Incontinence is a term
used to describe any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder,
or in some cases, bowel motion. It is a partial or complete loss of control
such that the organs will be unable to restrain the natural evacuation of urine
and faeces. Incontinence is a common, but unfortunately one of the most under
reported, global health issues with a reported prevalence of 27% and 43%
(African Journal Online, 2010). According to National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive Kidney Diseases “urinary incontinence is loss of bladder control and
symptoms can range from mild leaking to uncontrollable wetting” while “faecal
incontinence is used to describe the leaking of the bowel, it becomes
uncontrollable over time; it is mostly as a result of nerve disorder, acute
diarrhea, constipation etc”. It can happen to anyone, but it becomes more
common with age. Also women experience urinary incontinence (UI) twice as often
as men.
Recently, WHO
postulated that Urinary incontinence has been identified as a major health
issue in developing nations like Nigeria and even in developed nations. According
to experts half the female population will experience urinary incontinence at
some time in their lives and over 10% of men over 65 have urinary incontinence
to some degree as it is an increasing public health issue in the ageing
population (allaboutincontinence.com). A research carried out in the northern
part of Nigeria by Uro-Gynaecology Unit, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology of
the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria postulated that 74.4% of
expectant mothers leak no more than once a week, 90% of them in small volume. There
are different related conditions of incontinence; the basic is the urinary
incontinence (UI) which is mostly associated with diabetes, childbirth,
menopause and even arthritis. It ranges from occasional leaks to the constant
need to visit the toilet. Experts have identified (2) two major types of
incontinence:
Stress Incontinence:
This is the leaking of small amounts of urine during activities like coughing,
sneezing, lifting etc. It occurs when pressure is exerted on the bladder as the
pelvic muscle is weakened by childbirth or surgery. It is common among women.
Urge Incontinence: This
occurs when the sudden intense urge to urinate is followed by an uncontrollable
leakage of urine, as the urge comes too fast before sufferers can make it to
the toilet. It is also caused when the bladder is overfilled but sufferers are
unable to totally empty it on time as the body gives only a few seconds
warning. It is common among elderly men and is a sign of neurological disorders
or diabetes, kidney infection and so on.
Incontinence, whether
urinary or faecal, is often regarded as a social taboo, which is very wrong as
it doesn’t make it any easier for sufferers to deal with the problem. In fact,
it is considered a normal consequence of childbirth or aging that sufferers
cannot escape. These are all misconceptions; for a fact, the pelvic muscle and
bladder walls become weaker, but the changes can be controlled and, in fact, treated.
So what’s the
treatment? Treatment depends on the cause of the problem and the type of
incontinence. The incontinence will be cured if it is as a result of a medical
problem. Experts recommend kegel exercises and bladder training for women as they
help to reduce stress urinary incontinence. Sufferers are also advised to use
adult diapers or incontinence pads to help control the leaks. Medicine and
surgery are other options.
Copyright © Wemy Industries Limited 2015.
Copyright © Wemy Industries Limited 2015.
