Page 8 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - November 2018 - 25-11

Page 8
Senior Times - November 2018
THE JOURNEY OF LIFE
Life Coaching with Jane Johnson, RN
Credentialed Life Coach, Speaker and Author
Medical, Personal, Spiritual and Communication exploration and support.
ADULT PROGRAMS: Determining life’s journey and developing intentional steps to get there.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: 6-16 individually or small groups of like ages
NEW COACHING LOCATION | ROCK SOLID WELLNESS STUDIO | 1332 E. Columbia Ave., Battle Creek
For more information or to set up an appointment...
Jane can be reached at (269) 209-9562, or email at jane@thejourneywithjane.com
IF THEY DEPEND ON YOU.
YOU CAN DEPEND ON US.
OVER 21 SERVICES TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THOSE THAT CARE FOR THEM.
(269) 382-0515 | www.seniorservices1.org
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Call 517-869-2888 or stop in and see for yourself / www.allenantiquebarn.com Take the Coldwater exit off I-69, then 10 miles east on US 12 to the Big Red Barn. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
INCONTINENCE: AN OVER-
By: Glin Winsor, Store Manager Walgreens
Caring for someone with bladder or bowel control challenges can be over- whelming. If you're a caregiver, it can be helpful to learn about incontinence so you can better care for your loved one.
What is incontinence?
Incontinence means the loss
of control over bladder or bowel function. It affects both men and women but the causes may be different. While it's also more common among older adults, incon- tinence should not be regarded as
a normal part of aging. In many cases, it can be cured or controlled with appropriate treatment.
Incontinence can cause bothersome and embarrassing issues, such as invol- untary leaking and not making it to
the bathroom in time. Urinary incon- tinence is the term for loss of control over bladder function. Fecal incon- tinence and bowel incontinence are
the terms for not being able to control bowel function.
Types of Urinary Incontinence Stress incontinence. This common
form of incontinence causes one to leak urine when jumping, sneezing, coughing, laughing, or doing some other type of movement. Physical stress increases pressure on the blad- der, which causes leakage. Most of the time, only small amounts of urine come out.
Stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles (muscles that support the bladder) and/ or urethral sphincter (muscles that control urine release) weaken. This often happens due to pregnancy and childbirth in women, and surgery for prostate disease or a pelvic fracture in men. Frequent coughing due to emphyse- ma, cystic fibrosis, and other serious lung conditions may also lead to stress incontinence.
Urgency incontinence. Urge incon- tinence happens when someone has a strong need to urinate even when their bladder isn't full. At times, the urge may be difficult to control, which can cause urine to involuntarily leak. This condition happens when the detrusor (bladder muscle) contracts and signals a need to urinate before the bladder is full. Urge incontinence can stem from nerve damage from an accident, neuro- logical issues, or diabetes. It can also be caused by an infection.
This type of incontinence is com- mon in postmenopausal women, and
may develop as the result of age-relat- ed bladder lining and muscle changes. Note that some people refer to urge incontinence as overactive bladder, though that is a slightly different con- dition. People with overactive bladder feel an urge to urinate, but don't neces- sarily leak urine.
Mixed incontinence. Some people have mixed incontinence, where they experience symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence. This condition appears more often in women, frail seniors, and men who have had surgery for an enlarged prostate or prostate removal.
Overflow incontinence. This type of incontinence occurs when the blad- der doesn't fully empty. Someone may have urine leakage without feeling
the need to go. This can be caused by something physically blocking urine from coming out of the bladder, such as an enlarged prostate. Or it may be caused by underactive bladder mus- cles, which can keep the person from feeling the urge to go. This can hap- pen due to diabetes, heart disease, or nerve damage (from childbirth, injury or surgery, for instance). Medications can also contribute to overflow inconti- nence.
Functional incontinence. In this condition, the urinary tract works prop- erly, but other challenges may keep one from reaching the toilet in time. This can happen due to disabilities, mental illness, dementia, or even medi- cations.
Urinary Incontinence Treatment
The treatment your loved one needs depends on the type of uri- nary incontinence they have, how serious it is, and what's causing their symptoms. Encourage them to work closely with their healthcare provider and follow their care plan as directed.
Behavioral treatments. These may include doing Kegel exercises (pelvic floor strengthening exercises to help reduce leaking), bladder training (using the bathroom at set times), losing weight, reducing fluid intake, quitting smoking, or cutting back on certain foods and drinks that make symptoms worse. Spicy foods, caffeine-contain- ing beverages, and alcohol can irritate the bladder.
Medications. Depending on the type of incontinence, medications may be prescribed to relax the bladder muscles and prevent bladder spasms.