Did you know that your weight could be impacting the severity of your incontinence?

Many people are aware that obesity can increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. It adds to the pressure on your knees. However, many do not know that it can also increase the risk of incontinence.

What is obesity?

Obesity is defined as having an excess of body fat to the point that it endangers your health. One way to calculate whether or not you are obese is measuring your body mass index (BMI). BMI combines your height and weight and can help determine if your weight is posing a danger to your health. You can calculate your BMI online using this tool from WebMD.

What causes obesity?

Obesity can be caused by having an unhealthy diet or a sedentary lifestyle, or it can be genetic. The main recommendation for combating obesity is eating healthier and becoming more active. There are surgical options for curing obesity, but first it’s important to work on losing weight without surgical intervention.

Can obesity cause incontinence?

Obesity contributes to urinary incontinence because the added weight in the abdomen puts pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles give us the ability to hold in urine and bowel movements, and when they are weakened, it causes incontinence. This extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles can build up over time and lead to stress urinary incontinence, which is an involuntary urine leak while laughing, sneezing or exercising.

A study in the Journal of Urology found that, obesity is a strong independent risk factor for prevalent urinary incontinence. The study found a clear response effect of weight on urinary incontinence. Each 5-unit increase in body mass index associated with a 20% to 70% increase in the risk for urinary incontinence. Overall, being overweight is a factor in incontinence. The study recommended weight loss to help ease incontinence symptoms, and for overall improved health.

Male Incontinence & Obesity

A Journal of Urology study concluded that older men with a higher body mass index and greater fat mass are more likely to have incontinence and nocturia, as the prostate may hold more urine and cause further issues.

How to treat incontinence

One way to train the pelvic floor muscles is Kegel exercises. These can be done anytime. First, squeeze the muscles you would use to hold in urine. Your belly and buttocks should not be moving when you squeeze. Hold the squeeze for 3-5 seconds, then release. Repeat this 10-15 times. Try to do 3 or more of these sessions per day. This can help to build up the strength of the pelvic floor muscles, which work to hold in urine.

There are also other methods of treatment for urinary incontinence to help you return to a normal lifestyle.

Contact the Incontinence Institute for incontinence treatment

If you experience symptoms of incontinence related to your weight, contact us. You can also call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It affects over 90% of the 38 million Americans with diabetes. Some risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and high blood pressure.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes means that you have high glucose levels in the blood. It is a chronic health condition and symptoms include increasing hunger and thirst even after a meal, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, blurry vision, numbness in hands or feet, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. If type 2 diabetes is not treated, it can be life-threatening due to complications.

Type 2 diabetes has major complications that include retinopathy, which means eye issues such as glaucoma, and kidney damage that can lead to kidney failure. Nerve damage and poor circulation are the third complication. Poor circulation damages blood vessels and heightens the risk of heart attack or stroke. Nerve damage and hardening of the arteries lead to less sensation and poor circulation to the feet, which is why so many diabetics have foot problems. Nerve damage can also turn into digestive problems.

Can Diabetes Cause Incontinence?

Nerve damage also leads to incontinence. Yes, there is a link between incontinence and type 2 diabetes. Nerve damage to the bladder causes a loss of sensation, meaning you do not recognize the need to go or lack awareness of your bladder filling. Your bladder and bowel may not empty well, putting you at risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney damage, or constipation.

If your diabetes is not under control, your body tries to regulate it by getting rid of extra glucose in urine. This means an increase in the amount of urine produced. Over time, the bladder muscles can weaken to the point where the bladder does not completely empty during urination. This can cause UTIs or overflow incontinence. Overflow incontinence is when urine is involuntarily released without any urge.

Obesity and Incontinence

Type 2 diabetes is related to obesity. Obesity can exacerbate incontinence by putting more pressure on pelvic floor muscles. The best way to prevent incontinence due to diabetes is to get your diabetes under control. This means eating healthier and trying to lose weight. It also means trying to live a more active lifestyle and being healthier overall by doing things like quitting smoking.

It is possible to lessen the effects of type 2 diabetes through a healthy diet and exercise regime. The goal should always be to stay as healthy as possible to get rid of symptoms and lessen the risk of life-threatening complications.

Find Relief Today with the Incontinence Institute

If you are experiencing bladder incontinence, with or without diabetes, contact us. You can also call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more or set up a consultation.

Bowel or fecal incontinence is a condition that affects both men and women, and is characterized by the inability to control bowel movements. It affects millions of people, many of whom are too embarrassed to tell anyone, even their physician. But bowel incontinence is highly treatable – and more common than you think.

Bowel incontinence affects people differently – some have leaks of solid or liquid fecal matter, some cannot reach a restroom in time, and some don’t realize they need to go until it’s too late. There are three main types of bowel incontinence:

Passive incontinence – involuntary discharge of feces or gas, usually without awareness.

Urge incontinence – uncontrollable discharge of gas, feces, and/or mucus despite attempts to control bowel movements.

Fecal seepage – leakage of stool following a routine bowel movement.

There are many possible causes for bowel incontinence and they include:

Muscle damage – For women, this most often occurs during childbirth.

