Continence | DryForLife Incontinence Advice

Archive for the ‘Continence’ Category

Adult Continence: How it Works.

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Adult continence, or the process of maintaining control over urination, is an acquired complex process. Nature’s design is for the urination process to occur automatically. This is how infants, children, and even animals empty their urinary bladders.

The urinary bladder wall is mainly made up of muscles which are sensitive to stretch. As urine trickles down from the ureters, the tubes that carry it from the kidneys, it slowly fills the bladder. When the bladder is sufficiently filled with urine, the receptors in its muscle wall are stimulated and fire a signal which reaches the spinal cord. This signal initiates the urination reflex which results in the contraction of the bladder muscle leading to the automatic emptying of the bladder. The Adult continence develops only when the person is able to inhibit this contraction process. The brain signals from above instruct the bladder wall to relax again until the time is right.

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What Continence Supplies Do You Need?

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Whether you are new to incontinence, having just developed the condition, or have been suffering from incontinence for quite some time, there are some continence supplies that you will not want to be without. The following is a short list of essential continence supplies.

Incontinence Pads – Incontinence pads can be used alone or in conjunction with incontinence pants. Incontinence pads can be changed easily, are discreet and offer the security you need if you suffer from incontinence. They can easily be carried in a purse or bag.

Incontinence Pants – Incontinence pants may be used alone or may be used with a pad. They may be disposable or washable and come in a variety of styles and materials. Those who suffer from heavy incontinence may prefer to use incontinence pants with a pad for extra security and protection. Washable incontinence pants are an attractive option for some, while others prefer the freedom of disposable incontinence pants.

Mattress Covers – To protect your mattress, you may wish to use a mattress cover. They come in various styles and sizes. Some mattress covers protect only the area of mattress that may become soiled in the event of leakage, while others cover the entire mattress. Many have plastic backing and are made rustle-free to ensure a restful night’s sleep, without fear of ruining an expensive mattress.

Hygienic Wipes – To prevent skin irritation, excess moisture should be removed from the skin when incontinence products are changed. Hygienic wipes may be used to wash the skin, leaving behind emollients that protect the skin from irritation caused by wetness. Hygienic wipes can be discreetly carried and can also be used to cleanse your hands in a pinch.

Alcohol Hand Gel – Alcohol hand gel is used to kill any bacteria on the skin and is perfect for use after changing products or before eating a meal. Alcohol hand gel is the same product used by healthcare professionals in hospitals to cleanse their hands in between patients.

The above continence supplies can be considered helpful for anyone managing a problem with incontinence. Each individual should sample different continence supplies to find which product of group of products produces the best results for them.

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What is a Continence Assessment?

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

A continence assessment is performed by a healthcare professional to assess your ability to control bladder or bowel function and to determine factors that may be contributing to incontinence.

A continence assessment is essential for continence management and generally consists of two parts: an interview and a physical assessment. In addition, you may be asked to complete a bladder diary prior to your assessment. A bladder diary is a diary of symptoms and what you were doing at the time symptoms occurred. For example, you may be asked to record how many times you were incontinent; activities you were doing at the time of incontinence; how much fluid you drank and when, and other things that may be associated with incidences of incontinence. A bladder diary can provide valuable clues as to the type of incontinence you are facing and activities that may be contributing to incontinence.

The interview portion of a continence assessment consists of a series of questions, some of which may seem unrelated to your problem; however, there is an underlying purpose for all questions asked. You may be asked the following:

- Prior medical history
- Medications you are taking
- Overall health/general health
- Weight
- Alcohol use/caffeine use
- Smoking history
- Pregnancy/childbirth history (for women)
- History of prostate problems (for men)
- Whether you are menopausal (for women)
- Problem with frequent constipation
- Diabetic or symptoms of diabetes

The physical assessment portion of the continence exam may include a urinalysis to check for kidney or bladder problems, like an infection. In addition, your healthcare professional (usually a nurse continence specialist or a physician) may perform a physical exam, including a vaginal exam for women and a rectal exam for men. This is done to assess the strength of pelvic floor muscles, evidence of prolapse (women) or prostate disease (men). A physical assessment may make it easier for the healthcare professional to pinpoint a physical problem that may be causing incontinence.

A continence assessment can help to determine the cause of incontinence, as well as provide ideas on how to manage incontinence. From the continence assessment, it may be determined that more tests are required to determine the cause of the problem, or the underlying cause for the incontinence may be clearly evident. Anyone who is suffering from incontinence should have a continence assessment done by a trained professional.

