subject: Adult Incontinence – Why Are You Still Letting It Run Your Life? [print this page] Adult incontinence has always been a problem and up until recently people have been embarrassed to discuss it even with their doctors. This was a real tragedy because often the condition can be cured or at least managed through lifestyle changes, diet or medication. However, many people simply believed that developing incontinence was a natural part of the aging process and did nothing to control it.
For starters incontinence is not a natural part of growing old. Incontinence itself is not a disease but a symptom of some other underlying problem or disease. It is very important that you consult with your medical provider when you first notice the problem in order to get a proper diagnosis and to treat the underlying cause.
The other misconception is that this condition is a "woman's" disease and while more women do in fact suffer from it, men are also susceptible to becoming incontinent particularly as they grow older. The reason more women become incontinent earlier in life is usually due to the trauma their bodies, and particularly their pelvic floor muscles, go through during pregnancy and child birth. Men become incontinent when there is a problem with the prostate. Either it enlarges as they age or it becomes diseased affecting the urethra and the sphincter muscle that controls flow.
Again, your doctor can provide you with the correct diagnosis and develop a therapy best suited to you to control or cure the condition. It's usually a good idea to keep a record or "bladder diary" for a couple of weeks prior to your first visit to give your physician the information that he needs to help diagnose. This diary will include the amount and type of fluids you take in and when, the time of each bathroom trip and any unusual symptoms like pain during urination or an excessive urge to go.
You don't have to live with adult incontinence. There are therapies to treat it and a wide array of products to manage it while undergoing treatment. You can live your active lifestyle safe in the knowledge that you won't be experiencing embarrassing public accidents.
Adult Incontinence Why Are You Still Letting It Run Your Life?
