In an aging population managing continence is becoming a more frequent topic for discussion. With millions of people affected by urinary incontinence, which is involuntary urinary leakage, managing continence is creeping out into the light of day.
While the problem of urinary incontinence is generally associated with old age, it can affect people at any age. For many reasons, not the least of which is embarrassment, many of the people who do suffer from some sort of urinary incontinence suffer in silence, which means that they are not seeking out any help for their condition either.
Urinary incontinence is not a disease; rather it is a symptom of some physical, underlying problem. Becoming incontinent is not a natural part of getting old, though there are changes related to aging that can contribute to urinary incontinence. For example, as a person ages they may develop certain physical limitations that make it difficult for them to reach the bathroom.
Another behavior that may accompany aging is not drinking enough fluids, which can cause a couple of continence problems. First, it concentrates the urine, which can irritate the bladder causing more frequent urination. Secondly, it can cause constipation, which can also be a contributing factor in urinary incontinence.
Conditions such as bladder infection, stroke or afflictions that affect the nervous system can also lead to urinary incontinence. Many medications have urinary incontinence as a side effect, where they either act as a diuretic flooding the bladder with liquid, or they reduce awareness or the urge to urinate like muscle relaxants.
As an older adult there are some things that you can do to manage continence on your own, and most of the ideas are pretty simple. If you have a physical limitation that makes it difficult to get yourself to the bathroom, get into the habit of going to the bathroom at regular intervals throughout the day. Every two or three hours visit the rest room whether you feel the urge to go or not. By scheduling your trips to the bathroom before they are urgent, you are giving yourself ample time to get there before you are hit by a sudden urge to go.
The next step in managing continence on your own is to keep your system regular and avoid becoming constipated. Make sure that you drink about five glasses of water per day along with the fluids that you would normally drink. You may also want to cut back on your consumption of drinks with caffeine or alcohol and drink water instead.
If you are still having problems talk to your medical care professional so that they can identify any medical problems that may be causing your incontinence symptoms. And as you are working through the solution to your problem, incontinence pads can free you from the worry of having accidental leakage in public. They protect clothing and furniture, and they offer protection from skin irritation. While you cannot ignore aging, managing continence as you age allows you to enjoy a continued active lifestyle.
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