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Continence Pads and Products Pivotal in Leading Normal Life

Monday, March 8th, 2010

All too often when a person begins to experience continence problems they start to withdraw from social activities for fear of an embarrassing public accident. However, with the new continence pads and products that are available on the market today, you can expect to manage your urinary or faecal incontinence problem while continuing to engage in a normal and active lifestyle.

You can find continence care products in any number of places, so being able to get your hands on the right products is not usually where people run into problems. The problem occurs when trying to choose the right product for your particular situation. Discussing your symptoms with your doctor or medical professional is a great place to start, because they can advise you on the basics of what to look for in your continence care products. They are usually aware of the newest products on the market, so they can keep you updated on any innovative new developments in products as well.

For many people pads and pants are the best choice, and they come in all shapes and sizes. These products are available in disposable and washable styles, and they are also manufactured in gender specific designs to suit the differences between the male and female anatomy. For many people, different continence pads are appropriate for different activities throughout the day. For example, if you are working out, one type of pad may work best, and then for your day at work, another type of pad may be more comfortable and effective.

Especially if you are just beginning to deal with a continence problem, it may be a good idea to get a sample pack of products, so that you can try several different styles and absorbency levels to see which work the best for your situation. You may find that you like the convenience of disposable pads and the cost of washable products, so using a combination of the two may be the perfect solution for you.

While most pads are designed to be low profile, generally the larger the continence pad, the more urine it will absorb. Other pads are designed for bowel incontinence and have a special built in odour control. When selecting pads, you want to look for a snug, yet comfortable, fit, so that your skin does not become chafed or irritated. Continence pads are built to hold large volumes of liquid and quickly wick it away from the skin to keep any type of rash or skin infection from developing.

You can also find mattress covers and furniture protection, which can be used alone or in tandem with other continence care products. So as you are working to find the perfect combination of continence pads and products to properly manage your situation, remember that DryForLife has been helping people deal with their continence care needs for over forty years, and we are here to help.

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Maintaining Bowel Continence

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Maintaining a healthy urinary system requires maintaining healthy bowels as well. Constipation and impaction are both contributors to urinary incontinence, so maintaining bowel continence is important on many different levels. Few people ever spend much time thinking about their bowels unless they are not working properly. So it might be a good idea to understand how your bowels work, and what you can do to keep them healthy before you have problems.

If your body could not get rid of waste from its system you would eventually become septic and get very ill. Your body has a mechanism to get rid of any waste in its system, and it is the lower part of the digestive tract or bowels. The colon, or the large intestine, stores liquid waste and keeps it moving towards the rectum. While in the colon excess liquid is removed from the waste material until it eventually forms a stool consistency. As this stool consistency is completed there is a sphincter located below the rectum that opens to let the stool pass. Once the stool has passed into the anal canal, nerve endings stimulate the brain to let it know that it needs to trigger a bowel movement. Then, when you decide the time is appropriate the brain allows the external sphincter to relax while contracting the stomach muscles allowing the stool to pass from the body. Once toilet training is complete this process does not ever get much thought unless it is not working properly.

There are some things that you can do to help maintain your bowel continence, and the secret to maintaining a healthy bowel is voiding regularly. To help achieve this goal eat a healthy diet, which is high in fiber and make sure to drink plenty of liquids. Watch your weight and take care not to gain excess weight. Exercise regularly to keep all of the muscles in your body toned. By maintaining a healthy bowel you will contribute to your overall health, and you will keep you bowels and urinary system healthy.

However, if you do have a problem where your bowel continence is not functioning properly, then you will want to make sure to work closely with your doctor to identify the cause of the problem. To help manage your continence problem, you will want to find continence products that work for you and your situation. DryForLife helps you identify and select the appropriate protection for your needs. All of the products can be ordered from the comfort of your own home and delivered right to your front door. Having the proper incontinence products makes managing any type of continence problem much easier.

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Comfortable Continence Wear is Worth a Look

Friday, February 19th, 2010

An embarrassing subject for most people, continence health is something that you take for granted until you have a problem, which can be caused by things like age, illness, injury, genetics or medication. Continence problems can range from light to heavy, and it can be worse at different times of the day or while performing certain activities. So it is important to find continence wear that works for you and your situation as you manage your continence health.

As continence health deteriorates, incontinence, which is the involuntary passing of urine or faeces, sets in. The most common type of incontinence is urinary incontinence, and it generally occurs in older adults. It is also more commonly found to occur in women than men. Millions of adults have to manage continence problems daily, and the more familiar you are with products that can protect your skin, clothing and furniture from accidental leakage the easier managing your continence problem will be.

