Incontinence Research Paper

Incontinence can have a major impact on the quality of your life. You may find yourself altering your routine in various ways, including always searching for the nearest bathroom when in public, avoiding lengthy trips or becoming reluctant to leave home. You may find that you are awakened every hour or two to go to the bathroom, leaving you tired and sleepy all day. You may feel that incontinence is just something that you have to live with, but this is not the truth. There are many ways to deal with incontinence, but patients are often too embarrassed to discuss the problem with their physicians or seek reputable advice. This has led to a number of myths about incontinence need to be debunked. Here are five common myths and their related facts.

Stress incontinence is leakage that occurs when an activity places stress or pressure on the bladder. Sneezing, heavy lifting, coughing, exercising, getting out of a car, laughing and getting out of bed are common triggers for stress incontinence. The second type is called urge incontinence and is sometimes referred to as an overactive bladder. Urge incontinence strikes suddenly and is an uncontrollable need to empty the bladder. It is often described as a miscommunication between the bladder and the brain. Urge incontinence can be triggered by dreaming, hearing water running, dealing with a locked door or drinking even a small quantity of

Many women with light leakage use sanitary pads, but these often do not provide sufficient absorption. Incontinence pads are available for both men and women, and these pads do a much better job of wicking away moisture for better absorption and greater comfort. Pull-up disposable underwear, available in gender-specific as well as unisex styles, can be another comfortable, discreet solution. Women may find that a pessary can help with stress incontinence as well as with incontinence caused by pelvic organ prolapse.

(-- removed HTML --) 4. Reducing Fluid Intake Is Advisable (-- removed HTML --)
Although it might seem logical to restrict fluids to help control incontinence, the practice can be ineffective as well as potentially dangerous. Most experts agree that stopping fluid intake about two hours prior to retiring can help avoid nighttime accidents and reduce the number of overnight trips to the bathroom. However, for the rest of the day, it is important to drink small amounts of water between meals and a full glass with every meal. Sufficient water can help prevent leakage, enhance bladder control and reduce unpleasant odors should leakage occur.

(-- removed HTML --) 5. Kegels Only Help Women (-- removed HTML