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Incontinence in Men is a Common Problem

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Men are less apt than women to complain about health problems. They may be embarrassed to discuss health problems of a personal nature with their physician due to stereotypes that exist where a man must be strong and taciturn. Men who are reluctant to discuss incontinence with their doctor may suffer needlessly. Incontinence in men can often be treated very effectively.

Disease of the prostate is the most common reason that incontinence in men occurs. The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized organ located at the base of the bladder. As men age, the prostate often enlarges in size, a condition known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The enlarging prostate can place pressure on the urethra, leading to symptoms of incontinence in men. Men may experience a weak urinary stream, dribbling, and/or inability to completely empty their bladder as a result of BPH. They may also suffer from urinary tract infections related to urinary stasis, which can worsen existing urinary incontinence in men.

Prostate cancer, or more often the procedures used to treat prostate cancer, may also result in incontinence in men. Radiation, removal of the prostate and the disease itself may all cause incontinence in men. Incontinence used to be an inevitability for men suffering from prostate cancer, but treatments nowadays can often spare urinary function.

Medications are often used to treat incontinence in men. Medications are used to relax the bladder, reduce or prevent enlargement of the prostate and reduce symptoms of urgency. These medications are often helpful, particularly when combined with self-help remedies, such as monitoring fluid intake, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol and bladder retraining.

Incontinence in men is often a result of problems with the prostate and can often be treated effectively. For this reason, men who suffer from incontinence should consult their physicians so that the problem can be treated in its early stages.

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Male Incontinence Supplies

Sunday, January 9th, 2011

More and more men are living with incontinence, due to an aging population and advances in medicine that allow men to survive cancer of the prostate and other conditions. As a result, the incontinence industry is striving to meet the unique needs of men suffering from urinary incontinence by creating male incontinence supplies that are designed for style as well as comfort and absorbency.

Male incontinence supplies include incontinence pads that are designed to trap and absorb urine where absorbency is required the most, which is at the front of the pad. Incontinence pads are shaped to contour to a man’s anatomy and offer a comfortable fit as well as a sense of security that allows active men to live their lives to the fullest.

Male incontinence supplies also include male incontinence pants designed to offer the same qualities of comfort and security as women have available to them. Male incontinence pants are available in washable and disposable varieties. In addition, male incontinence pants are available in a wider variety of styles. Some men prefer boxers while some prefer briefs, and the incontinence industry has recognized that men appreciate having this choice available in male incontinence products. Male incontinence pants come in a variety of materials and styles to allow men several options to choose from to meet their individual incontinence needs.

Men can lead an active and productive life, pursuing all of their normal activities, while feeling secure and dry. Male incontinence supplies are designed with discreetness in mind, so that men who are incontinent can rest assured that their secret is safe, and no one need know that they suffer from incontinence.

View a variety of styles of male incontinence supplies available from DryForLife, and DryForLife is also proud to offer Tena incontinence products designed specifically for men.

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Bladder Weakness in Men Affects Millions

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Bladder weakness affects millions of men around the world. Many people assume that bladder weakness in men is a normal consequence of aging; however, bladder weakness is never normal and should not be thought of as an aging issue.

Often the cause of bladder weakness in men is a problem of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a small walnut-sized organ that contributes fluid to sperm. As men age the prostate often grows, putting pressure on the urethra. The prostate surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder, so it stands to reason that any swelling in this area will affect the bladder and urination. Swelling of the prostate does not always signify cancer; in fact, swelling of the prostate is usually benign and is referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy. This condition commonly affects men beginning in the 40s, although symptoms of bladder weakness in men may not show up until decades later.

Symptoms of bladder weakness in men may include occasional dribbling of urine, difficulty in urinating, difficulty in starting their stream, or an inability to fully empty their bladder. These symptoms may begin gradually and worsen over time. Men who experience bladder weakness should notify their physician immediately, when problems begin, rather than waiting until symptoms become severe.

