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Understanding the Cause of a Leaking Bladder

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

People of all ages can have problems with a leaking bladder. It doesn’t matter whether you are 22 or 82 years old it can happen to you. The causes may be somewhat different, but the emotional discomfort as well as physical is the same for all ages. Both men and women can have this problem. A leaking bladder is also known as urinary incontinence.

The number of women with leaking bladders in the UK is astounding. One study of 3,273 women reported that no less than 54% had problems with urinary incontinence or leaking bladder. The leaking of urine was from stress incontinence, urge incontinence or a combination of both. Stress incontinence occurs when you sneeze, cough, or lift something heavy causing uncontrolled leaking of urine. Urge incontinence occurs when the urge to urinate is frequent and urine leaks due to the inability to get to the bathroom quickly enough. The last type is mixed incontinence. This is a mixture of both the stress and the urge incontinence causing urine to leak.

The causes of a leaking bladder can be one or many different of things. One cause is simply the natural aging process. The muscle that is used to control the flow of urine from the bladder to the outside becomes weaker. As this muscle weakens a leaking bladder occurs for a lot of women.

Among the most frequent causes for a leaking bladder in women is pregnancy and childbirth. Women who may not have had problems with their bladder before pregnancy may have problems early into the pregnancy that continue throughout the pregnancy. The problem can last long after childbirth. Women who have large babies as well as those who may have had forceps used during delivery are at a higher risk for developing a leaking bladder.

Some other general causes for a leaking bladder are women who are overweight. Changes that are related to menopause can also cause problems with the bladder. Back injuries or injuries to the pelvis have been shown to be another cause for incontinence.

No matter what the cause of a leaking bladder may be, the anxiety and altered lifestyle can be difficult for anyone, young or old. The problem that is seen in the UK is that most women do not talk with their healthcare professional about the problems that they are having with their bladder. This may be due in part to embarrassment and anxiety.

Anyone can have problems with a leaking bladder. The causes are those that every woman can experience in their lives. Talking with a healthcare professional should be one of the first steps that women take in learning the possible cause of their incontinence. Your doctor can advise and help plan methods that can make your problem more manageable.

With the number of women with this problem there are many great products available to make life easier. DryForLife offers a discreet and completely confidential solution to all of your incontinence needs. Your concerns are very much our concerns; we have been providing incontinence products for over forty years, and we are here to help.

Additional Articles on Urinary Incontinence

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Tags: leaking bladder, Stress Incontinence, urge incontinence, Urinary Incontinence
Posted in Urinary Incontinence | 1 Comment »

Overactive Bowel – Irregularity and Fiber

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Irregularity is a condition that affects both men and women. For some it can be overactive bowel: for others it can be constipation. Focusing on overactive bowel, the symptoms can be frequent stools or it can be diarrhea. It is very bothersome through the aging process. There are many diseases that cause overactive bowel, for example: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis or diverticulosis, polyps and even constipation.
These bowel conditions require careful diagnosis. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be serious chronic conditions and can develop at very young age. These diseases can be treated or be in remission, but depending on the severity of the illness, and how your health is affected, a colostomy may be necessary. If you notice any symptoms such a mucous- looking stool, blood in the stool, watery stools or even a pattern of diarrhea and constipation you should consult your physician.
Gatroenterologists, doctors that specializes in problems of the digestive tract, agree that fiber helps your digestive system function regularly to prevent overactive bowel. There are two types of fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows digestion: it forms a gel when it mixes with water and will make loose stools more solid. In addition, it binds to fat in the digestive system to help eliminate them. Some examples are oatmeal, nuts and seeds, dried beans, peas, lentils, strawberries, blueberries, apples and citrus fruit. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools to help food move through your digestive system. It holds water so it softens stool to prevent constipation and promotes regularity. Insoluble fiber is found in foods like seeds, popcorn, wheat bran, whole grains (such as, whole wheat bread and brown rice), and most vegetables including carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes.
You should include both types of fiber in your diet. However, if you are using fiber to treat overactive bowel symptoms talk to your doctor about how much of each type of fiber you need. Normally, you need 21-38 grams of fiber per day depending on your age and sex.
The amount of fiber in foods is listed on the “NUTRITION FACTS” label of all foods. It is part of the carbohydrate category. You should add fiber to your diet gradually increasing a small amount daily to avoid bloating, cramping or gas. You need to give your body time to adjust. It is also important to increase the amount of water you drink as you increase your fiber intake. So there you have it, a way a natural way to treat overactive bowel.
As you are adjusting your diet to improve your symptoms remember that DryForLife offers a discreet and completely confidential solution to all your incontinence needs. We are here to help, and we have been providing incontinence products for over forty years.

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Tags: bowel incontinence, overactive bowel
Posted in Bowel Incontinence | No Comments »

What is Mixed Incontinence?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

You may think that incontinence is incontinence, but there are many reasons why you may find yourself suffering from incontinence. Stress incontinence is urine leakage that occurs when pressure is placed on the bladder like sneezing or coughing. Urge incontinence is caused by involuntary bladder muscle actions, and it may be caused by nerve damage, disease or illness. Mixed incontinence is when you have a combination of the two; so you may find yourself in trouble when you sneeze or laugh, and then you may notice that you have to go suddenly and unexpectedly.

