Incontinence - What Can You Do?

Incontinence is occurring more and more and is often uncomfortable and embarrassing. However your practitioner can help and there is much support if you know where to look. Incontinence is the involuntary leaking of urine. It can happen when you sneeze or run and is more likely in women who have had children and in men as they get older.

Older people get incontinence more as the body changes when you age but any age can suffer from incontinence. It is important that you talk to a natural therapist or doctor and not let it progress. Many people suffer in silence thinking it is only happening to them. It may be treated with medication, altering your behaviour and certain exercise or in difficult cases with surgery.

There are four general types of incontinence. These are stress, urge, functional and overflow. Stress incontinence occurs when you are coughing, sneezing or exercise. Urge incontinence is when you can't seem to hold the urine flow until you get to a toilet. This is because the bladder is not filling, storing or emptying properly.

Usually the bladder fills and when there is about one cup of urine there stored you feel the need to go to the toilet. The bladder keeps filling while you have the urge and the urine is stored. There are muscles in the bladder that contract to force the urine out while your body relaxes the round muscles to expand and empty out. If any of these don't function properly it creates issues. There may be many illnesses that cause this such as urine infections, prostrate issues, injuries, weaknesses in the bladder area, side effects of stroke, prolapse etc.

Treatment varies depending on the causes but there are exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor. These include a schedule of when to go to the toilet and Kegel exercises for the pelvic floor. Your doctor or therapist will be able to help you with these.

There is also electrical machinery which can teach you how to do these exercises better. It does this by making you aware of where the muscles are and how to contract them. Supermarkets have lots of pads and under undergarments to help with leaking although they are not pleasant so it is better to start doing your pelvic floor exercises now so you prevent incontinence when you are older perhaps. It is also important to avoid constipation, watch your weight and what you eat as these can also affect you in the long-term.

If your symptoms are really bad you might need an operation or medication to relax the bladder, increase its muscle tone or strengthen the sphincter. Doctors sometimes insert artificial sphincters and if it's really bad the doctor will recommend a catheter although this can increase your chances of infection.

Ladies talk to your gynaecologist, men to an urologist or natural therapist about this condition. Your general practitioner will be able to refer you to a specialist. There are herbs that can help and hypnosis can suppress the urge to go to the toilet. Don't let incontinence silently continue. It could be symptoms of something else. Your doctor will do a urine test, cystoscopy (inspection inside the bladder), and even maybe an urodynamic study to measure the pressure and urine flow. It is important to get these done to stay healthy.

Social Confidence When Incontinent

Many people who are trying to deal with the challenges of incontinence are those individuals who have jobs, outside interests, and active social lives. Incontinence does not just affect the elderly, the sick, the bedridden. Statistics show incontinence is a problem affecting people of all ages, health status, and both genders. And it can really get in the way of a social life, confidence of being out in public, and more.

When people are given the diagnosis of incontinence, they often feel overwhelmed and think they will be forced to stay home in order to manage their incontinence. The good news is this is not necessary. There are many different incontinence products and supplies which can help an individual to remain as socially active as he or she wants to be while being discreet and comfortable. Whether the individual is at work, out with friends, at the gym, or something else.

Understanding what factors need to be taken into account, can help in product selection, and addressing the common causes of social awkwardness for an incontinent individual.

• Choosing the right incontinence undergarment- Gone are the days when anyone with incontinence had only bulky, adult like diapers to choose from. Today, those with incontinence can choose incontinence underwear in a variety of different styles. However, in order to remain confident in social situations it is important to choose an incontinence product that will protect you from leaks and embarrassing accidents. The incontinence undergarments which are available today come in a variety of different absorbencies and sizes. This is especially important for those who may be on the small or large end of the scale. There is no need to not have an incontinence undergarment which can fit discreetly and sleekly under your clothes but still give you the protection and confidence that you deserve.


• Odor control- One of the issues many people with incontinence have to deal with is odor. If you are going to be confident socially then you don't want to have to worry about odor. The manufacturers of today's incontinence products know this and several have built in odor protection in their incontinence undergarments. In addition, it is important to keep your skin clean. Plan on changing often in order to minimize the risk of odor becoming noticeable. There are other steps someone with incontinence can take in order to reduce odor these include but are not limited to: drinking enough fluids (including cranberry juice), taking deodorizing tablets or extra Vitamin C. If the odor is persistent you should consult your health care professional in order to rule out a bladder or urinary tract infection.