Treatment for bladder weakness in men may include limiting fluid intake, avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol, bladder training, weight loss and smoking cessation. All of these self-help remedies can help ease the symptoms of bladder weakness in men and, in some cases, will cure the problem.

When self-help remedies fail, medications may be needed. Medications may help to shrink the prostate or prevent further swelling, or may be used to inhibit the bladder spasms that may cause urinary leakage. These medications may be helpful for some, but also carry some risk of side effects, such as dry mouth, drowsiness and constipation.

Surgery is usually done as a last resort when other measures have failed. Surgical procedures should be carefully researched and possible complications discussed. Men who suffer from bladder weakness should be aware of all of their options in regards to treatment and should make their decision based on all of the available facts. Although bladder weakness in men is a common problem, it should be not be assumed to be “normal”.

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Just Can’t Wait – All About Urge Incontinence

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Do you have sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate? Do you sometimes have difficulty making it to the toilet on time? If so, you may be suffering from urge incontinence, a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide.

Urge incontinence occurs when an individual leaks urine following a strong urge to urinate. The urge cannot be ignored; often, urine leakage occurs despite rushing to a washroom. Urge incontinence is caused by a spasm of the bladder, which occurs even when the bladder is not full. Urge incontinence may occur during the day or night.

Several conditions may cause urge incontinence, such as:
Bladder infection
Bladder stones
Bladder cancer
Neurological conditions (i.e. Multiple Sclerosis)
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Inflammation of the bladder
Bladder outlet obstruction (i.e. from an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH)

There are several treatments for urge incontinence. Medications are often prescribed to decrease spasms of the bladder and reduce the urgent need to void. Although these medications may help, they may also cause unpleasant side effects such as blurred vision, constipation and dry mouth.

Self-help remedies may be tried before medications. Bladder retraining may be helpful. This technique involves gradually increasing the time between voids, even if leakage occurs. Begin with 1 to 1 ½ hours and try to gradually increase the time between trips to the washroom, until you can comfortably hold your urine for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Kegel exercises are sometimes prescribed to strengthen the muscles controlling urination. Kegels take some time and practice to perfect, but many patients suffering from urge incontinence find these exercises helpful. Your healthcare practitioner can help you learn how to perform these exercises.

Avoiding foods that are known bladder irritants may also help if you suffer from urge incontinence. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, citric fruits and juices, spicy foods and carbonated beverages. However, you should not decrease fluid intake overly, as many people with incontinence are tempted to do, as dehydration may add to the sense of urgency that you experience.

If you suffer from urge incontinence, you should be evaluated for the conditions listed above. A thorough physical exam will rule out many of these conditions. Expect to undergo an examination of your genitals and abdomen, as well as to answer a lot of questions regarding your symptoms. Together, you and your physician may be able to discover the cause of your urge incontinence and will be able to devise a plan of treatment.

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Incontinence Pants for Men Offer Style and Comfort

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Although incontinence affects women more often than men, there are a significant number of men suffering from urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence in men is often due to prostate problems that occur with aging. As the world’s population ages, more and more men will be living with incontinence. Recognizing this fact, the incontinence market has expanded to meet this growing need, designing incontinence pants for men that are both comfortable and stylish.

DryForLife understands that many men do not want to wear generic, one-size-fits-all incontinence pants. They want incontinence pants for men that offer all the qualities of regular underwear, plus the absorbency needed to live well with incontinence.

DryForLife complete pants for men are made of a soft polyester material, featuring a fly front opening, and it looks and feels like regular underwear. These incontinence pants for men have a built in absorbent pad and the pants are completely washable, which saves money over the long term. They are suitable for light incontinence.

Many men prefer boxers; therefore, DryForLife has designed a product just for them. Boxer short pants for men are made of a comfortable lycra and cotton blend. They have a built in pad that is absorbent and the pants can be machine washed.

