As COVID-19 continues to make its way around the world, many people are experiencing symptoms that affect their whole body. Besides fever, coughing and tiredness, many people are noticing new or worsening bladder problems including urinary incontinence and increased trips to the bathroom.
Urinary leakage while coughing is usually caused by stress incontinence, which causes urine to be released when your body is under pressure. This can happen when you laugh, cough or sneeze. Physical exertion like jumping, running or lifting something can also trigger it. It is more common in women than men, but it can affect anyone, regardless of their gender assigned at birth. It also happens more often in people who are aging or have chronic health conditions like COVID-19, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or depression.
A recent study by a group of researchers found that COVID-19 infections can cause a new form of bladder incontinence called "covid-19-associated urogynecologic symptoms," or CAC. It is thought that the increased inflammatory cytokines produced during COVID-19 infection can cause bladder muscle spasms and increase incontinence symptoms.
To help relieve these issues, you should try to stay hydrated by drinking more fluids. A healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables is also helpful for maintaining your general wellness. It's also important to do pelvic exercises and other types of exercise that strengthen the muscles in your lower abdomen and bladder. Kegel exercises, for example, can improve incontinence symptoms. If you continue to experience these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can perform a urinalysis to check for signs of infection or other health problems, such as blood in the urine (hematuria).