• Be prepared- If you want to continue with social activities and manage your incontinence then it is critical to be prepared. You should never leave home without the incontinence supplies you need. Take extra incontinence undergarments with you as well as a change of clothes. Take the time to find the restrooms wherever you will be going. Keep in mind many times you can check out the restrooms online before going to a particular venue. This will help you to know where to go if you need to access a restroom quickly.

Tips For Traveling With Incontinence

Lounging on a beach towel under the warm sun while admiring children as they construct sand castles and listening to the ocean waves crash against each other illuminates the most relaxing vacation. The main objective of taking a vacation after all is to get in some much needed relaxation. The last thing anyone needs is to be worried about finding the closest restroom while in the midst of being at beaches, museums, amusement parks, or traveling to the destination.

For the 25 million Americans who experience urinary incontinence, traveling on planes, trains, or in cars is possible with the help of many incontinence products. Urine leakage always seems to happen at the worst possible time, and learning to manage it while traveling will prevent a stressful vacation.

Planning a vacation is time consuming especially when planning around incontinence. Having incontinence products shipped via a free home delivery program is a time-saving and cost-effective method when preparing a trip. The incontinence products are delivered right to your door each month saving you the hassle of rushing out to the store when your supply is low.

The following is a list of tips and advice for how to manage incontinence while traveling:

Transportation:

* While traveling on planes or trains make sure to sit in an aisle seat to easily access the bathrooms when needed. Sitting in an aisle seat will prevent moving in front of other passengers every time nature calls. In case urine leakage causes stains or odor, an aisle seat can also provide more confidence when sitting in a confined space for a long time.

* Planes and trains have limited waste disposal facilities which cause difficulties disposing incontinence products. Wearing a product designed for maximum protection such as protective underwear can retain greater amounts of urine leakage and control odor for lengthy plane and train commutes.

* Automobiles are a convenient mode of transportation when experiencing incontinence since rest areas are more prevalent along major highways and interstates. Having a GPS system in the automobile is essential. It provides a list of restaurants, gas stations, and other points of interest which, in turn, will give directions to the closest location for a bathroom.

Diet:

* Paying close attention to food and liquid intake while traveling can manage incontinence easier. Limit intake of salty snacks, alcohol, caffeine, and don't drink anything three to four hours prior to sleeping.

* Also, a person's understanding of which types of foods and liquids stimulate their incontinence and which foods alleviate incontinence is helpful to get the most out of every minute in paradise.

Travel Kit: A travel kit should include:

* Plastic bags with twisty ties for clean and easy disposal

* Hand wipes and antibacterial cleansing products

* Include a variety of incontinence products:

* Pads and liners for the lightest urinary leakage (small enough to fit in purses and briefcases)

* Incontinence pants for the light to moderate urinary leakage when used with pads and liners

* Protective underwear (also known as adult pull-ups) for moderate to heavy urinary leakage

* Adult diapers for maximum urinary leakage protection

* Extra undergarments, pants, and outer clothes

* Travel soap bars and disposable wash clothes

* Organizing these items into a small duffel bag or a backpack makes it easier to travel. It's small enough to be used as a carry-on luggage on airplanes or to fit in the luggage compartment on a train or bus.

Plan Ahead:

* Whether traveling en-route to your destination or relishing the sights and sounds of the vacation, plan bathroom breaks every 20 to 30 minutes following meals.

* When visiting tourist attractions look at a map or ask guides for the location of the restrooms in case a get-a-way is needed. Since the incontinence travel pack is easily accessible, returning to the enjoyment of the expedition is quick and effortless.

* Since a person's daily routine of diet and exercise is changed while traveling, keeping a record of blood pressure and cholesterol is vital for good health and a preventative measure against the occurrence of incontinence.

Living with incontinence is simple and trouble-free if knowing how to manage and control the urinary leakage. With all the variety of incontinence products available, traveling can be more effortless than ever before. Worry about having fun on vacation, and don't worry about incontinence.

