Valerie J. Block, PT, DPTSc, assistant professor of neurology at UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, discussed a study on the use of commercial wearable devices to monitor and manage bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.
Tips for Dealing with Male Incontinence
Many people fear and dread the possibility of an ‘accident’ but, remaining active with incontinence should not be an issue. As well as managing with incontinence pads, there are many things you can do about stopping it from happening complete or lessening the impact on your daily routine.
It’s not easy to talk about incontinence which is researchers found that women wait on average six years before they seek medical help.
Incontinence is not a sign of aging but it can be a sign of something else. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause you to lose control of your bladder in the short term. Easily treatable, once the UTI has disappeared, you may also find urinary incontinence disappears too.
Some types of medication can also cause incontinence, again something that can be easily remedied.
Working out the type of incontinence you have is important as this can lend itself to getting the right treatment;
Your GP or nurse will ask you about your incontinence, its symptoms and how long you have had the problem. They may also ask you to keep a diary of what you eat and drink, as well as when you visit the toilet and how bad your incontinence is at certain times of the day and night.
Your GP or nurse will look for what could be causing your incontinence, from testing for any infection to other conditions that may be the root cause. They will look at your medical history too.
For women who have had children, child birth, both vaginal and caesarean deliveries, can cause the pelvic floor muscles to be weakened or damaged. Pelvic floor exercises can make a huge difference.
For men, examining the prostate is usual too as an enlarged gland can impact on your continence.
For men and women, pelvic floor exercises can make a huge difference to their incontinence issues can eventually stop the problem completely.
The pelvic floor muscles are sling like, running from the front of your body by your pubic bone to the rear of your body, to the base of your spine. The exercises are ‘clench and release’ type ones and can be practiced anywhere, any time – and no one knows you are doing them!
Some people with incontinence also find that scheduling toilet visits can also be a great help in reducing leaks or accidents.
This is also known as bladder re-training. Some people schedule bathroom visits every two hours and if they feel the urge to go before, use pelvic floor muscle exercises to ‘hold it in’. Over time, you will develop better muscles and control.
If you feel your incontinence is getting worse or you need help to control it, your GP may prescribe you products .
Women for example, can use a cone or pessary which supports the bladder and surrounding muscles. There are also surgical options.
Just like sanitary wear, incontinence pads are available in a range of absorbencies. There are also products specifically for men.
Although you may not like the idea of wearing pants or pads, they do provide a layer of protection that will give you more confidence to be able to enjoy life again! Don’t let incontinence hold you back – seek medical help.
HARTMANN Direct supply a range of protective incontinence pads and pants for men and women. Offering a discreet delivery service, there are all kinds of products available that give you freedom to enjoy life, without worry about incontinence.
A Lady doing Yoga – what are the health benefits?
It is not known how many people are incontinent in the UK or how many women and men rely daily on incontinence pads, but NHS Choices believe that between three and six million people in the UK suffer from some level of urinary incontinence.
Traditionally a problem sufferers kept hidden, people would often ‘put up with’ incontinence and not seek help to remedy it.
More people are now seeking help and is not something that needs to remain secret or an embarrassing, inevitable ailment that ‘comes with age’.
Although urinary incontinence affects more women than men, it is not solely a female problem. Neither is it a condition or issue that is related to age.
Young women and men can also suffer from urinary and bowel incontinence. It is estimated that five million people in the UK under the age of 24 will have experienced some kind of bladder control issue, with around the same number thought to have had some kind of bowel incontinence.
There are two common types of urinary incontinence – stress incontinence and urge incontinence. There are claims that practicing yoga on a regular basis could help with managing the symptoms and decreasing the possibility of accidental leakage of urine happening.
A 2014 research project published in the Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery discovered that a yoga training programme with the specific goal of improving pelvic health did yield results for the women involved.
The trial was conducted using 19 women over the age of 40, who suffered urinary incontinence on a daily basis. The participants had either stress, urge or mixed incontinence.
