Urinary Incontinence

In short, urinary incontinence can be summed up as involuntary loss of urine.

This is usually due to the body’s inability to adequately retain urine, whether due to a nerve condition, weakened bladder or pelvic floor muscles, injury, or another medical condition. It can be temporary or in more severe cases, urinary incontinence may be permanent.

So what causes urinary incontinence?

Several risk factors exist that may factor into the onset of urinary incontinence, which include but are not limited to:

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Hormonal changes such as menopause
• Obesity
• Constipation
• Medications such as diuretics, sedatives, and others
• Nerve damage from injury or another coexisting medical condition

However, studies show it seems to occur more frequently among senior citizens and among women. In particular, women who are pregnant or women who have had several children seem to be more affected by urinary incontinence.

Incontinence can certainly impact one’s quality of life. For the person living with incontinence, they must not only deal with hygiene and management of their condition, but they may also be affected by social and emotional factors, such as anxiety and depression related to their incontinence.

Urine leakage from incontinence can range from light (small losses of urine) to severe (which is typically the total inability to retain urine in the bladder). No matter the severity of your incontinence, you need to seek out a treatment option from your doctor. In addition, you’ll likely need a way to collect your urine to avoid leakage and “accidents.”

Many different types of incontinence products exist in varying absorbencies, sizes, and types to fit each person and their unique body and condition.

At present, a wide variety of home delivery incontinence supplies exist, including:

• diapers/briefs and protective underwear
• pads and underwear liners
• male guards
• urine collector options such as external catheters for men
• intermittent urinary catheters
• underpads to protect mattresses, chairs, and other surfaces

The choice of one incontinence product or a combination all depends on your specific needs and challenges, as well as your condition and your environment.

Personally Delivered has a support team of incontinence supply experts who can help you determine which products may work best for you.

Sources

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   A., Taylor, B. C., Tacklind, J. W., Rutks, I. R., & Wilt, T. J. (2008).
   Treatment interventions in nursing home residents with urinary incontinence: A
   systematic review of randomized trials. Mayo Clinic
   Proceedings, 83(12), 1332-1343.
2. McCormick,
   A. K., Burgio, D. L., Engel, T. B., Scheve, A. & Leahy, E. (1992). Urinary
   incontinence: An augmented prompted void approach. Journal of Gerontological
   Nursing, 18(3), 3-9.
3. Northwood,
   M. (2004). Nurses experiences’ caring for persons with incontinence. Unpublished masters’ thesis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario,
   Canada.
4. Rodriguez, N. A., Sackley, C.
   M., & Badger, F. J. (2007). Exploring
   the facets of continence care: A continence survey of care homes for older
   people in Birmingham. Journal of Clinical Nursing,
   16(5), 954-962.