Can Seizures Cause Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a condition that includes involuntary bladder leakage, increased occurrence of urinary tract infections, and difficulty in urinating. The symptoms range from constant urine loss to soaking or wetting underwear. There are many causes for this issue, but seizures are most common. When an epileptic experiences an episode, the brain sends abnormal signals to the body, causing changes in muscle tone. These symptoms can sometimes lead to urinary incontinence shortly after the seizure happens or over time as the body relearns how to control its muscles again.

Seizures can be difficult to diagnose. While tests can lead to a positive diagnosis, they are only accurate with patients who have had an episode before. Epilepsy is often misdiagnosed because it is difficult to understand how and when seizures occur. They don't always happen simultaneously for each person, but the sufferer may experience a warning sign that lets them know one is about to happen (aura). These symptoms are usually visual and temporary during an event, making diagnosing these events more challenging. The warning signs of epilepsy include:

This is just a shortlist of the symptoms that might tip off a potential sufferer or doctor. Many other physical and neurological symptoms that people experiencing an epileptic seizure may share. Once a doctor can recognize the presence of episodes, they can attempt to perform tests to find what type of epileptic disorder the patient has and then work with them about treatment options. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with epilepsy, it's essential to be aware of what treatments exist to help manage and control these types of seizures.

Urinary incontinence can be avoided through proper medical treatment by an epilepsy specialist, such as nerve stimulation and anti-seizure medications. In some extreme cases where the individual needs full-time assistance, a patient may need to make sure they have a caregiver that accompanies them. These are just a few of the things to consider when trying to find solutions for urinary incontinence.

There are several types of seizures. A person may have an episode when a network of neurons that control muscles across the body fire at once. Or, it could be when one or more cells in the brain release excessive amounts of electrical impulses (spikes) that can cause the muscles to contract and relax rapidly. The most common types include:

The causes of epilepsy vary as much as its symptoms. Those with epilepsy will experience fluctuations in mood, behaviour and physical abilities during their seizures. The medical condition may sometimes occur with no apparent symptoms, sometimes caused by changes in brain chemistry or injuries to tissue deep within the brain through a stroke, injury or other trauma. While it is not a disease or disorder that can be cured, proper medical treatment can help control seizures enough to limit the disruption they cause.

Seizures are common in infants, children and teenagers. Older adults also may experience seizures due to illnesses, injury or brain tumours. Around 3 million Americans live with epilepsy, and it is estimated that 150,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year in the United States. About 40 different types of epileptic disorders are caused by damage to brain structures involved in controlling body movements, consciousness, and behaviour. The most common cause of repeated seizures is when an area called the hippocampus becomes inflamed due to injury, brain infection or a tumour. Another common cause of epilepsy is when neurons in a part of the brain called the amygdala to become damaged. This is likely due to a disorder called temporal lobe epilepsy, which affects about 10 per cent of people with epilepsy.

Seizures can have lasting health effects, including confusion, impaired motor function, memory loss and other changes. People who have uncontrolled seizures may have a seizure disorder or have had a grand mal seizure. Even young children can have episodes and can develop neurological disorders from having them. The most common are febrile seizures and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which are different types of epilepsy that affect parts of the brain that control movement and muscle tone, respectively.

In cases where an individual has a seizure, many tried and accurate methods can avoid injury. These include:


Fear is the biggest obstacle to overcome when facing a seizure. A person with a seizure will not feel pain or suffer any physical discomfort. The most important thing to remember during an epileptic event is to protect the person from harm and make sure they remain breathing comfortably throughout their seizure. There should be no need for restraint or sedation of patients during their seizures because these can lead to severe injury and complications in the future.