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Information
> Urinary Incontinence
Urinary
Incontinence
Incontinence is defined
as the inability to control urination. It is not a disease, but a
condition with severe economical and psychological impact. Urinary
incontinence may occur at any age and in any sex. It is estimated that
over 12 million Americans suffer from lack of bladder control, but only
one fourth seek help. There are several types of incontinence:
- Stress incontinence: is the most
common kind and is characterized by small leakage of urine that
results from the increase of intraabdominal pressure caused by
lifting, sneezing, or laughing.
- Urge incontinence: occurs when
people with chronic health conditions, such as dementia, stroke,
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are unable to hold urine long
enough after urges to reach the toilet, or as a result of decreased
bladder muscle control.
- Overflow incontinence: occurs
when the bladder is filled beyond capacity and leaks small amounts of
urine because the weakened muscles surrounding the bladder are unable
to hold urine.
- Total incontinence: refers to
complete loss of bladder control.
- Post surgical incontinence: can
result after hysterectomies, prostatectomies, or other procedures.
- Enuresis: refers to nighttime
bed-wetting in adults and children.
Incontinence is widely
treatable, even curable through exercise, changing of diets, medication,
certain devices and surgery. Treatment depends on the type and condition
of incontinence. Stress incontinence may be treated with specific
exercises (called Kegel exercises), medication, or surgery. The goal of
Kegel exercises is to strengthen the muscles that control the start and
stop of the urination. Urge incontinence may be treated with behavioral
modification therapy or with certain medications. Behavioral methods
include education and retraining the bladder by urinating according to the
schedule that gradually increases the time between bathroom trips.
Overflow incontinence due to an enlarged prostate often responds to
medications which relax certain muscles allowing the bladder to empty more
completely. Prostate surgery should be considered if the benign
enlargement is blamed for incontinence.
Sometimes incontinence
is treated by inserting a flexible tube, catheter, in the urethra which
collects urine in a container. In men, an alternative to the indwelling
catheter is an external collecting device-catheter which is fitted over
the male genitalia, like a condom, and connected via a tube to a drainage
bag held onto the body by leg straps or much better by the Netti®
One-leg pant.
There are many other
methods and devices to treat incontinence aside from those discussed
above. No one should suffer silently with urinary incontinence; your
physician should be able to direct you to an effective treatment for your
problem.
In the meantime, or if
the treatment is not successful, absorbent pads inserted into reusable
Netti® pants can help people to stay dry.
The information contained above is intended for general reference
purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
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