Not able to control your bladder? Is your underwear getting messier than you'd like? Urinary and fecal incontinence is the inability to prevent leakage of urine or stool. If you are experiencing this problem, we can help you find the essential and necessary products to help relieve your discomfort.
Causes of Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence
This kind of incontinence has many different causes. Urinary incontinence can be temporary or persistent depending on age and physical condition. Temporary urinary incontinence can be caused by over-hydration or dehydration. Alcohol, caffeine and assorted prescription medications can also trigger urinary incontinence. If you have a UTI (urinary tract infection) or you are constipated you might also experience urinary incontinence.
Persistent urinary incontinence is more common among the elderly. As we age, our bladders become unable to store urine as well as before. Such a change can trigger overactive bladder symptoms. Women can also suffer from urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth. Pregnant women undergo many hormonal changes which can trigger urinary incontinence, while women who just gave birth might have weakened their bladder control muscles. Other causes of persistent urinary incontinence include prostate cancer, hysterectomy, neurological disorders and obstruction.
Fecal Incontinence
Like urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence is more common amongst the elderly. However, it can also develop due to constipation, damage to the anal sphincter muscles, damage to the nerves in those muscles, loss of storage capacity in the rectum, diarrhea or pelvic floor dysfunction. Women can suffer from muscle damage when giving birth, especially if the doctor uses forceps to help deliver the baby. The nerves can also be damaged during childbirth. People who have Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's also suffer from fecal incontinence.
Treating Incontinence
You can treat urinary and fecal incontinence with medications, therapy or surgery. In addition, urinary incontinence can be treated through behavioral training, depending on the problem's severity. While you wait for your treatment to work, or if you must deal with the discomfort, stock up on the essential products that will help get you through your days.
