26 Feb Incontinence Care
What is Incontinence Care?
Incontinence includes both urinary and bowel function. Any time a person experiences an involuntary loss of urine, feces, or wind, they are experiencing incontinence. There are many different types of incontinence, and it can be caused by a wide variety of factors that include urinary tract infections, menopause, nerve damage, and hemorrhoids.
Types of Incontinence
The two main types of incontinence, urinary and bowel incontinence, can further be broken down into other categories.
The types of urinary and bowel incontinence include:
- Stress incontinence due to sneezing, coughing, or exercise
- Urge incontinence, which is also known as overactive bladder
- Mixed incontinence, which includes both stress and urge incontinence
- Overflow incontinence is when your bladder doesn’t empty completely
- Functional incontinence keeps you from getting to the bathroom in time
Causes of Incontinence
There are many reasons why a person may experience urinary or bowel incontinence.
The causes of urinary incontinence include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Menopause
- Prostate issues
- Medical conditions
- Medications
- Hysterectomies
The causes of bowel incontinence include:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Childbirth
- Hemorrhoids
- Medical conditions
- Medications
Dealing with Incontinence
In some cases, incontinence is temporary. For example, a woman may experience urinary incontinence while she’s pregnant, but not after the baby is born. In other cases, the incontinence may not be severe enough to interfere with everyday life. A person who experiences a little urinary incontinence when they laugh or sneeze may not be bothered by it.
However, more severe forms of incontinence require a solution. Medication can often be effective. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can prevent bladder spasms while fiber supplements can make stool easier to control. Botox injections can be used when medication fails. Surgery is also an option for some patients, depending on what is causing the incontinence.
Bowel training, by teaching your body to go to the bathroom at certain times, and Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor are long-term options that don’t require medication.
There is a wide variety of products that can be purchased over-the-counter to make dealing with incontinence less embarrassing. A liner or a pad can take care of small leaks, while protective underwear can guard against larger leaks.