Incontinence Supplies
What
Is Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the inability to stop urine leakage.
Incontinence can be embarrassing in that it interferes with living a
normal, full life. But there are several ways to control it. This article
explains the different types of incontinence along with management and
treatment options.
Incontinence is Common
If you have trouble controlling your bladder, you are not alone. Loss
of bladder control is a common problem, shared by millions of Americans.
Incontinence can rob you of sleep and leave you exhausted. It can make
travel awkward and keep you from enjoying physical activity. Despite
these frustrations, fewer than half the people with incontinence seek
help. Many feel too embarrassed, while others don’t realize that
help is available.
Incontinence is Treatable
The successful treatment of incontinence begins with an accurate diagnosis.
Then you and your doctor can discuss your treatment options. These may
include certain medications, exercises and other therapy to help strengthen
muscles, procedures to help stop leakage, or surgery. Incontinence can
be controlled and, in many cases, even cured.
Types of Incontinence
There are different types of incontinence: urge (also
known as overactive bladder), stress,
and overflow. You may have only one type. Or you may
have urge incontinence along with one of the other types (mixed
incontinence). All people with incontinence have bladder control
problems. But each type of incontinence has its own pattern of signs
and symptoms. You can identify your type by comparing these typical
patterns.
People with URGE INCONTINENCE or OVERACTIVE BLADDER may:
• Wet themselves if they don’t get to a bathroom immediately
• Get up frequently during the night to urinate
• Go to the bathroom at least every two hours
• Feel they have a weak bladder. Each drink of coffee, cola, or
alcohol seems to cause urination out of proportion to the amount they
actually drink
• Wet the bed at night
People with STRESS INCONTINENCE may:
• Leak urine when they cough, sneeze, or laugh
• Go to the bathroom more frequently in order to avoid accidents
• Avoid exercise because they are afraid it will cause leaks
• Sleep through the night, but leak upon getting up from bed in
the morning
• Sometimes leak urine when they get up from a chair
People with OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE may:
• Get up frequently during the night to urinate
• Take a long time to urinate and have a weak, dribbling stream
with no force
• Urinate small amounts and not feel completely empty afterward
• Dribble urine throughout the day
• Feel the urge to urinate, but sometimes can’t
*People with mixed incontinence have a combination of the above signs
and symptoms
When You’re Continent
Continence means you have control over your bladder. You can hold urine
in or let it out when you choose. For example, you may be in a situation
where it is not convenient to get to the bathroom. Even if your brain
gets the message that your bladder is getting full and you feel the
desire to urinate, you can consciously tell your system to wait to expel
the urine until it is convenient.
HOLDING URINE IN
1. Brain gets signal that bladder is full, and you
feel the urge to urinate
2. Spinal Cord sends message from brain telling external
sphincter to contract
3. External Sphincter contracts and stays closed
4. This signals bladder to relax and bladder neck to
stay closed. Urge to urinate subsides
LETTING URINE OUT
1. Brain get signal that bladder is full, and you feel
the urge to urinate
2. Spinal Cord sends message from brain telling external
sphincter to relax
3. External sphincter relaxes and opens
4. This signals bladder to contract and expel urine, and bladder
neck to open, allowing urine into the urethra
When You’re Incontinent
Incontinence means loss of bladder control. It occurs when any part
of the urinary system fails to function. Both men and women may develop
overactive bladder, stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, or mixed
incontinence. Women are more likely to develop incontinence than men
because their internal organ structure is different to allow for childbirth.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and decreased levels of the female hormone estrogen
can weaken pelvic floor muscles, allowing organs such as the bladder,
urethra, and uterus to shift out of place (prolapse). This may cause
incontinence and a feeling of pressure or that something is slipping.
Men have fewer incontinence problems because the shape of the male urinary
tract and longer urethra offer more support.
Urge Incontinence and Overactive Bladder
MEDICAL HISTORY
Your medical history may show that you have been experiencing persistent
and extreme urgency, even after urinating. You may have wet the bed
as a child, because overactive bladder can occur temporarily in childhood,
then reappear in adulthood. Overactive bladder often reappears after
menopause, because hormonal changes can weaken the external sphincter.
Your history may include prior pelvic surgery, back problem, nerve problems,
or infections.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when pelvic floor muscles have become weak
and pelvic organs slip down (prolapse). As a result, the bladder neck
is not in the correct position. When activity such as lifting heavy
objects, coughing, laughing, sneezing, or getting up from a chair increases
pressure on the abdominal cavity and the bladder, the bladder neck opens.
If the external sphincter is also weak, urine leakage occurs. In people
with mixed incontinence, overactive bladder is also present.
MEDICAL HISTORY
Women who have had one or more pregnancies and deliveries often develop
stress incontinence. That’s because pregnancy and delivery may
stretch, relax, and weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Lowered estrogen
levels during menopause also weaken and thin these muscles and surrounding
tissues. Prior pelvic surgery can affect the position and tone of the
organs and muscles. Men may experience temporary stress incontinence
after prostate surgery. You may also notice your symptoms are worse
if you suffer from a cold, bronchitis, or allergies.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow may result when scar tissue or prolapsed organs make the urethra
narrow, blocking urine from flowing when you try to urinate. In women,
it may arise temporarily due to swelling after pelvic surgery or childbirth.
In men, it may be cause by an enlarged prostate. Or it may occur if
the bladder stops contracting because of medications, injured nerves,
or overstretching of the bladder tissue. As a result, the bladder stays
full, and constant pressure on the bladder neck results in urine leakage.
Some people with overflow incontinence also have overactive bladder
(mixed incontinence).
MEDICAL HISTORY
Your medical history may indicate that your urine stream is getting
weaker, and that it takes you a long time to urinate. You may be experiencing
a dull ache in the lower abdomen, low back pain, or have accidents during
the night. Women may have a feeling or fullness in the vagina. Causes
include childbirth, previous pelvic surgery, prostate problems, and
diabetes, medications that hinder bladder contractions, constipation,
nerve or muscle problems, and a history of sexually transmitted disease.
Absorbent Products
Products that absorb urine are available in both disposable and reusable
forms. They may be used temporarily until your treatment has a chance
to work, if the treatment yields less than perfect results, or if you
undergo no treatment. By reducing wetness and odor, they help keep you
mobile, functioning, and comfortable.
Absorbent Pads
Pads come in varying degrees of absorbency. They’re attached to
underwear and can be worn under normal clothing.
Adult Briefs
These are bulkier than pads but are more absorbent. They’re fastened
with self-adhesive tape.
Bed Pads
Bed pads protect the bed linens and mattress at night. They are available
in different sizes and absorbencies.
Skin Care
Prolonged contact with urine is very irritating to the skin. Keeping
yourself clean and dry will reduce skin rash and odor. Wash with mild
non-deodorant soap and avoid harsh detergents. Special cleansers and
protective creams and powders are available. Specially formulated deodorant
tablets, taken daily, may further help control odor.
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