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Incontinence
Overview
Symptoms
Treatment
Products
Resources
Incontinence is the unwanted or involuntary loss of bladder and/or
bowel control. This is a symptom of a medical problem that is treatable and not
simply part of the unavoidable aging process.
Incontinence is a common medical condition that affects approximately one in
twelve Americans. Mostly older seniors are affected, but incontinence is also a
concern of both sexes and all ages including children, young adults and half of
all first-time pregnant women. Although people are often too embarrassed to
discuss this problem with their physician or family, any medical professional
would explain that it is a treatable condition.
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Types of Urinary Incontinence
The five primary types of urinary incontinence are:
- Stress incontinence is the leakage of urine that occurs when
someone coughs, sneezes, laughs, lifts or bends (i.e., any physical activity
that places pressure on the abdomen).
- Urge incontinence occurs when a strong desire to urinate (i.e.,
the large bladder muscle is contracting on its own) results in an
involuntary loss of urine.
- Overflow incontinence is the excess urine that is produced beyond
what the bladder can hold. The bladder can’t or won’t empty properly when
full, causing this excess to continually dribble out.
- Functional incontinence occurs when someone loses the ability to
feel when their bladder is full.
- Surgical incontinence is the result of a surgical procedure such
as a hysterectomy, caesarean section, prostatectomy, lower intestinal or
rectal.
Bowel Incontinence
Bowel incontinence is the involuntary loss of solid stool, liquid or gas from
the rectum. Causes include diet, previous anal surgery, neurological disorders
and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
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Disposables:
- Pads and Shields are for small loss of urine when laughing,
coughing, sneezing, straining or pregnant. Usually this light
incontinence is only a daytime problem.
- Guards are for temporary or long-term loss of bladder control after
surgery, or when someone is unable to prevent urine leakage after
feeling a strong urge to urinate. Leakage often occurs on the way to the
bathroom.
- Undergarments are for frequent leakage usually of small amounts of
urine, or for moderate loss of urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing
or straining. Often this moderate incontinence is only a daytime
problem.
- Briefs are for heavy or continuous urine leakage or heavy leakage at
night or when lying down.
Reusable Systems
- Undergarments and Briefs are washable protective underwear that are
made to use with liners and pads or by themselves.
- Liners and Pads fit into the above washable undergarments and are
either reusable/washable for light incontinence or disposable for
moderate to heavy incontinence.
Urologicals
- Catheters are available for permanent loss of urine control. They
are available as either external or internal devices.
- Urine Collection Devices include leg bags and overnight bags that
hang from the bed.
Related Incontinence Products
- Underpads are flat pads filled with absorbent materials and covered
with waterproof backing. They are designed to protect bedding and
furniture. Available in disposable and reusable options, various sizes
and different absorbencies
- Skin Care is a concern for people with incontinence because they are
prone to skin breakdown, especially when continuous washing with regular
alkaline soap dries out the skin. Skin care products protect, soothe and
replenish the skin. Antibacterial and anti-fungal products eliminate
germs, yeast, bacteria and fungi.
- Cleansers cleanse and remove urine and fecal material. They are
available in no-rinse and deodorizing formulas.
- Barriers and Skin Protectants protect skin from further exposure and
irritation by creating moisture and antimicrobial, antifungal barriers
on affected areas.
- Moisturizers and Creams replenish moisture to skin that is dried out
or irritated by incontinence.
- Deodorizers eliminate odor as well as deodorize.
- Rinseless Shampoos, foot cleansers and shaving gels are also
available.
Accessories include washcloths, air fresheners, powders and
ointments.
Bath Safety Products help to maintain stability and compensate for
loss of strength when toileting and bathing. These include:
-
Bedpans and
Urinals
are available for patients who are unable to get
up from bed to use a bedside commode or the bathroom.
-
Bedside Commodes are stand-alone toilet seats with a removable pail
for people who are unable to walk to the bathroom. They can also be
easily converted to a raised toilet seat to be used directly over the
toilet.
-
Bath Chairs, Transfer Benches and Handheld Showers make getting into
and out of the bathtub easier, safer and more convenient.
-
Grab Bars provide stability when standing after sitting on the
toilet or when entering and exiting the bath or shower.
- Personal Care items includes
sitz baths, lubricant jelly and
gloves.
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Incontinence Resources
National Association for Continence (NAFC)
800-252-3337
www.nafc.org
The Simon Foundation for Continence
800 23-SIMON
www.simonfoundation.org
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