Continence wear is available in washable as well as disposable versions, and you should investigate different styles and absorbency levels to find the ones that work the best for you and your situation. Your doctor or continence advisor is a great source of information about what products are available, and which types of pads, pants or mattress covers would be a likely match for your problem.

If you are very active, having continence problems is no reason to disengage from your active lifestyle. All too often urinary incontinence forces a person to withdraw from their active life because they are concerned about embarrassing leakage. If you investigate the excellent products that are available today, you will find that you really do not even have to skip a beat. There is a product designed for virtually every need, and while you will still have to manage your continence problems, you have all of the tools at your disposal that you need to do it well.

Most newer designs for continence wear are low profile and comfortable. Pads and pants are designed to absorb a large volume of liquid very quickly, trap it and wick it away from the body to protect skin from irritation. The low profile design lets you discreetly wear these products undetected.

By selecting the product that you need when you need it, you can manage your urinary or faecal incontinence problem and still live your active lifestyle. DryForLife offers a confidential resolution for your continence wear needs, and it is so simple to order your supplies from the privacy of your home for speedy, discreet delivery.

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Continence Problems Can Begin with Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

While continence is rarely ever considered when you are young and healthy, as you get older continence problems begin to loom large. Women are affected with continence problems in greater numbers than men, largely as a side effect of pregnancy and childbirth. However, while pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk of having continence problems, they also arm women with the tools for maintaining continence health. Men, on the other hand, are really never forced to think about that region of their body, from a maintenance standpoint, until they are much older, and then they have a lot of catching up to do.

While women have had to deal with rebuilding that region of their bodies after childbirth, they are much more familiar with all of the working parts, including the pelvic floor muscles in particular. These muscles, which stretch from the tail bone up to the pubic bone, are what supports all of your pelvic organs including your bladder and bowel. When these muscles are young and healthy, they help to keep the bladder and bowel outlets closed tightly preventing any accidental leakage. With age, illness or injury the pelvic floor muscles can weaken causing them to relax allowing the bladder and bowel to empty. Once these muscles become weak, the ability to hold back the flow of urine or keep from passing wind during physical activity is diminished.

The good news is that like any muscles in your body that become weak, you can exercise to rebuild the muscles and regain the suppleness and strength that they once had. The more that you use these muscles, the better they will work for you, but first you have to find them.

Women generally find these muscles as they are instructed in Kegel exercises during pregnancy and childbirth, so even though these muscles get beaten up during the process of child bearing, women are generally aware of these muscles and how to exercise them to keep them in good working order. The easiest way to find these muscles is to stop the flow of urine mid stream the next time that you are going to the bathroom. These are the pelvic floor muscles in action. Once you have identified the muscles you can begin doing Kegel exercises to get them strong.

As you begin consciously using your pelvic floor muscles you can remember to tighten them when you are engaged in other strenuous activities or workouts. Even as you go through everyday activities like lifting, bending, laughing, sneezing or coughing, engaging your pelvic floor muscles will help to support your bladder and bowel. If your muscles are very weak, it is easiest to begin exercising them in a sitting position, but as they grow stronger, you can engage them while standing as well.

As you are working out the muscles of your pelvic floor, realize that it will take from three to six months for you really see an improvement in the functioning of the muscles. Once your muscles are strong again, like any muscle in your body, use it or lose it. So plan to fit your Kegel exercises into a regular workout routine that works for your schedule.

If you are not sure where to begin with your pelvic floor exercises, you may want to enlist the services of a physiotherapist who has experience with continence issues, and they can design a workout schedule that suits your needs. To help manage your continence problems as you follow your workout schedule, find appropriate supplies that work well for you. There are many, quality selections available in either washable or disposable styles, and you can use the product that you need when you need it. DryForLife has a full line of products for continence care ranging from light to heavy levels of absorbency. You can order the products from the privacy of your home and have them delivered there as well.

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Getting Continence Help is Paramount in Adolescence

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Getting Continence Help is Paramount in Adolescence

Generally when you think of continence problems, you think of the very young or the very old. However, continence problems occur at any age, and unfortunately, because of the social stigma connected to urinary incontinence, this problem is even more difficult to deal with in adolescence.

A time of massive changes both emotional and physical, the teen years are challenging under the best of circumstances. However, when a young adult is dealing with incontinence issues, they may be even more reluctant than normal to seek continence help.

At this age the types of continence problems that can arise are urinary incontinence, which is urinary leakage. Another fairly common issue is nocturnal enuresis, which is urinating involuntarily while sleeping. Faecal incontinence, which is the involuntary passage of stool, can also be an issue during adolescence.