To properly diagnose mixed incontinence you will want to discuss your symptoms with your doctor who can then properly diagnose which type of incontinence you are dealing with. Your doctor may wish for you to keep a bladder journal to track when you urinate, and how many leakages occur daily. You doctor will tell you what to include on your chart, but normally it is a pretty basic journal of liquid intake and output.

The treatment for mixed incontinence is usually a two-part treatment, one for each type of incontinence. For the stress incontinence portion of the problem the solution begins with Kegel exercises. The urgency problems are not as straight forward, and they may require long-term medication to help correct the problem. While you may also need biofeedback or surgery to alleviate your symptoms, it is always a good idea to start with the most basic fix and work from there.

Regardless of which therapy regime you follow, you will want to get through your ordeal with the help of good quality incontinence products. DryForLife offers a discreet and completely confidential solution to all your incontinence needs. Your concerns are very much our concerns; we have been providing incontinence products for over forty years, and we are here to help.

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Tags: incontinence products, Stress Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence
Posted in Mixed Incontinence | 1 Comment »

Can Exercise Cause Stress Incontinence?

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

How annoying to get yourself motivated, out of the house and off to the gym only to find out that your “step class” is very likely contributing to your stress incontinence. Studies have shown that about 28% of women who work out suffer from stress incontinence, and that percentage rises as high as 66% if only evaluating elite athletes. Stress incontinence is a result of straining the pelvic floor muscles while training or working out. This muscle strain can occur either as a result of a rigorous workout or improper form.

When working out it is incredibly important to use good form to properly align and support muscles. More and more young women are putting themselves at risk of damaging the muscles of their pelvic floor permanently through high-impact aerobics or weight training. When lifting weights proper body form is paramount and proper breathing techniques are important to help engage the stomach muscles to protect the muscles of the pelvic floor. If the stomach muscles are not properly engaged they will likely strain the muscles of the pelvic floor causing it to sustain some slight damage and become weaker. If this process continues, then eventually stress incontinence will occur.

The pelvic floor muscles can also be compromised by any activity that has a high impact component to it such as running or aerobics. Genetics plays a big part in this predisposition to weakening pelvic floor muscles, so while some women can be runners their entire lives and suffer no ill effects, other women are not so lucky.

Something as simple as a sit up, if done improperly, can contribute to the demise of the pelvic floor muscles; therefore, it is important to cross train with a carefully constructed workout to reduce any risk of accidentally developing stress incontinence.

Other exercises, like pilates and yoga, can do wonders to build and strengthen core muscles as well as the muscles of the pelvic floor. However, it is important to have a trained instructor demonstrate the proper techniques, because just like weight training, improper form can actually cause permanent damage to the pelvic floor muscles by straining them instead of making them stronger.

While the threat of stress incontinence may make a woman think twice about her workout routine, it should not stop her from getting the exercise that she needs to be healthy. She simply needs to take the time to build a quality workout routine. By including low impact alternatives like cycling or swimming, and having a trained professional guide her through proper techniques, any woman can stay healthy and active for many years to come.

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Tags: causes of urinary incontinence, light adult incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, Stress Incontinence, stress urinary incontinence
Posted in Stress Incontinence, Womens Health | No Comments »

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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Tags: Stress Incontinence, stress incontinence treatment
Posted in Incontinence Treatments, Stress Incontinence, Womens Health | No Comments »

Bulking Agents as a Treatment for Stress Incontinence

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Injectable bulking agents to treat stress incontinence have been used safely for several years. Bulking agents are usually composed of collagen (bovine), synthetic materials, or material obtained from the patient (autologous).

Stress incontinence is often the result of a weakened sphincter muscle (intrinsic sphincter deficiency), allowing the sphicter to remain partially open at rest. When abdominal pressure exceeds urethral pressure, the patient will experience loss of urine involuntarily.

Candidates for treatment with bulking agents include women who suffer from stress incontinence as a result of sphincter deficiency and men who become incontinent after prostate surgery. The procedure does not improve urge or overflow incontinence. The intervention itself is simple and can be performed in the office or in a hospital. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the procedure, and a local or general anaesthetic may be used.

For some, the injection of a bulking agent around the urethra may result in a cure (25%), while others experience an improvement in symptoms (50%). The procedure works less well in men. In addition, the procedure may need to be repeated every few years, as collagen is broken down by the body, resulting in a return or worsening of symptoms.

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Tags: bulking agents, Stress Incontinence, treatment
Posted in Stress Incontinence | No Comments »

Exercise and Stress Incontinence

Friday, September 4th, 2009

You are determined to go to the gym to get back into shape and lose those few extra pounds that have been plaguing you since you recently gave birth. You sign up for an aerobics class and all goes well until, mid-bounce, you feel your bladder give way, resulting in the leakage of a small amount of urine. Mortified, you wonder why this is happening to you. After all, you are young and healthy and have never experienced this before.