Best Adult Diapers for Managing Fecal Incontinence

Adult diapers are a wonderful option to help you manage your troubles that you could be dealing with if you have fecal incontinence. Fecal incontinence problems are very embarrassing and they can cause you to deal with tremendous problems with your dignity. Living with fecal incontinence doesn't need to be a thing that is embarrassing. Thanks to quality diapers and other products that are on the market you can easily find products that will be able to give you the type of protection that you need.

If you do not use the right type of diapers or incontinence products you may end up dealing with a lot of embarrassment. When fecal matter escapes to your underwear it will also get on your clothing and it is embarrassing for you but it can also embarrass others in your life. To maintain your dignity you need to use the right type of adult diapers and protection that will give you relief from the embarrassment that can come when leakage comes from your bowels. The Abena diapers are wonderful options for fecal incontinence because they come with special padding but they also include extra protection that can prevent others from smelling that you have incontinence. The right types of products are wonderful for anyone that is embarrassed by their condition and has a hard time managing their condition.

Understanding what your problem is will make it easier for you to be able to treat it effectively. Speak to your doctor about fecal incontinence as this will make it easier for you to find the right type of incontinence products and supplies that can help you out. You need to be able to understand what fecal incontinence is in order to try using different treatment options like Kegel exercises. Speak to your doctor about fecal incontinence as they can help you to manage your condition and to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

What are some of the other adult diapers that can help? Surecare offers a large variety of adult diapers that are beneficial for fecal incontinence. The adult diapers from Surecare come in protective underwear forms. This is a great way to keep your condition discrete as they look similar to the regular underwear that you use. Surecare protective underwear also do a great job at preventing waste from escaping from the underwear and they can prevent the odor from escaping as well.

Tranquility adult diapers are a wonderful option to help keep fecal matter in the underwear. These products have leg gathers that keep the fecal matter in and also they include extra room in case you do end up having a large accident in public. These diapers are also great at neutralizing odors as they help to prevent problems from being discrete. There are some special neutralizing PH chemicals in the adult diapers that help to keep others from smelling any odor that comes with fecal incontinence.

Prevail protective underwear is another great adult diaper to consider using if you want to have maximum protection against fecal incontinence. With the Prevail protective underwear you can choose from adult diapers that fit snugly against the legs or you can opt for the cotton underwear that also works well but doesn't include the extra plastic protection you need to find relief from the frustrations that come with fecal incontinence.

Adult diapers are a great option for fecal incontinence. They will allow you to maintain your dignity as you work on strengthening the pelvic muscles and work on gaining control over your bowels again.

Incontinence Pants For Women

Though unisex incontinence pants can be affordable and efficient for everyone, many women find that products made specifically for them provide an extra degree of protection, security, and confidence. Here are some you may want to consider:

Stretch briefs with stitched-in absorbent pad - these look and feel very much like ordinary underwear, and for women with light or stress incontinence they can be a good solution. The pad is stitched into the crotch area over a waterproof barrier, placed to maximize protection for women. Most use pads that are made of materials designed to wick moisture away from the skin. Some brands are available in colors and even prints. One of the major advantages of these products is smooth, close fit and lack of bulk, which makes them very discreet and virtually invisible under outer clothing.

Stretch briefs with removable pads - these garments also look and feel very much like ordinary underwear, but they're designed with a special waterproof pouch or pocket to hold a removable, changeable pad. Because pads are available in a variety of thicknesses and absorbency levels, these briefs can provide somewhat more flexibility in degree of protection. These briefs are designed to fit very snugly and they minimize bulk, so there is no problem with visibility under ordinary clothing. Because the inner pad can easily be removed and changed, they're a good choice for longer wear in situations when you have easy access to a restroom.

Disposable briefs - Made of a clothlike nonwoven material with elastic waist and leg openings, these garments have a highly absorbent built-in pad. They are not meant to be reused, and some even feature "tear down" sides that make it possible to remove them without taking off outer garments first. Many find that this feature makes them a good option for travel or other situations when it might be necessary to make a change in a public restroom.

Waterproof pants with removable pads or liners - These provide an additional degree of leak protection. Made of plastic, vinyl, rubber, or of a breathable cotton fabric with a waterproof backing, they are cut very similar to ordinary underwear, with elasticized waist and leg openings. Many of these garments are made with pouches to hold absorbent pads, while others are made to be worn over special liners. While they are distinguishable from ordinary underwear, they are still cut to fit snugly and minimize bulk. For many women, this style is a good choice for extended wear, or for times when access to a restroom may be limited.