Genetic abnormalities, accidents or neurological disorders can cause these problems, which require continence help. While the percentage of teens presenting incontinence symptoms is fairly low, many of these young adults carry their continence issues into adulthood, and this is why it is important for these teens to be armed with the proper continence help and information.

It is very important for anyone who works with adolescents to be informed about continence issues, so that they can address the problem with sensitivity when it is presented. Especially at this impressionable age, teens need to understand that there is continence help, and that the condition is not somehow their fault.

When an adolescent is too embarrassed to seek continence help, there is a very real danger of them developing low self-esteem and suffering needless emotional distress. Continence problems can cause a young teen to become socially isolated and excluded as they miss field trips and sleepovers with classmates.

Getting assistance for an adolescent may help them solve or at least confidently manage their continence issues, and as they go forward into their adult years, they will be able to engage in all that life has to offer. The importance of proper assessment and treatment of urinary or faecal incontinence, before it affects a teen’s self worth, cannot be overstated.

If you have an adolescent who is suffering from incontinence, there are treatments and medications that may substantially help their condition, and as you are working to solve their problem, incontinence pads can free them from the worry of having accidental leakage in public. DryForLife supplies incontinence pads, which may be ordered online and discretely delivered.

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Managing Continence as You Age

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

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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When Bladder Continence Can No Longer Be Taken for Granted

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Bladder continence is something that everyone takes for granted when you are young and healthy, however we are all just one mishap away from losing our bladder continence. If we are lucky enough to live a long and active life, the odds of having some problem with bladder continence is almost certain. As continence problems arise, they can be addressed with medication, surgery, behavior modification and exercise, and we will discuss the latter.

Let’s talk about achieving urinary continence with exercises. First, we need to look at the anatomical differences in men and women. Men have a broader pelvis with more room to hold a bladder. This is an extremely important fact because when the bladder expands it has to have surroundings conducive to holding a full bladder. Because of this, men are able to hold more urine for longer amounts of time. The opposite is true of women. A female pelvis is shallower, so when the bladder fills there is less space in the floor of the pelvic cavity. This causes it to hold less urine, and it may need to be emptied more frequently.

There is also the physical difference for women and that is an extra organ, the uterus. As women age, the uterus ages also, what was once a fist shaped organ begins to enlarge, most commonly from fibroid tumors. This organ sits almost on top of the bladder and weighs heavy on the bladder. Women who have had pregnancies are more apt to develop problems at a younger age than women who have never been pregnant. During childbirth the bladder is traumatized in many ways, for example the growing uterus gives very little space to a full bladder. As the baby grows in utero, it seems to sit right on top of the bladder causing frequent urination. During vaginal childbirth, the birth canal must stretch to accommodate the baby’s head causing more trauma to the bladder.

Whether your incontinence is simply caused by age, pregnancy, surgery or some other trauma it is a good idea to keep your pelvic floor muscles tuned up. Frequently doing Kegel exercises, which engage the muscles of the pelvic floor, can help retain continence and can even rebuild it. The exercises are named after Dr. Arnold Kegel who developed them in 1948 as a way to re-establish bladder continence for women after childbirth. Since then medical professionals have discovered that these exercises work equally well for men and women when it comes to maintaining continence.

The exercises are very simple and can be done anywhere without anyone knowing you are doing them. It is only the matter of relaxing and contracting the muscles of the pelvic floor. These exercises help to improve urethral, rectal and rectal sphincter function. They are also recommended for men after prostate surgery as they work to regain bladder continence. Kegel exercises must be done correctly and faithfully in order to be effective, so check with your doctor if you have any questions about the proper method of exercise.

Since it takes several months to realize the full benefits of Kegel exercises, you will want to have some good quality incontinence products available in the interim. DryForLife offers a discreet and completely confidential solution to all of your incontinence needs. We have been providing incontinence products for over forty years, and we are here to help.

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Disclaimer - The research, clinical material and advice provided on this website is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical treatment, nor an alternative to medical advice. Any action taken in response to the information given on this website is at the reader's own discretion. Readers should always consult their own Doctor in all health matters. Please read our Terms and conditions. Copyright ©2003-2009 DryForLife®

Archive for the ‘Continence’ Category

Adult Continence: How it Works.

What Continence Supplies Do You Need?

What is a Continence Assessment?

Continence Pads and Products Pivotal in Leading Normal Life

Maintaining Bowel Continence

Comfortable Continence Wear is Worth a Look

Continence Problems Can Begin with Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

Getting Continence Help is Paramount in Adolescence

Managing Continence as You Age

When Bladder Continence Can No Longer Be Taken for Granted

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