When choosing incontinence pants for men, you should consider several factors, such as lifestyle, degree of incontinence, affordability and style. Many men are active and will want to wear incontinence pants that are comfortable and move well with them, while being discreet under their clothing. They will also want to choose incontinence pants that are absorbent enough for their needs to prevent accidental leakage. Some men may consider cost when choosing a product. Style is also important and can mean the difference between accepting incontinence and feeling embarrassed or ashamed.

DryForLife understands that incontinence can be a burden and has designed their product line to make incontinence easier to cope with. Their male incontinence pants are stylish, affordable and absorbent.

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Making Sense of Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

There are many different variables to consider when you are considering the underlying causes of incontinence. Most common in elderly men and women, incontinence is by no means isolated to this age group. It can also be found in younger people, and might even be more common than you think. Women tend to suffer from the symptoms of incontinence more frequently than men, because of toll that pregnancy and childbirth take on the body. However, incontinence can also be caused by infection, disease, injuries and surgery in both women and men of all ages.

Sometimes the manifestation of incontinence is a little fuzzy in that it is not clearly one type or another. Rather it seems to be a combination of two different types. For example, there are three main types of urinary incontinence, which are stress, urge and overflow incontinence. Stress incontinence happens when a sudden pressure is inflicted on the area of the abdomen affecting the bladder. Something like a sneeze, laugh, cough, or straining when lifting a heavy object is enough to cause stress incontinence. Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles are usually the culprit of stress incontinence. This type of incontinence is very common after pregnancy and childbirth or prostate surgery.

The problems associated with urge incontinence appear seemingly out of nowhere, and if you cannot find a restroom immediately, you are very likely to have an accident. Since this type of incontinence is marked with a sudden and uncontrollable bladder contraction, it is frequently managed with medication to quiet the spasm of the bladder. This type of incontinence most frequently occurs in older men and women.

When you have the symptoms of two types of incontinence intertwined and manifesting themselves in concert, the condition is known as mixed incontinence. While mixed incontinence can be a combination of any of the three types of incontinence, it is most often stress incontinence mixed with urge incontinence. When a doctor is treating a case of mixed incontinence he or she will first treat the dominant symptoms, and then address the less dominant symptoms.

Then treatments for mixed incontinence are the same as they are for each individual type of incontinence, and your medical professional can help you define whether behavior modification, physical therapy, medication or surgery is the appropriate course of action for your specific case of incontinence. The treatment recommendation will change depending on the underlying cause of your incontinence.

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Incontinence Underwear for Men Help when Recovering from Prostate Surgery

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Urinary incontinence in men can be caused by a number of different factors, and the likelihood of incontinence increases as a man ages. One of the things that happens as a man ages is that his prostate begins to enlarge, and it may require that he use incontinence underwear for men for a time to help manage his situation. As the prostate becomes enlarged it interferes with the proper functioning of the urinary tract, and that is how the prostate contributes to men’s incontinence.

The prostate is about the size and shape of a walnut, and it is sandwiched in between the penis and the bladder with the urethra running right through it. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. During a man’s reproductive process the prostate releases a fluid that is nourishing and protective to sperm. Around the age of 50 most men’s prostate glands begin to enlarge causing a condition known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which manifests itself as difficulty urinating.

To treat an enlarged prostate medication or surgery are the normal course of treatment. Alpha-blockers, which relax the muscles around the urethra, help to allow the urine to pass freely through the urethra. Another medication, which is sometimes used to treat this condition, is 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which reduce DHT, a type of testosterone, causing the prostate to shrink relieving pressure on the urethra. If medication does not solve the problem, then some men may need surgery to improve their symptoms, however one of the risks of surgery is that a man may be left dealing with urinary incontinence.

Another problem that can occur with the prostate is cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in men, next to skin cancer, and it is highly treatable using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Surgery for prostate cancer is called a prostatectomy, which removes the entire prostate with the hopes of removing all of the cancer cells with it. When radiation is warranted, it kills all of the cancer cells in the prostate and minimizes damage to surrounding healthy cells. Other solutions that attempt to kill cancer cells and minimize damage to healthy cells are radioactive seed implants, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormone therapy and various clinical trials.

