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Urinary Incontinence Treatments

Monday, August 9th, 2010

If you suffer from urinary incontinence, you may be wondering what treatments are available to you. Urinary incontinence treatments range from self help remedies to medication to surgery. Generally, treatment of urinary incontinence starts with self-help remedies.

As far as urinary incontinence treatments go, self-help remedies are the least invasive and have no troublesome side effects. In some cases, self help remedies are all that is needed to improve or cure incontinence, which is why most doctors prefer their patients start will these simple measures to treat incontinence:

Limit Fluid Intake - Decreasing the amount of fluids taken in close to bedtime may decrease nighttime incontinence. Individuals who drink a lot of fluids may find that incontinence symptoms improve if they cut down on the amount of fluids they drink during the day as well.

However, you do not want to decrease your fluid intake to the point of dehydration, as this may lead to bladder infections and other problems.

Avoid alcohol and Caffeine - Caffeine can irritate the bladder, and both caffeine and alcohol can act as mild diuretics, increasing the frequency of voiding. They may also contribute to a sense of urgency to void. Simply cutting these two substances out of your life may drastically improve incontinence.

Avoid Acidic Foods - Citric foods and juices, as well as tomatoes and other acidic foods may irritate the bladder, increasing the likelihood of incontinence. Avoiding acidic foods and juices may decrease episodes of incontinence.

Lose Weight - Excess weight puts added pressure on the bladder, which may exacerbate stress incontinence. Losing weight may markedly improve symptoms of incontinence.

Quit Smoking - Smoking can lead to a chronic cough, and coughing is often a factor in stress incontinence. Quitting smoking may reduce coughing spells, which may in turn decrease stress incontinence.

Kegel Exercises - Kegels are exercises designed to improve pelvic muscle tone. Strengthening pelvic floor muscles may improve incontinence. Kegels are often prescribed as first-line treatment to those suffering from urinary incontinence.

Self-help remedies are not invasive, cost nothing and are often effective in improving or curing urinary incontinence. Other urinary incontinence management involve medications, which may have intolerable side effects. Surgery comes with its own set of risks and is often a last resort in urinary incontinence treatments.

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Male and Female Incontinence Treatment Options are Available

Monday, March 29th, 2010

There are many treatments for urinary incontinence, and the most appropriate treatment for you will depend on the cause of your incontinence. For problems in both the male and the female, incontinence treatment can help to manage and often even cure the problem.

Treatments for urinary adult incontinence can be as simple as behavioral changes, or they can include physical therapy, drugs or surgery. So when you begin having problems with incontinence the first thing that you want to do is discuss the problem with your doctor. Having a medical professional assess your incontinence problem will let you know exactly what you are dealing with, and your doctor can suggest a course of treatment specific to your symptoms.

For example, if you are suffering from stress incontinence, your doctor may suggest that you start with Kegel exercises because the muscles of your pelvic floor are weak. Kegel exercises generally take several months before they generate any noticeable results, but they are a simple solution to an annoying problem. If your stress incontinence is occurring simply because your pelvic floor muscles are out of shape, then toning your muscles is the perfect solution for your problem, and it has no side effects. However, if your pelvic muscles are strong and you are still having a problem, then perhaps medication or surgery are in order for you. Your doctor will be able to assess the situation and offer sound advice.

When your doctor suggests behavioral changes to treat your urinary incontinence, you may simply have to watch your diet and stay away from certain foods and drinks. Caffeine and alcohol are known to irritate the bladder as well as act as a diuretic, which makes the body shed more fluid adding stress to your urinary system. Spicy foods can also irritate the bladder, so something as simple as modifying your diet may be all you need to do to restore your continence.

Pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises help to alleviate the symptoms of stress incontinence. These exercises simply strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, and in virtually every case of incontinence the pelvic floor muscles are weak. However, to work, these muscles must be done regularly and correctly, and as with any muscle it will take several months of dedicated exercise to really get them stronger.

Sometimes simply dropping a few pounds will restore continence, so if you are overweight, this may be the perfect incentive for you to shed those extra pounds. If you are too heavy now, losing weight will also be great for every other aspect of your health.