Waterproof pants for wear over adult diapers - This combination can provide maximum leak protection and can be successfully used by people with heavy incontinence. These waterproof pants are cut to be ample and roomy, making it possible to wear them comfortably over several layers of diapers and/or pads. These pants may be styled as pull-ons, or may have a front or side opening closed by snaps or velcro.

Washable Incontinence Products - Are They the Best Choice For You?

If you have a persistent incontinence condition and you are managing it by wearing incontinence undergarments, you may want to consider the advantages of washable incontinence products over disposables. Many people prefer these reusable garments over throw away underwear and there reasons are varied.

Cost

Obviously reusable undergarments will save you money, perhaps big money, in the long run. The fact that these garments can be machine washed eliminates the need to constantly buy incontinence garments and can save you time and money. Knowing that you don't have to worry about rushing out to the store when you're running low is a huge convenience factor. A simple washer load and your back in business.

Comfort

For many people, reusable underwear is simply more comfortable. These garments don't loose there shape, they look more like regular underwear and they feel much softer than most disposables. In essence, washable incontinence products can be considered the same as any other form of underwear that you have in your drawer.

Thinking Green

Obviously there are those people who believe in recycling everything they possibly can to lessen the impact on the environment. Washable incontinence underwear is a natural choice (no pun intended) for people with this passion for living green.

While all these reasons are sound and legitimate there is another reason that many people opt for these products. They want to spare themselves what they think are embarrassing moments. Shopping for disposable incontinence products can mean standing in line with the world looking at your basket. Universally incontinence sufferers would prefer that their condition be kept discreet.

Getting a one time supply of washable incontinence products eliminates the need to replenish your stock which means no embarrassing moments at the store. These products truly are right for most people with an incontinence condition.

Incontinence in Older Cats

Incontinence in older cats is a somewhat unpredictable condition that may place a cat owner in the awkward position of having to make difficult quality of life choices. While some causes primarily seen in very young cats can be ruled out, others cannot. In this informational pet care article title "Incontinence in Older Cats" we will briefly cover six of the more common conditions that could lead to incontinence in cats and one that is often misinterpreted as incontinence.

 

*Urinary Tract Disease - Urinary tract disease is a broad topic that many require more research on your part. The good news is that if recognized early enough UTD can be treated effectively. The two most common areas of UTD as it applies to incontinence are urinary tract stones and bacterial infection.

 

(a)Urinary tract stones can occur anywhere in the urinary tract and can produce incontinence. These stones are generally a combination of calcium and/or magnesium and can cause partial or total blockage of urine. If the urine backs up into the bladder leakage is a common symptom. In older cats stones can produce the added risk of infection due to an aging immune system. 

 

(b)Bacterial infection - Once bacterial gains access through the urethra infection is likely to occur in older cats. Once the infection starts to spread throughout the urinary tract your cat may start to urinate in inappropriate or unusual places. Also, urination may become painful leading to failure to completely empty the bladder thus producing incontinence or leakage problems.

 

*Bone and joint pain - Arthritis is common in older cats. They just can't quite make it to the litter box. Some simply feel it is more important to avoid the pain than to make it to the litter box. Additionally, this factor should be considered when purchasing new more easily accessible litter boxes

 

*Memory loss - I know it is hard to believe but many cats over the age of 14 have some memory dysfunction. They forget where their litter boxes are located or fail to remember how long it takes to get there. 

 

*Tantrums - Often time's older cats develop an attitude. They are use to being fed at a certain time or receiving special treats. If things don't go as planned they become agitated and feel the only way to get your attention is to let the urine fly. While this is not urinary incontinence sometimes cat owners mistakenly make that assumption, particularly in older cats.

 

*Disease - Certain serious disease such as feline leukemia will lead to incontinence in cats. If none of the more obvious signs are apparent a visit to veterinarian should be considered.

 

*Urethral fatigue - Sometimes the urethra just wears out. It fails to open, close and retain urine as well as it once did.

 

In closing, incontinence in older cats can be caused simply by age or something more serious. Ultimately your veterinarian is probably your best source for determining and treating the specific cause.

 

Additionally, many pet owners are opting for natural supplements for urinary tract health to both prevent and treat many of the common causes of incontinence in older cats.