Unfortunately all of these treatments have the risk of urinary incontinence for at least several months after the treatment has ended. However, in the grand scheme of things, if you have cancer, it is much better to be cancer free and deal with the inconvenience of incontinence for a time than the alternative. There are many different incontinence products that are available to help manage your incontinence symptoms as you find your way back to good health including incontinence underwear for men and protective mattress covers. At DryForLife we are happy to discreetly answer any questions that you may have regarding the best products to help manage your situation.

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More About Mens Incontinence

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Urinary incontinence happens in both men and women, and it becomes increasingly common with advancing age. Incontinence itself, which is the accidental release of urine, is not a disease. Rather it is a symptom, and the problems that cause mens incontinence can be very different than the causes for women.

Since the urinary tract is very different for a man than it is for a woman, it only makes sense that many of the causes for incontinence would be different as well. The form and function of the bladder is essentially the same for a woman and a man, however the urethra, which is the tube that leads from the bladder, down through the prostate gland, traveling through the penis and finally reaching the outside of the body, is where there are distinct anatomical differences.

Generally any problem with the bladder itself is largely the same between the sexes. For example, when the bladder contracts prematurely or too forcefully; if surrounding muscles are weak or injured; or if the bladder does not empty completely incontinence can occur, and these same problems may happen to women and men. However, as problems move to the the area of the urethra, these incontinence issues become more gender specific.

While urinary incontinence is certainly more commonly found in older men, it is not necessarily restricted to older men. Incontinence can be a chronic problem, or it can be a short lived problem, and there are several different types of incontinence. Stress incontinence generally happens when you put pressure on your bladder such as with a cough or sneeze. Urge incontinence happens when the bladder prematurely contracts not leaving time to reach the bathroom. Overflow incontinence happens when bladder muscles are weak so that the bladder does not fully empty. This problem can be exacerbated by an enlarged prostate that then partially blocks the urethra.

Most often the symptoms of urinary incontinence manifest themselves as urine leaking from the bladder, but they can differ slightly depending on the incontinence’s cause. With stress incontinence this leak can occur when you strain to lift a heavy object or simply sneeze. With urge incontinence, you experience the sudden urge to urinate, and you cannot reach a toilet in time. With overflow incontinence you always feel like you need to go to the bathroom, but when you go only a small amount of urine is released and continues to dribble.

Your health care professional can help determine the cause of mens incontinence, and as you are working through your treatments, it is important to use quality incontinence products. At DryForLife we are ready to assist with answers to your questions, and we can provide you with the best mix of incontinence management products to support your lifestyle.

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Treatment for Frequent Urination

Friday, April 9th, 2010

The symptom of frequent urination can be caused by any number of things ranging from an enlarged prostate in men to a growing fetus exerting pressure on a woman’s bladder. It can also be an early warning sign for diabetes, or it may indicate the onset of a urinary tract infection.

After ruling out some of the major health issues connected with frequent urination, one of the more common causes of this problem is an overactive bladder. When an overactive bladder is diagnosed, medications like Detrol, which reduces the urge to go to the bathroom and Ditropan can be a very effective treatment for frequent urination. Sometimes, rather than truly having a physical malformation, the urge to go to the bathroom can be the result of a behavioral compulsion. Anyone who has had to deal with urinary incontinence at any level may have developed a frequent urination problem as a way to deal with their incontinence issues. For these people the idea of having an accident in public is so disturbing, that they would far prefer to make frequent trips to the bathroom.

Especially for these compulsive people using cognitive therapy to make behavioral changes helps them retrain their bladders to be quiet. However, when medication and behavioral therapy do not solve the problem of frequent urination in a patient, there are a couple of surgical options available as a last line of treatment. The first surgical option involves implanting a sacral nerve stimulator, which is a tiny, mechanical device that is placed in the abdomen of the patient, and it connects to the sacral nerves under the tailbone. It works kind of like a heart’s pacemaker and helps regulate nerve messages sent to the bladder.