Aging – Pelvic floor and rectal muscles can weaken with age.

Nerve damage – This can occur due to childbirth, diabetes, surgery, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.

Medical conditions – Such as rectal prolapse, chronic constipation or inflammatory bowel disease are just a few possible causes.

Other causes – There are many possible causes for bowel leakage including overuse of laxatives, radiation treatments, etc.

Fecal or bowel incontinence can be inconvenient and embarrassing. It is treatable, and there are many treatment options available to you if you are suffering. Contact us or call one of our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierges at 800-771-1953 today for more about your bowel or fecal incontinence treatment options.

Are you seeing more and more men with scraggly facial hair in the month of November? It’s no coincidence November is the month for Movember, a movement that encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues. It is also called No Shave November. Movember is a charity that aims to change the face of men’s health. Funds and awareness are raised each November by men all over the world.

Movember is raising money for men’s health: mainly prostate and testicular cancers. Prostate cancer is a tumor of the prostate gland, the walnut-sized organ located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. The prostate gland’s function is to produce part of the seminal fluid, the solution that carries sperm. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men in the United States other than skin cancer. It is second to lung cancer as the most common cause of male cancer deaths.

Prostate cancer is life-threatening but when caught early, it is treatable and there is a much greater survival rate. The main treatments are radical prostatectomy, which removes the prostate gland or radiation therapy. These two treatments can cause damage to the urinary sphincter. Later, urinary incontinence can occur.

After treatment for prostate cancer, it is extremely common for men to experience either temporary or permanent urinary incontinence. Removing the prostate disrupts the way that bladder holds urine, resulting in leakage. Radiation can decrease the capacity of the bladder causing spasms, which means leakage. Surgery can also damage the nerves that control bladder function.

Unfortunately, this is a cause of urinary incontinence for many men. It is usually treated with conservative treatments such as pelvic floor exercises or medication. If these are not effective, there are surgical options that can help eliminate urinary incontinence in men.

If you are suffering from urinary incontinence due to prostate cancer treatment, there is help. The Incontinence Institute provides individualized treatment plans with a variety of options based on your individual case. Contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more.

Commuting to work, sitting at a desk, lunch meetings, and conference calls all part of a normal day in the office. But, if you are experiencing incontinence, these everyday tasks can be exhausting mentally, and challenging physically. Incontinence can break your focus at work. It can cause you to stay up at night, agonizing about the next day. Overall, incontinence can be difficult to manage on a day-to-day basis especially with the responsibilities of a job.

Incontinence has a major effect on a working person. The thought of spending 8 or more hours working without constant access to a restroom can be daunting. Working in the service industry, retail or medical, there may be even less chance to get to a restroom than an office worker. But there are some ways to help get you through the day.

Tips for work with incontinence:

• Wear incontinence undergarments there are a variety of undergarments available now including washable ones. In the event of an accident, it is better to be prepared.
• Don’t drink coffee – Avoid drinks with caffeine such as coffee, tea or soda. Caffeine is a diuretic and can contribute to incontinence. Plus the carbonation in soda can irritate the bladder. Water is the best thing you can drink to keep you hydrated.
• Bring a change of clothes – Be prepared in case a leak happens. Stick with dark-colored clothing.
• Plan bathroom breaks as best you can – Try to ensure that every 2 hours, you will be able to go to the restroom. This is often a better strategy than waiting until the urge hits and you may not be able to make it.
• Tell your boss – You may feel very uncomfortable and want to hide your incontinence which is understandable. But it is a good idea to let them know, explaining your behavior and your concerns.

It can also take a toll emotionally, causing anxiety about potential leaks or embarrassing situations. But you do not have to plan life around your incontinence this condition is treatable. A study from Johns Hopkins University on working women with urinary incontinence showed that only 36% of women with incontinence at work sought help from a physician.

There is help to alleviate your symptoms. If you are suffering from incontinence, contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more about our services in Middle Tennessee.

Urinary and bowel incontinence can be embarrassing, interfere with life, and lead to social anxiety or isolation. It can also affect your skin. Many people with incontinence are in denial of how severe their problem is, or think they can control it. Unfortunately, by very definition, incontinence is an involuntary release, meaning it cannot be controlled. Feeling this way toward incontinence is not managing it. And not managing it can lead to skin problems.

When skin stays wet due to urine or stool in contact with it, it can break down. Moisture isn’t always damaging, but because of the pH of urine, damage can occur.

People suffering from incontinence must take care to keep their skin clean and dry. Unfortunately, accidents can happen while out and about, and incontinence undergarments can worsen skin irritation. This condition is called dermatitis, and can more specifically be called incontinence-associated dermatitis.

Skin just being wet is not damaging, but due to the pH level of urine, skin exposed to it can break down over time. Urine contains ammonia, which increases the pH of skin. Urine and stool matter on skin can lead to bacterial infections. They can also cause fungal infections.  Wearing incontinence undergarments, whether for urinary or bowel incontinence, can make skin irritation worse.

