You’re not alone

If incontinence is a new challenge that you or a loved one is facing, please be assured that you’re not alone. Loss of urinary and/or bowel control is, of course, a very personal problem, but you may feel more at ease to learn that as many as 25 million Americans - young and old, male and female are affected. The fact is… the more information you have, the better you can understand this condition, manage its impact, and restore your quality of life, or that of a loved one.

Just how common is incontinence*?

Men

• 22% of men over 65 experience incontinence.
• 2% of men under 65 experience incontinence.

Women

• Women are two times more likely to be incontinent than men.
• 30-40% of post-menopausal women live with incontinence.
• 26% of women of reproductive age experience incontinence on occasion.

Children

• 10% of 5-year-olds, 5% of 10-year-olds, and 1% of 18-year-olds experience episodes of incontinence.
• Urinary Incontinence is twice as common in boys as in girls.
• After age 5, nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting) is more common than day wetting.

*Urinary incontinence

There is some good news…

Because the problem of incontinence is becoming more prevalent—so too is awareness. The evidence is all around us... in national advertising, increased product availability, and with the medical community addressing causes and treatment. All of this attention toward incontinence means two things for you, the patient or caregiver: more companies addressing solutions for the ailment… and less stigma associated with it.

The causes:

The causes for incontinence are varied. They include such conditions as weakened pelvic muscles, immobility, diabetes or high calcium levels, enlarged prostate gland or prostate surgery (in men), childbirth or post-menopausal effects, and even some rare congenital conditions. Generally, since people are living longer with chronic diseases, the effects of these conditions coupled with medication side effects are also factors in the increase in incontinence.

But regardless of the source or cause of the incontinence affecting you, as a patient or caregiver you may find yourself troubled with how best to manage it. First, if you can identify which type of incontinence you are dealing with, you’ll soon be making more informed decisions.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are four categories:

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is when urine leaks because of sudden pressure on your lower stomach muscles, such as when you cough, laugh, lift something or exercise. Stress incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles are weakened, for example, by childbirth or surgery. Stress incontinence is common in women.

Urge incontinence

This occurs when the need to urinate comes on too fast -- before you can get to a toilet. Your body may only give you a warning of a few seconds to minutes before you urinate. Urge incontinence is most common in the elderly and may be a sign of an infection in the kidneys or bladder.

Overflow incontinence

This type of incontinence is a constant dripping of urine. It's caused by an overfilled bladder. You may feel like you can't empty your bladder all the way and you may strain when urinating. This often occurs in men and can be caused by something blocking the urinary flow, such as an enlarged prostate gland or tumor. Diabetes or certain medicines may also cause the problem.

Functional incontinence

This type occurs when you have normal urine control but have trouble getting to the bathroom in time. You may not be able to get to the bathroom because of arthritis or other diseases that make it hard to move around.

National Association for Continence is the link to the NAFC which offers an online questionnaire to help you determine the type you or your loved one might be experiencing. Of course, your or their healthcare provider may be the best source for this information. Be sure to consult them first.

For helpful information about Bowel Incontinence, in particular, visit this website

And for more information about Urinary Incontinence, in particular, visit this website

Is there a cure or treatment?

Treatment depends on the source of the problem and the type of incontinence. If the urinary incontinence is caused by a medical condition, it will be alleviated when the medical condition is successfully treated. Kegel exercises and bladder training help some types of incontinence. Medicine and surgery are other options. When there has been ample communication with a healthcare professional and medical intervention or self-help exercises have fallen short of resolving the incontinence, it’s probably time to accept the fact that…

Incontinence should always be managed… for the following reasons:

• Prevention of both skin and Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Better quality of life… Mobility, freedom, active lifestyle
• Obviously-- less inconvenience (clothing and bedding changes, embarrassment)

And incontinence CAN be managed successfully.

This website is dedicated to providing information about supplies that are available—currently the best on the market—to help you manage the problem of incontinence. These products are technologically designed to provide maximum absorption, odor elimination, and prevention of Urinary Tract infections and skin irritation.

Please click here to return to the products page, or contact our customer service department at 1-877-79 HANNAH (877-794-2662) for more detailed information.

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Incontinence—truth is… until you were dealing with it… you didn’t have to know the definition. Perspective changes everything sometimes. And now that you have a new understanding of the condition, its causes, effect, and solutions… meeting and managing the challenges could be just one call away.

We’re HANNAH, and we’re here to help.

www.HANNAHhomemedical.com

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For more information please visit these trusted sites:

American Academy of Family Physicians

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

American Foundation for Urologic Diseases

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Resources:

National Association for Continence

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Inc. (IFFGD)

Simon Foundation for Continence