Many people assume urinary incontinence is simply part of getting older; however, this doesn’t have to be the case as treatment, management or even cure may be possible.
There are various forms of urinary incontinence (UI), including stress UI where urine leaks when coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects or exercising; Urge UI where you experience sudden urge to urinate but cannot get to a toilet fast enough; and mixed UI.
Catheter Supplies
Catheters are soft, flexible tubes used to collect urine from your bladder and deliver it to a drainage bag. Catheters come in various sizes, materials (latex, silicone or Teflon), types (straight tip or coude tip) and designs. Your provider will choose the ideal catheter for your specific situation – for indwelling catheters with soft plastic or rubber tubes called urethras that pass through rectum to outside body, they could remain for months or years in place!
If you have incontinence and use a catheter, it is vital to use your supplies effectively in order to keep your skin healthy and reduce infection risks. Every day after taking out your catheter and cleaning its exit point as well as emptying out its drainage bag half full and before bedtime; drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated also plays a part.
Some types of catheters require specific supplies; intermittent catheters for instance must be inserted several times each day and leave for approximately four hours before being taken out; for this type of catheter lubricants, catheter kits and irrigation products are all essential items.
Other catheter supplies, like stabilization devices, help ensure that your catheter remains securely in its port. These are an alternative to medical tape and help avoid painful pulling that occurs if tubing is left unsecured. Likewise, bladder irrigation products like irrigation trays and syringes filled with sterile saline or water should also be considered essential if you have an indwelling catheter.
Leg bags are flexible, breathable pouches worn on either the patient’s calf or thigh to collect urine and are made for easy maintenance and cleaning. Available with Velcro fasteners to secure it to any size limb and featuring multiple colors and styles – leg bags come equipped with extension tubes that extend catheter length, as well as other accessories like tray-and-lubricant aids as insertion aids, reusable urinary collection containers and antiseptic wipes – they provide users with everything needed for efficient collection of urine collection.
Absorbent Products
Absorbent products come in all shapes and sizes. They are essential products for those living with incontinence, with some design features receiving more consideration than others. The market provides an impressive selection of absorbents.
Absorbent products come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate light urinary incontinence ranging from small insert pads sized similarly to sanitary towels/napkins for light cases to all-in-one disposable and washable pads that resemble conventional underwear (briefs, thongs, Y-fronts or boxers etc). Pads designed to be discreet or attractive can help improve skin health and comfort, with waterproof backings in cloth or paper pulp-style pads, while others woven from non-woven, breathable elements to promote skin wellness and comfort. Some pads feature super-absorbent polymer powders in their core which can absorb much more urine weight for weight than fluffed wood pulp fibres and hold it without leakage. Some pads come equipped with tab closures while others are specifically shaped for additional security and leakage protection.
Ease of use is a critical consideration for those relying on incontinence products. It may depend on factors like mobility and dexterity, eyesight, mental acuity, family or carer assistance with dressing and bathroom tasks, home environment suitability for storage or changing equipment and product characteristics such as fixing methods, opening packaging easily and need for suitable surfaces or furniture for placing pads.
Public healthcare systems in some countries provide incontinence products free to adults; in others, cost may be covered through individual contributions with additional support from social care funding or insurance. Retail sale of incontinence products has become an increasing part of the economy with an array of mainstream and online retailers offering products at reasonable prices.
Popularity of incontinence products has led to increased discussion and awareness surrounding this condition, while an array of specialised incontinence products such as portable urinals or faecal collection devices is now readily available for purchase.
Exercise
Over time, the muscles supporting your bladder may weaken due to pregnancy, childbirth and menopause for women. Kegel exercises and other forms of pelvic floor exercise are effective ways of strengthening these important pelvic floor muscles; timed voiding (emptying your bladder on an agreed schedule rather than waiting until the urge arises) can also help improve bladder control.
Urge or urgency incontinence refers to sudden leakage of urine during times when there is a strong urge but you are unable to reach the bathroom quickly enough. It’s most prevalent among older people and may indicate neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when pressure is placed on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy objects; mixed urinary incontinence refers to having both urge and stress forms of incontinence simultaneously. You have several treatment options available to you such as urethral bulking – placing a pessary in the vagina to keep urethra closed – or electrical/magnetic stimulation of lower abdominal muscles to strengthen them.
Counselling
Healthcare providers will ask a series of questions regarding your symptoms. They may perform a physical exam of the urinary tract and pelvic organs; take urine samples; examine your bladder using a cystoscope; keep a diary detailing when and how often incontinence occurs; create a treatment plan tailored specifically to you by considering factors like severity of incontinence, its impact on life and potential solutions like medications, lifestyle changes or surgery – then discuss potential outcomes and risks of all treatments together with their associated benefits and risks with you before creating an ideal plan tailored to you by your doctor who will consider all factors before creating the most suitable plan possible: taking into account severity, impact on life as well as benefits and risks involved when choosing treatments like medications, lifestyle changes or surgery are effective options worth consideration before creating an ideal plan tailored specifically designed just for you based on that analysis of data provided from diary.
Urinary incontinence is caused by weakening or damage to muscles that control urine leakage, including pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter. This often happens with age or underlying health conditions; pregnancy, childbirth or menopause may also play a part. Furthermore, medications may exacerbate symptoms.
Urinary incontinence can be both frustrating and embarrassing for those affected. It can lead to anxiety, depression and social isolation as well as limit what people can do due to worry over finding bathrooms or being too far from toilets. Unfortunately, many with urinary incontinence don’t share their symptoms because they believe there is nothing they can do about it.
There are three forms of urinary incontinence, stress, urge and overflow. Stress incontinence occurs when there is pressure placed upon your bladder due to exercise, coughing, sneezing or laughing – or lifting something heavy if your bladder shifts unexpectedly. Stress incontinence is by far the most prevalent bladder control issue and usually begins in young or middle-aged women before worsening as we age.
Urge incontinence occurs when there is an urgent urge to empty your bladder even though you’re not full, often as a result of overactive bladder muscles or nerve problems in the control center of your bladder, an injury to spinal cord injury, medications or injury to other body systems; overflow incontinence could also occur as a result of an enlarged prostate or blockages or leakages near the bladder.