Bladder training is another a method of treatment, which simply means that you train your bladder to hold urine for longer durations of time. Start by trying to postpone a visit to the bathroom by for about ten minutes. Then as that time frame becomes normal for you, increase it by another twenty minutes. Your goal is to visit the bathroom on a schedule ideally every three to four hours.

Your doctor may also recommend medication for treating your incontinence, and you will probably use medication in conjunction with behavioral training or physical therapy. The problem with medication is that many of them have side effects to deal with like constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision and the inability to urinate. Some of the newer, time released medicines have fewer side effects. And when medication does not work, there are instances where surgery is warranted.

Generally it is better to start your treatment with behavioral changes and physical therapy if you can simply because they have virtually no side effects at all. However, there are times when medication or surgery is called for, and this is precisely why you want to discuss this problem with your doctor. Whether you are male or female, treatment options are available for you that can dramatically improve your condition. So as you are working with your doctor to care for your condition, make sure that you have quality incontinence products at your disposal. At DryForLife we have been helping people select the right incontinence products for their needs for over forty years.

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Stress, Urge and Overflow Incontinence Treatment is Available

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Urinary incontinence can be described in thee basic categories depending on what is causing the actual urine leak. For example, stress incontinence is caused by pressure being exerted on the bladder and forcing urine out unintentionally. Urge incontinence exhibits itself as a sudden need to urinate followed by a urine leak, and it is frequently caused by misfiring nerve endings signaling a full bladder. The third type of incontinence is overflow incontinence, and it occurs when the bladder never fully empties so there is always urine leaking. All three types of incontinence can be treated, often with great success. So if you find that you are suffering from any type of incontinence it is a good idea to have your physician diagnose the cause. Then your doctor can help you through the followup care, because whether you are suffering from stress, urge or overflow incontinence treatment is available.

All three types of incontinence can be treated in four basic ways, with behavioral changes, physical therapy, medicine or surgery, and your health care professional is the best person the steer you in the right direction as to which treatment or combination of treatments is appropriate for you.

It is possible to have mixed incontinence as well, where you suffer from two types of incontinence at the same time. For example, you may have the symptoms for stress incontinence along with the symptoms for urge incontinence. In this case your physician will probably choose to begin treatment addressing whichever type of incontinence is the more dominant of the two, and then follow up on the second one.

Unless there is a clear injury or infection, treatment will usually begin with the least invasive solution and become more aggressive as needed. For example, you may start keeping a bladder diary to note when you drink; how much liquid you consume, and when you have accidents. Simply by mapping your behavior, you can frequently make a few small adjustments in your activity to correct your incontinence problem. If behavior changes are not enough, your may move on to doing exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, and again this regimen may be all that is needed to improve your symptoms. Both of these approaches for dealing with urinary incontinence have absolutely no side effects, so you often have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying them first.

When neither of these two approaches solves your problem, there are medicines available to help with your incontinence problem. Depending on your doctor’s suggestion, your medication may do one of several different things. For example, some medication reduces the amount of urine that your body makes. Some medication quiets muscle spasms or calms misfiring nerve endings. Some medication clears up infection, so depending on the likely cause of your incontinence your doctor can prescribe the appropriate medication.

When there is a clear injury where a repair needs to be made, surgery may be the answer to your incontinence problem. Surgery may also be a last stitch effort to solve a stubborn case of incontinence, and again this is a decision that you will want to carefully consider with your medical professional. Both medication and surgery can have side effects, which must be considered before choosing that course of treatment.

So whether you are dealing with stress, urge or overflow incontinence treatment is available for your condition. Get your doctor’s recommendation as to the right course of action to take. To make dealing with your incontinence challenges more manageable, it is important that you use the right incontinence products for your situation. At DryForLife we have been helping people discover the perfect products to help them manage their incontinence conditions for over forty years. With service available by phone or online and quick, discreet delivery DryForLife can help make your situation just a little easier, and we are always happy to help.

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Treatment Options for Adult Incontinence

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Urinary incontinence in adults results from a broad range of health conditions as well as changes associated with aging. Any form of incontinence may cause emotional and physical discomfort, so it significantly affects your quality of life. If you have been experiencing urinary incontinence, keep in mind that there are various treatment options available. Successful treatment of urinary incontinence largely depends on its underlying cause and severity of symptoms. Some adults may favour conservative approaches such as non-drug therapies while others may need surgery.

