Risk Factors for Incontinence

• Urinary tract infections
• Not drinking enough fluids, which can concentrate urine and cause bladder irritation and constipation
• Going to the toilet more often than when your bladder feels full, which trains your bladder to store less urine
• Constipation can put pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and obstruct the bladder from emptying properly
• Caffeine containing drinks eg tea and coffee can irritate the bladder linning
• Alcohol acts as a diuretic causing the loss of more fluid from the body through the production of more urine resulting in more a frequent need to urinate
• Some medications can affect the bladder and bowel
• Prostate problems
• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy can cause cyctitis (inflammation of the bladder)