The second surgical selection is augmentation cytoplasty, which borrows from the bowel using the tissue to increase bladder size. This surgery usually requires cathetertization after surgery, which can increase the risk of kidney and bladder infections, not to mention that it is probably even more inconvenient that the original problem or frequent urination.

While many people chalk up the problem of frequent urination as an eventual and inevitable byproduct of ageing, it is not. By eating a diet rich in fiber and getting adequate exercise, you can help stave off the problem of frequent urination. Also staying away from foods that aggravate the bladder or act as diuretics can keep frequent urination symptoms at bay. However, if you do notice the onset of frequent urination problems, let your doctor know, so that he or she can find and treat the underlying cause of the problem.

While you are working with your physician to find the most appropriate treatment for frequent urination problems, make sure that you have access to quality, absorbent pads to help protect from any embarrassing mishaps. At DryForLife we have been helping people find just the right products to complement their lifestyles and manage their problems for over forty years, and we are here to help. With discreet ordering and delivery available, we can help make your frequent urination problem just a little less of a problem.

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Disposable Incontinence Products to the Rescue

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

It’s funny, well not really funny probably more ironic really, that what you think will be your biggest fear when you are younger turns out to be little more than an inconvenience, and what life has to throw at you is something that you never saw coming. Not even in your wildest, young dream did you ever imagine that you would be happy to discover disposable incontinence products.

For a healthy, young woman thinking about battling cancer, fearful thoughts emerge about losing her hair or maybe needing to have a mastectomy. For a healthy, young man thinking about battling cancer thoughts may focus on interfering with his sex life. It’s funny how the world works though, because by the time you actually are battling cancer, you really don’t care about your hair or having sex, you really just want to be alive.

Then once you determine that you treatments are working thoughts may turn towards vanity, but it will not carry the same weight as it did in your younger years, because you are simply thankful to be living another day. For a man dealing with prostate cancer, while flirting with impotence may not have been your choice, you too are grateful to be alive. Then life throws another curve ball at you, and you emerge from your cancer treatments with a full case of urinary incontinence. Of course sexual function is very important, but it can be shelved until you are ready to deal with it, while incontinence cannot. You have to deal with it right now, today, and this is where you find yourself thankful that you discovered all levels of disposable incontinence products.

So there you are as a full grown man wetting yourself. At your core you are depressed, distressed and uncomfortable, and you have every right to be. Learning at your mother’s knee, continence is a huge developmental milestone in a young child’s life, and here you are on the wrong side of the milestone. While incontinence is normal after prostate surgery, there are some things that you can do to improve the situation long before it happens.

Your doctor will tell you about Kegel exercises, and this may very well be the first that you have heard of them. However, just about any woman who has had a baby is all too familiar with the drill. These exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which are responsible for supporting all of your internal organs, including your bladder. So the more fit these muscles are, the more quickly you can return to normal function everywhere.

Studies have shown that prostate surgery patients who begin practicing Kegel exercises before their surgery and continue practicing them after their surgery recover their continence in three quarters of the
time that it normally takes to recover continence after prostate surgery.

The causes of urinary incontinence after prostate surgery can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, radiation can decrease the capacity of the bladder or cause bladder spasms, and surgery may damage the nerves that control bladder function. So your incontinence may have causes other than weak muscles to contend with, but Kegel exercises help to keep the pelvic area strong, which makes your eventual recovery that much easier even with other issues.

As you step through your experience dealing with prostate surgery, you may be surprised to find that you appreciate the world in a whole, new way. Keep doing your Kegel exercises even as you regain continence, because they will help you maintain a healthy functioning urinary tract. As your condition improves, you will be able to use lighter and lighter disposable incontinence products with the hopes that one day you will not need them at all.

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