Behavioral Treatments - Certain types of urinary incontinence may resolve with behavioral techniques. These may be recommended alone or in combination with other therapies. Bladder training involves delaying urination for a few minutes when you have the urge to go. Your should aim to lengthen the interval between your trips to the toilet until you are urinating every two to four hours. Scheduled toilet trips means going to the toilet on a routine basis instead of waiting for the urge to go.

Physical therapy - Kegels or pelvic floor muscle exercises help strengthen your urinary sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. To do this exercise, squeeze the muscles you would use to stop urine flow and hold for a count of three and repeat.

Lifestyle changes - Fluid and diet management may help improve bladder control. Try limiting or avoiding alcohol, caffeine or acidic foods.

Drug therapy - Antibiotic therapy is recommended for patients whose incontinence is caused by infections that affect bladder function. Incontinence resolves when the infection is treated. Anticholinergics are used to control incontinence in patients with overactive bladder syndrome and may be considered for adults with urge incontinence.

Incontinence products - Absorbent pads and protective garments ease the discomfort and inconvenience caused by leaking urine. Aside from promoting comfort, these products also prevent skin irritation.

Surgery - If drugs and other treatments fail, your doctor may consider surgery. Sling procedure is among the common surgical treatments for incontinence. This entails the use of a synthetic material or mesh to create a pelvic sling around your bladder neck and urethra. The sling prevents the leakage of urine because it creates tension, keeping the urethra closed.

Implanting an artificial urinary sphincter also corrects incontinence. This device is particularly helpful for male adults who have weakened urinary sphincters.

Incontinence can be quite embarrassing, hence, some adults with impaired bladder function tend to isolate themselves for fear of ridicule. They fail to realize that hiding incontinence may increase their risk for problems such as urinary tract infections, skin rashes, sores and skin infections. Adults experiencing incontinence must not hesitate to discuss their symptoms with their doctors. The evaluation of your doctor is extremely important in determining which treatment option would best suit you.

New Procedure Treats Stress Incontinence

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Dr. Julie Reil, physician and owner of the Advanced Laser Center in the United States, has applied for a patent for her treatment which she states can treat stress incontinence successfully. Stress incontinence occurs when pressure is placed on the bladder, as in when a woman coughs, sneezes, lifts a heavy object, or laughs, resulting in the leakage of urine. Dr. Reil states that this condition is often the result of pregnancy and childbirth.

The treatment involves the application of infrared light to the genital area, resulting in a tightening of the tissues surrounding the urethra. It uses the same technology as is used in cosmetic procedures which can tighten loose skin elsewhere on the body. Dr. Reil’s use of this technology is the first time this technology has been used to treat stress incontinence specifically. The treatment is called Genityte.

The treatment may be a breakthrough in the treatment of stress incontinence, as it is safe and non-invasive, and may prevent women from having to undergo more invasive procedures. The treatment can be used on women of all ages and with varying degrees of severity of stress incontinence.

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Surgical Treatments Used to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Women

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Women who suffer from stress or urge incontinence are often counseled to try non-surgical means to control their incontinence. These measures may include dietary changes, such as limiting the amount of caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages, as well as acidic or spicy foods. Bladder retraining may improve incontinence for some women. Bladder retraining is a method in which you first study voiding habits, then try to gradually lengthen the time between voids until you can comfortably hold your urine for several hours. Targeted exercises, known as Kegel exercises, help to strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles.

When these measures are unsuccessful in alleviating incontinence, your physician may suggest that you take a medication targeted towards treating your specific problem. Before prescribing a medication, your physician will want to gather information about your problem, what measures you have tried, and whether or not these measures were successful. Keeping a diary of fluid intake and episodes of incontinence will help your physician diagnose your problem accurately. A full history and physical, as well as urine and blood tests, may be required.