Half of the women attended a six-week yoga therapy programme, in which they attended twice-weekly sessions and home practice. The other half served as a control group.
Of those women who attended the yoga programme, 70% reported a significant improvement in their incontinence issues. The control group reported only a 13% improvement.
For women suffering stress incontinence, they found these yoga sessions the most helpful with great results, with the researchers from the research project believe that yoga helps in many different ways.
For example, incontinence can be linked to stress and anxiety and with yoga’s emphasis being on mindful meditation and relaxation, it is possible that by decreasing stress and anxiety, incidence of incontinence was reduced too.
Likewise, yoga teachers and participants also feel that by regularly exercising their pelvic floor area that they regain and retain strength in these important muscles. With strong pelvic floor muscles, the bladder is supported and incontinence lessened or prevented altogether.
The researchers also created a yoga programme for older women who may have had mobility issues and limitations. This too was helpful in controlling incontinence and overall, the project concluded that yoga could play a part in controlling all types of incontinence.
For many people with incontinence, medication if often offered as a means of controlling the bladder. Medications that target incontinence however, have a range of side effects that can make daily life unpleasant, such as dry mouth, constipation, heartburn, blurred vision, issues with memory and confusion.
For people already feeling stressed and anxious about urinary incontinence, medication does not solve the problem but can add to the issues that they face. Yoga offers a real and credible alternative to some people.
But yoga does more than tackle the problem it incontinence. It tackles the emotional issues around it too, by helping deal with depression, stress and anxiety.
Yoga tutors are often well-trained who can help people with specific problems. There are several yoga poses, as well as meditation aspects, that can help with specific muscles. As well as attending class regularly, participants are also encouraged to practice at home.
Yoga could mean waving goodbye to incontinence pads and pants, and regaining control over both your bladder and your life! And with yoga classes being prevalent across the country, taking control of your bladder could happen sooner than you think.
HARTMANN Direct offer a range of incontinence products for both men and women with urinary and bowel incontinence. From light to heavy absorbency needs, they understand the need for products that are reliable and fit for purpose for living a busy and active life.
How to Care for People Who Suffer from Incontinence
It is thought that 6.5 million people in the UK act as carers, providing over 50 hours of unpaid care for a relative. They fulfil all kinds of roles from companion to cook, to nurse and chauffeur.
Most of these people look after their partner, spouse or other relative gladly and without complaint. This doesn’t make it any less hard or any easier to enjoy a quality of life beyond the four walls of the home.
And there are aspects of caring for someone that can, over time, become worse. One such problem is incontinence. In the early stages, it may mean using light absorbency incontinence pads but as age and illness march on, it can become ‘double incontinence’, making caring for someone tough.
It is an involuntary leakage of urine or faeces or sometimes both, known as double incontinence. It could be a small, occasional leak of urine, for example or as in some cases, it can be a total loss of bladder control.
For some people, their incontinence is known as urge incontinence, in which they feel the need to go to the toilet immediately and without warning. People with dementia can often suffer from this type of incontinence.
Stress incontinence is when there is a leak of urine as a result of exercise, coughing, laughing or sneezing. This tends to affect women more than men.
Faecal incontinence can range from passing a small stool when passing wind or total loss of bowel control. This is less common and affects both men and women equally.
Although not an inevitable part of aging, with some age-related illnesses and conditions, incontinence can be an issue and one that carers will may need to deal with. Carers can use, alongside incontinence pads and pants, other aids too including medication in some cases, such a measuring fluid intake and so on.
There are medical reasons why people can become incontinent in old age:
It can be distressing, embarrassing and frustrating helping someone to deal with incontinence. It can make a lot of extra work in an already busy day, as well as placing relationships under pressure.
Prevention is better than cure thus, if you are a carer for someone, trying to prevent incontinence is key, thus keeping the urinary tract, bladder and bowel healthy is important:
There are also many other things that a carer can do to help their spouse, partner or relative remain in control of their bladder and bowel, from using incontinence pads and pants, to making sure that the toilet is clearly identifiable.