Sound familiar? If this has happened to you, don’t despair. Stress incontinence occurs as the result of some stressor being placed on the bladder, such as exercise. It may also occur with activities such as coughing, sneezing or even laughing. It is usually the result of pelvic floor muscles that may become damaged as a result of pregnancy, childbirth or hormonal changes. Excess weight can also contribute to the problem.

The cure for the problem is exercise targeted specifically towards strengthening these muscles, known as Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises, when performed properly and regularly, can help tone your bladder and the muscles that support it. Losing excess weight can also go a long way to heping to cure the problem as well. Using an incontinence pad designed specifically for this problem will add to your level of confidence and help you feel secure while exercising.

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Tags: exercise, Stress Incontinence, weight loss
Posted in Stress Incontinence | No Comments »

Nocturia- When Your Bladder Won’t Let You Sleep

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Nocturia, or frequent voiding at night, can be a troublesome problem that robs you of sleep and causes excessive daytime sleepiness. When it is coupled with incontinence, the problem can be a true nightmare. What causes the problem? There can be many contributing factors to noctiria, including excesive fluid intake too close to bedtime, side effects of certain medications, and drinking beverages containing alcohol and caffeine, which may act as diuretics. Nocturia may be coupled with other voiding problems, such as stress incontinence, urge incontinence (overactive bladder) or overflow incontinence.

What can be done about it? The first step in coping with nocturia may be to eliminate some of the above factors that may be contributing to the problem. By avoiding drinking alcoholic beverages and caffeine-containing beverages too close to bedtime, you may find that your need to void during the night is decreased. If you feel that your medications may be contributing to the problem, you should speak to your physician about changing your medication times. Your physician may also want to rule out other, more serious, causes.

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Tags: Medications, nocturia, Types of Incontinence
Posted in Overactive Bladder, Urge Incontinence | No Comments »

Autologous Muscle Cell Injections- Effects on Stress Incontinence

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

There is exciting news for those who suffer from stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs as the result of some form of “stress” on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, exercising, or even laughter. Stress incontinence is the result of weakened pelvic muscles or bladder musculature.

Autologous muscle cell injections are being used to treat stress urinary incontinence. Muscle cells are taken from a person’s own muscle, generally in the thigh, and are transplanted into the urethral sphincter at key spots. Because the muscle cells come from the person’s own body, there is no risk of rejection. There may be some discomfort at the injection site.

Best of all, results of a study of 29 women in the US showed that quality of life was vastly improved following the injections, with 68% of the study participants experiencing an improved quality of life 3 months after the injection. Researchers intend to expand the study to include a wider range of patients. Autologous muscle cell injections can be done on an outpatient basis with no restriction on activity following the injection. A report of this research was made at the American Urological Association (AUA) 104th Annual Scientific Meeting (Abstract 1526. Presented April 28, 2009).

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Tags: Stress Incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urethral sphincter
Posted in Stress Incontinence | No Comments »

Episiotomy and Faecal Incontinence

Friday, August 28th, 2009

An episiotomy is a medical procedure in which the muscular tissue between the vagina and the rectum is cut. An episiotomy is performed when there is a need to enlarge the vaginal opening during childbirth, and is usually done when there is a perceived need to “speed up” the delivery process. Women are more likely to have an episiotomy done during first deliveries than during subsequent ones.

Performing an episiotomy, however, is not a benign procedure. There are risks associated with an episiotomy, such as bleeding and infection. By far the most serious complication of episiotomy is tearing of the tissues into the anal sphincter, which may result in anal, or faecal, incontinence. In addition to uncontrolled passage of faeces, women may also pass wind uncontrollably, which may be equally distressing.

If you have had an episiotomy and suffer from incontinence, whether urinary or faecal, one of the most important things you can do is to perform Kegel exercises routinely. Kegel exercises will help to strengthen the damaged pelvic floor muscles. In addition, you should see your physician and discuss your incontinence with him/her. If you are planning to give birth, episiotomy is something you may want to discuss with your physician to clarify under what conditions an episiotomy may be done and other methods that can be tried first to speed delivery if the need arises.

Other Faecal Incontinence Articles

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Tags: bowel incontinence, Faecal Incontinence, Kegel exercises
Posted in Faecal Incontinence | No Comments »

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Archive for the ‘Types of Incontinence’ Category

Understanding the Cause of a Leaking Bladder

Overactive Bowel – Irregularity and Fiber

What is Mixed Incontinence?

Can Exercise Cause Stress Incontinence?

New Procedure Treats Stress Incontinence

Bulking Agents as a Treatment for Stress Incontinence

Exercise and Stress Incontinence

Nocturia- When Your Bladder Won’t Let You Sleep

Autologous Muscle Cell Injections- Effects on Stress Incontinence

Episiotomy and Faecal Incontinence

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