medical condition and not an inevitable part of growing older. Weakening of the muscles of the pelvic floor causes the bladder to descend, pushing slightly out of the pelvis toward the vagina. With this change in positioning, muscles are no longer able to squeeze as tightly, causing urine to leak into the urethra during moments of physical stress. Stress incontinence can worsen the week before a menstrual period, as lowered estrogen levels lead to lower muscular pressure around the urethra. Menopause, which also causes lower estrogen levels, makes stress incontinence more likely. You can get stress incontinence diagnosed with a urinary incontinence stress test. In some cases, stress incontinence is only a temporary side effect of a urinary tract infection.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for stress incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and aging. Although men can experience stress incontinence, it's usually the result of prostate removal. Other causes of stress incontinence are neurological injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis; obesity can also play a role. Other contributory factors are diabetes, excess consumption of caffeine or alcohol, and medications that cause a rapid increase in urine production.
Treatments
A doctor may treat stress incontinence by prescribing a technique called timed voiding to help you regain control. Kegel exercises -- which strengthen the muscles that hold in urine -- can also be effective. Your doctor may also prescribe an anticholinergic drug, inject a bulking agent or recommend the insertion of a device called a pessary, which helps support the bladder. In some cases, surgery is performed to move the bladder back to the original position.
Lifestyle Changes
You can help alleviate stress incontinence by losing weight if you're overweight. The Mayo Clinic says that constipation can worsen stress incontinence. Adding fiber to your diet can help prevent this. Stopping smoking can cut down on coughing, a common trigger for stress incontinence. Review with your doctor any medications you are taking -- such as diuretics -- that increase urinary output, and limit your consumption of caffeine.
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