Asking for help is important too for both you and the person you care.
Supplying both private customers and commercial, healthcare premises, HARTMANN Direct supply a range of high quality incontinence products, from light absorbency pads to pants. With ranges for both men and women, HARTMANN Direct understand the need for hassle-free ordering and delivery too!
Tips for Dealing with Male Incontinence
14 million people in the UK are thought to suffer from problems controlling their bladder.
A small number suffer from bowel incontinence too.
Although we have commonly associated incontinence with women and those in the older age group, it is a hidden and embarrassing problem for many.
Men can also suffer from incontinence and like female sufferers, tend to do in silence and without seeking help.
Even with specially-designed incontinence pads for men, many men continue to hide what they see as an embarrassing ailment. They may even assume that being incontinence is part and parcel of growing old.
Men are also uninformed or misinformed about incontinence too which is why these ten tips of dealing with male incontinence could make a difference;
There are all kinds of sayings about small drips when you have finished urinating but being incontinent is about more than a few drops of urine on your underpants or trunks when you have urinated.
If you feel uncomfortable, can see the wetness through your clothes or have irritated skin, this is incontinence and could be a sign of something more serious.
Men traditionally find it hard to seek medical help for issues and thus, it can be easy to feel you are the only one suffering from incontinence.
Incontinence can be a sign of an enlarged prostate gland which is treatable – as is incontinence.
If your weight has been sneaking up, this too could explain incontinence. As we age, our muscles do weaken thus with inactivity and extra pressure from carrying more weight, it is perfectly possible that this could be a cause or contributing to your incontinence.
Taking a look at your lifestyle, stopping smoking and becoming more active all help to stem the problems of incontinence.
It is not uncommon for men to experience problems with their prostate gland as they age. An enlarged gland can block the urethra, causing overflow incontinence or difficulty urinating.
Some men have the gland removed due to cancer and this surgery can lead to a damaged or weakened pelvic floor muscles and nerves. This is why many specialists prefer to ‘careful watching’ of the prostate gland to put off surgery until it is absolutely necessary.
Incontinence problems in men can also be linked to nerve damage, stroke or conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, studies have shown that men are more likely to be involved in high-impact accidents, such as motorbike accidents, active combat and so on. Spinal injuries in such cases can also trigger incontinence.
Manufacturers of incontinence products for adults now produce a range of pads and pants specifically to fit the male anatomy. There is a growing range of product option, from light absorbency pads to higher absorbency pants, all of which make managing incontinence easier.
Men who suffer from severe stress incontinence can be considered for surgical intervention, if other aids, treatments and options have failed.
Implanting an artificial sphincter, usually made from rubber, can help to control the flow of urine. Urge incontinence can be treated with nerve stimulation devices, similar to a pace maker but as with all interventions, consulting with a specialist is essential.
There are also increasing options when it comes to medication too for incontinence. Some drugs are used to treat the underlying cause, such as shrinking an enlarged prostate. Anti-spasmodic medications can also be helpful, as well as certain types of anti-depressants.
Limiting alcohol and fruit juices can have an impact on your bladder and at the same time, increasing your intake of water. It is important to spread drinking water over the day as this can help managing incontinence easier, especially if you schedule toilet breaks.
No one likes to be incontinent. It is embarrassing, can make you uncomfortable both emotionally and physically, as well as being a source of worry and concern. There is also the need to control the smell of urine, which can be unpleasant but something that incontinence products can help with.
It can have a severe impact on your life and your confidence. Men can find it more difficult than women to seek help but there are treatment options, as there is also support available from your doctor and from online groups and agencies too. Seek help!
HARTMANN Direct supply a range of incontinence products specifically for man. Their products are discreet, offering protection without being bulky under clothing. Dealing with incontinence is about finding out why it is happening, as well as managing the symptoms.