Incontinence – Men Are Not Immune From This Woman's Problem
Incontinence Men Are Not Immune From This Woman's Problem
Incontinence is considered a condition that affects women and the elderly and in part that generalization is true. Women tend to have episodes younger in life than men simply because of the trauma that they go through in pregnancy and childbirth. The pelvic floor muscles get stretched and abused and these muscles are key to maintaining continence.
Couple that damage with a lessening production of the hormone estrogen which is essential to muscle health and you can see why women may be more susceptible than men at a younger age.
However when both sexes hit their 60s, like many Baby Boomers have, the odds of having a continence problem start evening out. Neither sex can defy gravity and gravity has been pulling down on the body to over six decades and has affected both muscles and body fat. Muscles that have sagged and flesh that has relocated to the belly both cause pressure on the bladder and other organs and can lead to incontinence.
An enlarged prostate is common among older men and it is a leading cause of the condition in males. The urethra passes through the center of the prostate and as it grows, it pinches off the urethra and may cause frequent urination, urination at night, dribbling and an inability to fully empty the bladder. Men start to catch up with women starting in their mid 60s.
The good news is there have been a number of advancements in treating this condition thanks largely to a huge aging population. There isn't a day that goes by now that you don't see an ad touting some medication that will solve all of your problems.
But the truth is, medication is not the only answer. There are natural approaches like diet and exercise and behavioral changes that can end your incontinence problem. See your doctor for the therapy best suited for you.