Adult incontinence is one of the most prevalent yet misunderstood medical symptoms. According to medical reports, millions of American experiences it with the largest percentage of these being women. According to the Urology Care Foundation, a quarter to a third of adults in the country suffers from urinary incontinence. Despite this high prevalence, there’s a lot of misinformation and misconception about incontinence. This hinders many people from accessing proper incontinence treatment or protection.
Advances in medical care have seen innovative ways emerge to help incontinent people live more comfortably. Adult pull up diapers are among the most popular incontinence products. Unfortunately, the misconceptions around incontinence also extend to these products. Many people who would otherwise benefit from incontinence protection shy away from these products and suffer poor quality of life.
This guide seeks to change this situation by delving into incontinence and incontinence protection to help affected individuals and families enjoy better quality lives.
Incontinence in Brief
Loss of bladder and bowel control leads to urinary and fecal incontinence respectively. Urinary incontinence is more common and affects over 25 million Americans. Fecal incontinence is associated with old age and bedridden people, but urinary incontinence affects even active adults of a younger age. This makes it a more pressing problem as it can debilitate the life of an already active individual.
Forms of Incontinence
The most common forms of urinary incontinence are:
- Stress incontinence: A situation where a urinary leak occurs when physical pressure is applied to the bladder through coughing, sneezing, or exercising.
- Urge incontinence: A form of urinary leak that happens suddenly due to involuntary bladder contraction. If you the affected person can’t reach a washroom, they soil themselves.
- Mixed incontinence: A combination of stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence: The inability of a bladder to empty fully due to bladder obstruction. It leads to continuous dripping of urine.
The Main Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinent is a symptom of an underlying condition. These symptoms can arise due to:
- Foods and drinks: Diuretics such as coffee, caffeine, chocolate, chili pepper, and carbonated drinks and sparkling water stimulate the bladder and increase urine levels.
- Prostate complications: In men, an enlarged prostate can block the bladder passage leading to incontinence.
- Neurological disorders: Conditions such as stroke, a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, spinal injury, and Parkinson's disease affect nerves around the bladder leading to incontinence.
- Pregnancy: Stress incontinence is common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes
- Old age: An aged bladder has less holding capacity
- Hysterectomy: Surgical procedures on a woman’s reproductive system can affect the pelvic floor muscles leading to incontinence.
How Can Urinary Incontinence Affect You?
There’s a stigma associated with urinary incontinence and this has seen many people continue suffering in silence. Incontinent individuals withdraw from their former active lifestyles leading to social and mental issues.
Due to fear of embarrassment, people suffering from incontinence also go for a sedentary lifestyle which can lead to lifestyle diseases, including obesity. Failure to treat or manage incontinence also leads to a risk of skin and urethra infection.
Loss of esteem is another problem associated with urinary incontinence and this can lead to loss of economic and professional opportunities for an individual. Therefore, wearing incontinence protection such as adult pull up diapers should form the first line of defense.
Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence
Some of the risk factors for urinary incontinence include:
- Gender: Women are more prone to urinary incontinence.
- Old age: The loss of bladder muscle elasticity is common in old age.
- Lifestyle: Smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of incontinence
- Overweight and obesity: Excess weight puts pressure on the bladder and surrounding muscles and weakens them.
- Diseases: people with neurological disease or diabetes are susceptible to urinary incontinence.
Managing Urinary Incontinence
Most people panic after getting a urinary incontinence diagnosis, but this isn’t necessary. It is not a death sentence as many people today live comfortably despite this diagnosis. While your treatment continues, you can comfortably wear pull-up diapers and engage in an active lifestyle without any fears.
If you have been leading an active lifestyle and you want to continue this way, adult pull-ups are the best incontinence protection. They have tabs on the side pull on and off like standard underwear. These are comfortable to wear compared to the bulkier diapers. The best pull-ups for adults are thin and sleek and you will find it easier to change them even when traveling. They also come in a variety of styles and can handle a range of incontinence levels. When buying your pull-up briefs, make sure you confirm your size and level of incontinence to find a product that best suits you.
Debunking Incontinence Myths
Here are some myths and misconceptions that everyone suffering incontinence should avoid:
1. Incontinence is a disease: This is not true as incontinence is a symptom of an underlying condition. Hence, you need to see a doctor for a professional diagnosis. 2. No water after diagnosis: Water is essential for most bodily functions and failure to drink enough only causes further health complications. 3. All incontinence products are awkward to wear: Modern medical advances have seen the development of thin but high-performance briefs and pads. They are discreet, comfy and come with an absorbent core and anti-odor technology. No one can guess you have such a diaper on. 4. Incontinence is for the elderly: many younger adults suffer incontinence due to some reasons including injuries, lifestyle disease, pregnancy and childbirth complications among others. 5. Incontinence ends life as you knew it: Nothing could be further from the truth because, with the right pull-up diaper, you can comfortably live an active lifestyle. 6. It’s too late to do anything about it: There’s no age at which you can’t treat or manage incontinence. It all starts with talking to your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor will recommend suitable incontinence protection.
Wrapping Up
If you or a loved one suffers incontinence, there’s no reason to let this bring your life to a halt. By choosing the appropriate incontinence protection, you can enjoy a fulfilling life without limits. If you notice any problems controlling your bladder, it is time to talk to your doctor. This is the first step in regaining control of your life and overcoming the challenge of incontinence.
