How Sleep Apnea & Urinary Incontinence Are Related: A Key Link

Sleep apnea and incontinence are serious conditions impacting millions of Americans. In fact, while roughly 39 million Americans are currently living with sleep apnea, about 25 million have urinary incontinence. Crucially, these conditions are not mutually exclusive — many people with sleep apnea also have urinary incontinence.

How Incontinence & Sleep Apnea Are Linked | Free Incontinence Supplies with MedicaidHere’s why, with a closer look at: 

This resource on sleep apnea and urinary incontinence covers the essentials in less than ~3 minutes. When it’s time for expert help getting incontinence supplies with Medicaid in WA, OR, or ID, simply contact MyMedSupplies.

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As one of the most trusted providers of durable medical equipment in the Northwest U.S., MyMedSupplies is a Medicaid-approved supplier with a long-standing reputation for customer-focused service and the highest-quality incontinence supplies.

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Incontinence?

Yes, sleep apnea can contribute to urinary incontinence. That’s because: 

  • Sleep apnea is a condition that involves repeated breathing disruptions during sleep, often due to a blockage in the airway. Please note that sleep apnea can be clinically referred to as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.
  • These breathing interruptions can reduce the body’s oxygen levels, putting extra stress on the body, including the bladder.
  • That extra stress and physical strain can exacerbate bladder sensitivity or overactivity, weaken bladder muscles, and, in turn, reduce the ability to control the bladder.

When sleep apnea causes urinary incontinence, it typically results in a condition known as nocturia. This is a form of nighttime incontinence marked by:

  • Increasing urine production at night
  • Frequent wakening and sleep disruptions
  • Increased sensitivity and urgency to urinate
  • More nighttime leakage (when compared to daytime leakage)

Roughly 50% of people with sleep apnea experience mild to severe urinary incontinence, according to the latest findings. That makes urinary incontinence a major issue for anyone diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Does Sleep Apnea Make Incontinence Worse?

Does Sleep Apnea Make Incontinence Worse?Yes, untreated sleep apnea can worsen incontinence. That’s because without treatment, sleep apnea can:

  • Lead to persisting low oxygen levels in the body
  • Intensify the physical strain and pressure on the bladder
  • Significantly weaken the bladder muscles over time, making bladder control increasingly challenging.

With that, nocturia can occur more frequently, become a nightly occurrence, and/or advance to far more severe stages.

On top of all of this, the fatigue that sleep apnea causes can make it more difficult to manage daytime incontinence, especially if extreme fatigue results in slower response times or more intense, near-instant urges to urinate immediately.

Many cases of sleep apnea — and urinary incontinence — are undiagnosed. In fact, while about 80% of those with sleep apnea have yet to be diagnosed, fewer than half of those with urinary incontinence seek medical evaluation or treatment.

5 Signs of Sleep Apnea-Related Incontinence | Free Incontinence Products with MedicaidConsequently, it’s important to be aware of the red flags of sleep apnea and incontinence, so you can seek medical attention and prevent either condition from worsening or seriously impacting your qulaity of life.

If you think you could be experiencing incontinence and sleep apnea, keep your eyes on these signs:

  1. Frequent nocturia: Are you waking up more than two times a night to urinate? If so, you could have nocturia, and it may be tied to a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea.
  2. Daytime fatigue: Do you feel excessively tired or groggy most days? Do you have a hard time getting “good sleep”? Persisting daytime fatigue is a common sign of sleep apnea, and it can contribute to bladder control issues.
  3. Loud snoring: Do you wake up because of your own snoring? Do others constantly complain about your snoring? If so, you could have undiagnosed sleep apnea, and that may coexist with urinary incontinence.
  4. Unexpected leakage: Are you having a harder time holding urine overnight? Are you waking up to more and more leakage? Even if you never had an issue with nighttime bladder control before, it can sneak up and intensify with time, especially if you have undiagnosed sleep apnea or urinary incontinence.

How to Manage Incontinence Caused by Sleep Apnea

Managing incontinence and sleep apnea usually starts with:

  1. Evaluations to diagnose the conditions and any underlying “root” causes
  2. Identifying the best-fit treatments, based on an individual’s diagnosis. 

How to Manage Sleep Apnea Incontinence | Incontinence Supplies with MedicaidGenerally, some highly effective ways to manage incontinence caused by sleep apnea are to:

  1. Treat your sleep apnea: Consult a healthcare provider about using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, along with other potential treatments for sleep apnea. Treating your sleep apnea may reduce nocturia and incontinence.
  2. Adjust your fluid intake: Limit fluids at night, before bedtime. Limit your intake of (or avoid), caffeine and alcohol, particularly at night, as both can exacerbate the bladder.
  3. Establish a nighttime routine: Set up a bedtime schedule that includes a bathroom visit right before you get into bed. This can help your body get on a “schedule” while reducing the chances of nighttime leaks.
  4. Strengthen your pelvic muscles: Routinely exercise your pelvic muscles to enhance bladder control and limit leakage.
  5. Monitor your diet: Reduce or try to avoid eating or drinking items that are known to irritate the bladder and worsen symptoms, like spicy foods, citrus, and artificial sweeteners.
  6. Use the right incontinence supplies: High-quality incontinence products can help you stay dry and comfortable, day or night. These products can include adult diapers, pull-ups, pads, pant liners, underpads, and more.

How to Get Incontinence Supplies with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID

Top-quality incontinence products don’t have to be difficult or expensive to obtain month after month. At MyMedSupplies, we specialize in providing the best incontinence products while helping folks navigate Medicaid, so they can get diapers, pull-ups, underpads, and more at zero cost. 

How to Get Incontinence Supplies with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID

Our team of experts has 40+ years of experience in the medical supply and Medicaid space. That makes us extraordinarily knowledgeable when it comes to:

  • Medicaid processes and specific requirements in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon
  • Helping you gather the right documentation to ensure timely approvals and deliveries
  • Making the entire process as simple, streamlined, and stress-free.

To find out more — or get expert help getting free incontinence products with Medicaid — simply talk to a professional coordinator at MyMedSupplies. We are ready to help you now.

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MyMedSupplies is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) to provide Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory Services, and Medical Supplies. We are also recognized for our relentless commitment to prioritizing our customers’ needs, so they can get the free incontinence supplies they need.