Why has my father lost control over urination?

Q: My 72 years old father is a healthy man and has never faced any health problem. His blood sugar and pressure are absolutely normal. However, these days he has started passing urine in bed. He says he has lost control over urinating. Kindly suggest what to do.

A:Your father is having urinary incontinence. Most common cause of incontinence at this age is overactive bladder (OAB). Other usual causes of incontinence may be acute like an infection, or chronic like incomplete emptying of bladder (overflow incontinence). While OAB and infection have to be treated medically, overflow incontinence may require surgical correction after thorough evaluation.