Urinary Incontinence – A Brief Overview
Most children are toilet-trained or develop bladder control between the ages of two and three. This control is then retained throughout their adult lives. Due to certain factors, when this control is lost by adult men or women, it is referred to as Urinary Incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can occur at any age, but it’s not an issue many are willing to discuss. It is known to have affected around 200 million people worldwide. Urinary Incontinence is twice as common in women as in men. Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are the main causes of incontinence in women as compared to men. Between the ages of 18 and 44, approximately 24% of women experience incontinence while approximately 23% of women over the age of 60 deal with it. Often, people tend to rely on various different ways to manage urine leakage, but one of the most convenient ways is to use adult diapers that are available at reasonable prices.
The main kinds of urinary incontinence include stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence and overflow incontinence.
Urinary incontinence causes not just physical disability and inconvenience but also has the potential to disrupt the sufferer's lifestyle by causing them to restrict mobility and feel shame.
Let’s have a look at what could be the reasons for having incontinence at the different stages of life:
Urinary Incontinence and Age – What Is the Relation?
In every stage of life, our bodies undergo several changes - internally as well as externally. Some of these changes can bring major disruptions in one’s daily routine and put an end to their freedom to enjoy life. One of the disorders that result in lifestyle changes for people is urinary incontinence. This is a medical condition where one experiences a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. The bladder muscles do not work well to allow one to hold and release urine at the right time, instead it suddenly empties itself without warning. The flow of urine and its severity may depend from person to person. Many people experience it occasionally, with minor leaks of urine while others may lose small or moderate amounts of urine more frequently due to several reasons.
Urinary incontinence is known to affect older people more often than younger people. This is because as one ages, the muscles in the urinary bladder and urethra lose some of their strength and reduce the capacity of the bladder to hold urine. This increases the chances of leaking urine involuntarily. Due to the difference in the male and female anatomy, the reason and diagnosis for urinary incontinence differ between men and women. It has been found out that women are more likely to have incontinence because pregnancy, childbirth and menopause weaken the bladder muscles and raise the pressure inside the abdomen.
It is important to stay aware of urinary incontinence, as it can interfere with enjoying the usual activities like exercising, travelling, attending social outings and affect personal relations. A patient can lose his/her aazadi or freedom to concentrate on simple activities as urine leaks can occur while coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending or lifting something heavy. They keep themselves near a bathroom at all times for the fear of not making it in time and staining their clothes. This slowly culminates into social anxiety as well as depression, taking a toll on the mental health of the patient.
Urinary Continence in Women Through All Ages
Women with the following problems are more prone to fall prey to urinary incontinence -
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Obesity issues
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Constipation
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Regularly lifting heavy objects
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Smoking problems
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Respiratory problems like asthma
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Had a gynaecological surgery
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Cystitis
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Diabetes
In such situations urine leakage develops early on, due to a complication caused by one of these. These usually cause a laxening of the muscles in the pelvic area resulting in urine leakage.
In situations like these, it is advisable to contact your doctor or try using pant-style diapers for adults until then. This kind of urine leakage is called stress urinary incontinence and is characterized by the leakage of small squirts of urine while sitting/coughing/laughing.
The most common stages for women to suffer from incontinence are:
About 62% of women are affected by urinary incontinence during pregnancy, the Relaxin hormone allows expansion as the baby grows and for the pelvic floor to stretch during birth. This often results in an overactive bladder or stress incontinence which affects the pelvic floor muscles when sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting or straining. Many times, doctors suggest the use of easy-to-wear adult diapers that come in various sizes such as small, medium and large to last one's entire pregnancy period.
Women who undergo natural or caesarean deliveries are equally likely to experience urine leakage due to the pressure of the baby on their pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy. The trauma of childbirth can cause tearing or overstretching of muscles. Due to the pain, women often strain to empty their bowel which can weaken the pelvic muscles. Women may end up restricting fluid intake for the fear of urine leakage. Rather than limiting fluid intake, one can manage it with adult diapers which are available in different sizes like small, medium and large that are suitable for post-pregnancy bodies.
Estrogen is the hormone that decreases considerably during menopause and plays an important role in the urinary system. Basically, the hormone keeps a strict tab on the excess urine leakage by keeping the urethra sealed after passing urine. Therefore, the loss of estrogen causes stress incontinence during menopause. With the other expenses during this period, investing in adult diapers at a feasible price can help manage urine leakage.
With age, the bladder becomes more rigid and hence finds it more difficult to stretch, causing an overactive bladder. This thereby results in frequent visits to the washroom and, combined with weak pelvic floor muscles, makes it more difficult to manage. However, one can try using a super-absorbent adult diaper that is available in varied sizes like small, medium, large and more.
Sufferers should also try home remedies such as bladder training and Kegel exercises that can be done to strengthen and tighten pelvic muscles. One should also avoid certain drinks and foods that stimulate the bladder and increase the need to urinate like alcoholic beverages, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and foods that are high in spice, sugar or acid. Smoking habits should be cut down too, as tobacco may increase the risk of urinary incontinence. People who have a close family member dealing with urinary incontinence or those who have diabetes must take precautions in advance as they run the risk of developing the condition.
Adult Disposable Diapers for Women – Its Significance and Benefits
To reduce the health risk and manage incontinence effectively, doctors often advice patients to use diaper sheets and overnight diapers for adults.
. Overnight diapers for adults are the most viable option for patients suffering from a physical or mental impairment like arthritis, multiple sclerosis or strokes which prevents them from reaching the bathroom on time. They are super-absorbent and provide comfort for hours even during heavy leakage.
. Diaper sheets for adults are disposable incontinence sheets that absorb the flow and protect the clothes and bed covers from stains. These can be used for long periods and changed in minutes.
. Diapers can help patients regain the confidence to leave their homes, resume work and go out again. They also help patients get a good night’s sleep.
. Incontinence is one such disease that often causes not just the sufferer, but their entire family to suffer alongside. Diapers can help give caregivers some rest. Friends Adult Diapers come with built-in wetness indicators that fade away when the diaper is full, making sure the caregiver knows exactly when to change.
On an end note, while buying adult diapers online, one should not compromise on the quality of the diaper in their efforts to find a cheaper product. Poor quality adult diapers can increase health risks, which one should be familiar with. The constant dribbling of urine and wetness in the private parts can lead to infections, rashes and itches on the skin and bring forth more troubles. This is why caretakers or patients must spend time to do complete research of the different kinds of adult diapers and other incontinence products that are available online, and choose the best quality product which fulfills all their needs.
Friends Adult Diapers have been India’s trusted leaders in the arena for the last 20 years. We have high quality diapers with raw materials sourced from around the world. Our diapers are leak proof, aloe vera enhanced, anti-bacterial and provide an odour lock mechanism as well. Try it to get azadi from urine leakage! 😊
