If you
speak with a patient that is embarrassed to talk about their problem with
incontinence, you might mention the bladder control supply industry, such as
adult diapers, and bladder pads. This happens to be a multi-billion-dollar
industry, as they are far from alone in their problem. Walk into any drug store and you are likely
to find at least one complete aisle devoted to nothing but incontinence
supplies. This is not a rare problem. In
fact it's very common, especially in women.
Causes of
Incontinence
There are
multiple factors that contribute to bladder leakage.
- Medications-
certain medications can contribute to bladder leakage. Some
blood pressure medications, diuretics, and muscle relaxers are among
the more common medications that can cause an overactive bladder, and
bladder leakage.
- Obesity-
when the body is overweight, internal organs may be crushed,
creating an urgent sensation to urinate. When standing and applying
pressure to the abdomen, or a cough, or a sneeze, can put even more
pressure on organs and ignite a small leak.
- Age-
unfortunately this cannot be avoided, as we age things in our body just
don't work exactly as they used to. You may find that sneezing, coughing,and
laughing may cause leakage.
You can't
stop aging; you need your medications, and certainly never stop laughing, so
you have to figure out ways to best handle bladder leakage.
How to
Handle Bladder Leakage
Light
bladder leakage is referred to as LBL, and is very common among women. In addition to the risk factors that
increase, change of your developing LBL, it is still estimated 4 out of 10
females that develop this condition had no previous risk factors. So, what are your options?
- Overactive
bladder control medications are one option;however, you should
be aware they do come with side effects.
- Bladder
protection pads are a very popular item today. They are small,
discreet, and have built in odor control. Many people use these on a regular
basis to avoid embarrassing accidents.
-Disposable underwear such as depends are
beneficial for moderate bladder leakage.
- There
is a new item on the market that is similar to a tampon. It stops leaks
before they happen, however, it is new so it's best usedwith caution. surgery.
Bladder
leakage is nothing new, however many people think it's a relatively new
condition. The fact is, as long as there have been bladders, this problem has
existed. The reason it seems new is that
it was not an open subject in the past.
Millions of people have this problem, and millions of people have always
had this problem. Medications,
procedures, and hygiene items are all advertised now aimed at anyone that
struggles with LBL.
It's not
only patients that need advice and guidance regarding this subject. A new study conducted indicates that 3 out of
10 nurses over the age of 45 complained of bladder leakage to some degree. With nurses on their feet for long periods of
time, often without adequate break times, it can take a toll on the
bladder. Drinking plenty of water and
trying to take regular bathroom breaks is the best guideline for hard working
nurses, or anyone in a profession that keeps you busy on your feet.
With
bladder leakage occurring in mostly females, you will see, the ads on TV aimed
at the female population. Males can also
suffer from this problem; however, it is more easily controlled, with medications
to reduce the size of the prostate.
Women that
have given birth are more likely to have weakened muscles and suffer from
incontinence, however, there is some evidence that exercises may help prevent
bladder leakage after childbirth. To get
more information on this technique, visit
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises/art-20045283.
When a
patient is suffering from LBL, it may be very embarrassing for them to discuss,
and as a general rule, reminding them the statistics of how many women suffer
the same thing may help put their mind at ease. It helps to know it's not just
them. Many nurses will experience LBL themselves,
and most nurses will encounter patients on a regular basis that suffer
themselves from LBL.
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