Incontinence and the embarrassment it causes

With urge incontinence, sometimes referred to as an overactive bladder, your brain tells your bladder to empty—even when it isn't full. The condition also occurs when the bladder muscles are too active. They contract (squeeze) to pass urine before your bladder is full. This often uncomfortable sensation can affect a person's sleep for example, and is more common in men with prostate problems and in women after menopause.

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Overflow incontinence -

More common in men, overflow incontinence, also known as chronic urinary retention, describes the inability to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking.

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Overflow incontinence -

Overflow incontinence occurs as a result of the body making more urine than the bladder can hold, or the bladder is full and cannot empty, thereby causing it to leak urine. People with overflow incontinence never completely empty the bladder—placing them at risk for a spill. Rare in women, this condition is more common in men with prostate problems or who have chronic disorders like multiple sclerosis, stroke, or diabetes.

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Mixed incontinence -

Mixed incontinence is when you have stress and urge incontinence at the same time. This is more common in women.

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Mixed incontinence -

Those unfortunate enough to suffer from both stress and urge incontinence will struggle with the sudden need to urinate, usually after coughing or sneezing. Identifying exactly what triggers a reaction is the best way to manage this particular condition.

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Total incontinence -

Total incontinence is when your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or experience recurrent leaking.

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Total incontinence -

Total incontinence is the continuous and total loss of urinary control. It means that you are always leaking urine, a result of when the muscle that controls the release of urine (sphincter) no longer works.

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Managing urinary incontinence -

There are no two ways about it: managing urinary incontinence can be frustrating and time-consuming. But there are tips you can follow that can help reduce the burden of living with the condition.

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Follow a fluid schedule -

Managing urinary incontinence is basically about retraining a weak bladder. Do this by keeping your fluid intake on schedule, and limiting the amount you drink. The idea is to condition your bladder when to fill and when to empty.

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Limit common bladder irritants -

It helps to reduce the intake of what's known as bladder irritants, things like caffeine, alcohol, and fluids with a high citrus content. These are typically more difficult for the bladder to process. And, incidentally, if you smoke, be aware that tobacco is also very irritating to the bladder lining, in addition to increasing bladder cancer risk.

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Plan a toileting schedule -

As with following a fluid schedule, planning a toileting schedule makes sense in that it helps prevent your bladder from becoming too full. Work on visiting the toilet at least every two to three hours a day. And always empty your bladder before engaging in any physical activity, leaving home, or going to bed.

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Pelvic floor exercise -

If you're physically able, get into the habit of doing pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercise is ideal). Strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor can reduce urinary incontinence by as much as 90%. Just make sure your bladder is empty beforehand.

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Lose excess weight -

Being overweight can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and cause incontinence because of the pressure of fatty tissue on your bladder. Shedding a few pounds may improve your symptoms or, even better, see them disappear completely.

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Manage constipation -

Don't allow yourself to become constipated! Attempting to pass stubborn stools will increase pressure in the pelvis and the bladder. Lessen the risk by following a diet rich in fiber, and remember to drink adequate amounts of water (while being mindful of your fluid schedule).

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Keep a diary -

The benefits of journaling are well documented, so why not keep a bladder diary? This way you can record your fluid intake and toileting pattern over a given period of time. Noting down urinating and leaking episodes is also useful when discussing your condition with a healthcare professional.

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Fecal incontinence -

Perhaps even more distressing than urinary incontinence is fecal incontinence—stool leaks from the rectum without warning.

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Loss of bowel control -

Fecal incontinence, also called bowel incontinence, ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.

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Signs and symptoms -

Signs and symptoms of fecal incontinence include the sudden urge to defecate that you cannot control, and soiling yourself without realizing you needed the toilet.

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Other indicators -

Another indicator of the condition is when you occasionally leak poo, for example when breaking wind.

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Incontinence and the embarrassment it causes

How to identify and manage this distressing condition

12/06/24 | StarsInsider

HEALTH Conditions

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, over 25 million adult Americans experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence. Nearly 18 million adults in the US have fecal, or bowel, incontinence. Both conditions can be very upsetting and embarrassing. And while incontinence generally affects older people, it can strike at any time. The good news, however, is that incontinence is treatable. But what causes this distressing disorder in the first place, and how do you identify the symptoms?

Click through and find out more about this surprisingly common problem.