If medication therapy fails, surgical intervention may be warranted. Surgery is usually a last resort in treating incontinence, but there are several procedures that can alleviate both stress and urge incontinence. They range from simple outpatient procedures requiring only a local anaesthetic to more complex surgeries requiring a hospital stay. If you are considering surgery, it is important to know the pros and cons of the surgical procedure before you consent to having it done. To learn more about surgical treatments for the treatment of urinary incontinence in women, click here.

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Tags: Stress Incontinence, surgical procedures, treatments, urge incontinence
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Intimacy and Incontinence

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

The words “intimacy” and “incontinence” may not seem as if they should exist together in the same sentence–if you suffer from incontinence, you may feel less like being intimate with your partner. Fear of leakage of urine at an inopportune time may cause you to shy away from the physical aspect of your relationship with a significant other. Both women and men may feel embarrassed or ashamed if they suffer from incontinence. This does not need to be the case. There are a few things you can do to decrease the liklihood of incontinence during intimacy.

Decreasing your fluid intake for a few hours prior to engaging in intimacy with your partner will help to ensure that your bladder does not become overly full. Emptying your bladder just prior to intimacy will also decrease the chance of any leakage. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine can also assist you in avoiding the problem.

The biggest barrier to intimacy when one partner suffers from incontinence is lack of communication. You may find it difficult to broach the subject with your partner, but discussing the issue, your fears and your feelings will go a long way towards making you both feel more comfortable. Your partner may also have concerns, such as fear of causing discomfort. Chances are, you will both have some concerns in common, and getting them out into the open will help both of you to get past your fears. Open communication about the issue, along with a discussion regarding ways to make you both feel more comfortable, will boost your intimacy to a new level. Incontinence does not mean an end to intimacy; it simply requires honesty and openness in discussing how to approach and cope with the situation together.

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Study Shows Incontinence Improves With Weight Loss

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Being overweight is known to be a risk factor for the development of incontinence. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine, published in January 2009, supports this idea. Research has shown that there is a relationship between excess weight and incontinence, and that losing weight can lessen episodes of incontinence.

The study included 338 American women who were over the age of 30, had a BMI (body mass index) between 25 and 50, and suffered from incontinence episodes at least 10 times per week. At the end of the study, women in the intervention group who were attempting to lose weight through diet and exercise lost approximately 17 pounds each, or an average of 8% of their body weight.

As a result of the weight loss, women in the intervention group decreased their episodes of incontinence by 47%. They experienced fewer episodes of stress incontinence, which was a direct result of extra weight applying pressure on the bladder. The women, however, did not experience a decrease in urge incontinence symptoms. To see the NEJM article, click here.

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Tags: Stress Incontinence, urge incontinence, weight loss
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What is a pessary, and how can it help with incontinence?

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Pessaries are devices that are inserted into the vagina to support the uterus and bladder which may become weakened and sag downwards, thus leading to incontinence. Pessaries will only help stress incontinence, or inontinence that results from a stress placed on the bladder, which often occurs when a person coughs, sneezes, lifts a heavy object, exercises, or laughs. They do not help in cases of urge or overflow incontinence bacause these types of incontinence result from different physiological processes.

Pessaries come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and must be fitted by a physician in order to work effectively. At one time, pessaries were one of the only options open to women who suffered from incontinence. Although they are used less frequently than they used to be, they are still useful for women who do not wish to take medications or are unable to, or for those women who want to avoid surgery.

Pessaries are not permanent devices, a fact which makes them popular with some women. They need to be removed periodically to be cleaned. Some women take them out and clean them themselves, while others prefer that their doctor or a nurse performs this procedure for them. You may need to be checked more frequently in the beginning to make sure the pessary is fitting properly. A small percentage of women will find that their incontinence is worsened following insertion of a pessary, smply because their organs are brought back into proper alignment. If you suffer from stress urinary incontinence, a pessary may be an option for you.

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Archive for the ‘Incontinence Treatments’ Category

Urinary Incontinence Treatments

Male and Female Incontinence Treatment Options are Available

Stress, Urge and Overflow Incontinence Treatment is Available

Treatment Options for Adult Incontinence

New Procedure Treats Stress Incontinence

Surgical Treatments Used to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Women

Intimacy and Incontinence

Study Shows Incontinence Improves With Weight Loss

What is a pessary, and how can it help with incontinence?

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