Effective Strategies for Managing the Three Types of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a troubling condition that affects over 25 million men and women in the United States. Many assume that bladder leakage is just a part of aging, but the good news is that it’s often treatable. Treatment depends on the type of incontinence you have. It’s crucial to identify and understand your specific type before starting any treatment. Here are the three main types of urinary incontinence and their treatments:
**Stress Incontinence**
This type is more common in women and happens when pressure is put on the bladder. People with stress incontinence may leak urine when they sneeze, cough, jump, or engage in physical activities.
The primary treatment is to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles through exercises known as Kegels. A doctor or pelvic floor therapist can help you learn to identify and properly contract these muscles. With consistent practice, Kegel exercises can significantly reduce incidents of incontinence.
**Urge Incontinence**
If you constantly feel the need to rush to the bathroom because your bladder often spasms and never feels empty, you might have urge incontinence.
Treatment involves retraining the bladder to hold more urine. This means scheduled bathroom visits—start by going every hour, and use Kegels to help suppress the sudden urges. Gradually increase the intervals between visits by 15 minutes. The goal is to be able to go 3-4 hours without needing to use the bathroom.
**Functional Incontinence**
This type occurs when physical or mental barriers prevent someone from reaching the bathroom in time. This could be due to mobility issues, like being bedbound or using a wheelchair, or mental conditions such as dementia.
To manage this form of incontinence, make sure clothing is easy to remove—use snap buttons and elastic waistbands instead of zippers and hook buttons. Regular bathroom visits every few hours can also help reduce accidents.
For those with severe mobility issues or mental disabilities, protective undergarments like disposable underwear and adult diapers can help keep them dry. Caregivers should change these products regularly to prevent pressure sores and skin infections. Bedside commodes or ones that can be moved over a regular toilet can also offer a more accessible and safe way to use the bathroom.
By understanding and addressing the type of incontinence you have, it’s possible to manage and significantly improve the condition.
