Incontinence
Incontinence Facts
- You can lose control of when you urinate
- It can be embarrassing, but it can be treated
- 12 million adults suffer, mostly women over 50 years old
- It can affect any age and either gender
Talk to your doctor for more information - if you hide your incontinence you are at risk for rashes, sores, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.
However, even more importantly you may start avoiding friends, family, and social outings due to fear or embarrassment. This could lead to feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and guilt.
Causes of Incontinence
- Medical problems
- Recently given birth
- Weak pelvic muscles
- Some medicines
- Build up of stool in bowels
- Not being able to move around, loss of agility
- Urinary tract infection
- Diabetes
- High Calcium levels
- Women - thinning and drying of skin in vagina or urethra, especially after menopause
- Men - enlarged prostate, or prostate surgery
Types of Incontinence
Stress
Urine leaks because of a sudden pressure on lower abdominal muscles, such as a laugh, cough, or sneeze.
Caused by weak pelvic muscles.
Treatment: Kegel exercises help.
Urge
The need to urinate comes on too fast.
Caused by an overactive bladder (muscle contracts too often), aging, infection.
Treatment: Medication, bladder training
Overflow
A constant dripping of urine.
Caused by an overfilled bladder, when you can not empty bladder fully and/or have to strain to pee due to an enlarged prostate or blockage to urine flow.
Treatment: Medication, surgery, bladder training
Functional
Have a normal control of urine, but can not get to toilet in time.
Caused by arthritis, or other conditions affecting your mobility.
Treatment: Try to address the underlying cause.
For More Information
National Association for Continence
1-800-BLADDER
Simon Foundation for Continence
1-800-237-4666
Kegel Exercises
Helps to strengthen pelvic muscles and can be done anywhere, any time. It takes 3-6 months to see results.
Locate muscles by stopping urine mid flow, without using your stomach, leg or buttock muscles.
Squeeze these muscles tight and hold for count of ten, 3-4 times a day.
Work your way up to holding muscles tight for 20 seconds 3-4 times a day.
Bladder Training
Helps to have bladder hold longer, and takes 3-12 weeks to see results.
Urinate to set intervals every 30 minutes to two hours, (depending on how long you can initially last) whether you feel the need to go or not. Gradually lengthen the time between toilet trips until you are going every 3-4 hours, without an accident.
Practice relaxation techniques when you feel the urge to go before you are scheduled. Breathe deeply and slowly and do your Kegel tightening, until the urge goes away.
After the urge passes wait 5 minutes and go to the bathroom, then try to wait 10 minutes, etc. You must go to the bathroom or at your next urge you may have an accident.