There are many skin products available to remedy these skin issues. There are moisture barrier lotions, ointments, and powders. There are also prescription topical solutions. It is important to be sure to change incontinence undergarments frequently and keep all sensitive areas dry and clean, using a non-irritating cleanser. The most important aspect of incontinence skincare is staying dry.

Wearing incontinence undergarments is a good short-term solution but in the long term, the root of the problem needs to be treated and it can be treated. If you or a loved one are suffering from incontinence, contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953. We offer individualized treatment plans.

As the population of the United States ages, more and more elderly people are needing around-the-clock care. According to a Pew Research Center study, 4 in 10 adults are caring for a sick or elderly relative. They estimate that the number of caregivers has increased 10% between 2010 and 2013.

Being a caregiver can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful and put strain on a family. Many people are caring for aging parents, grandparents or someone in the extended family who suffers from dementia in some form. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects approximately 5 million Americans. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that in 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion. Being a caregiver is big responsibility.

Caregivers may be prepared for the forgetfulness or memory loss that comes with dementia, but may not know that incontinence is often a part of the later stages of dementia. Though incontinence can be caused from an enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection or medication, it can also be a byproduct of dementia. The loved one with dementia may forget where the bathroom is, may not be able to make it, or cannot recognize that they have to go. Even with someone to aid them, accidents can happen. Incontinence can be a delicate topic, and be difficult to explain to someone who is not lucid.

The loved one with dementia may not understand what has happened, or they may try to hide their behavior. It is also possible that they go to the bathroom somewhere that they mistake for the bathroom. To avoid these types of situations, and to make this easier on everyone, here are some tips for caregivers:

·         Create a bathroom schedule, and take the person to the bathroom every 2 hours.

·         Limit the amount of liquids they drink after 8 p.m.

·         If the person cannot remember where the bathroom is, put a sign on the door that clearly marks “Bathroom.”

·         Use incontinence undergarments.

·         Remove wastebaskets or other objects that they may mistake for a toilet.

Another tip for caregivers is to join a support group, either online or in person. On top of all your other responsibilities, it can be a very strenuous job. Remember, incontinence is involuntary and they can’t help it. Nevertheless, there is help available for a loved one suffering from incontinence. The Incontinence Institute offers a variety of treatment options. Contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more.

As the population of the United States ages, more and more elderly people are needing around-the-clock care. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, around 65 million Americans serve as a family caregiver for an ill or disabled relative.

Being a caregiver can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful and put a strain on a family. Many people are caring for aging parents, grandparents, or someone in the extended family who suffers from dementia in some form. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects approximately 5 million Americans. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that by 2050, the number of people who have Alzheimer’s will rise to nearly 13 million. Being a caregiver is a big responsibility.

Incontinence in Dementia Patients

Caregivers may be prepared for the forgetfulness or memory loss that comes with dementia, but may not know that incontinence is often a part of the later stages of dementia. Though incontinence can be caused by an enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, or medication, it can also be a byproduct of dementia. The loved one with dementia may forget where the bathroom is, may not be able to make it, or cannot recognize that they have to go. Even with someone to aid them, accidents can happen. Incontinence can be a delicate topic, and be difficult to explain to someone who is not lucid.

Tips for Dementia Bathroom Issues

The loved one with dementia may not understand what has happened, or they may try to hide their behavior. It is also possible that they go to the bathroom somewhere that they mistake for the bathroom. To avoid these types of situations, and to make this easier on everyone, here are some tips for caregivers:

• Create a bathroom schedule, and take the person to the bathroom every 2 hours.
• Limit the amount of liquids they drink after 8 p.m.
• If the person cannot remember where the bathroom is, put a sign on the door that clearly marks it as a bathroom.
• Use incontinence undergarments.
• Remove wastebaskets or other objects that they may mistake for a toilet.

Another tip for caregivers is to join a support group, either online or in person. On top of all your other responsibilities, it can be a very strenuous job.

Find Incontinence Treatment with Incontinence Institute

Remember, incontinence is involuntary and they can’t help it. Nevertheless, there is help available for a loved one suffering from incontinence. The Incontinence Institute offers a variety of treatment options. Contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more.

The Incontinence Institute wants people to know that November is National Bladder Health Awareness Month. The week of November 11-15 is National Bladder Health Week. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans, so 1 in 6, suffer from urinary incontinence or overactive bladder. Bladder problems are more common in America than diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease combined. However, this can be a sensitive and potentially embarrassing subject so many people do not want to discuss it. Many people with incontinence suffer in silence, sometimes for years, without knowing that it is easily treatable and there are options available to them.

Stress urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine while coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising, is common among women. This is also called overactive bladder (OAB), and can also be caused by bladder spasms. Urinary incontinence also occurs in men, and can be related to prostate health. Another type of incontinence is urge incontinence, characterized by a strong urge to urinate, often without enough time to reach a bathroom. Mixed incontinence refers to a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The different types of incontinence can all affect a person’s everyday life.

It is important to raise awareness of these conditions because people often wait so long to get treatment, to the point where their bladder issues rule over everything they do. If incontinence interferes with your life, social plans, traveling or work then it is time to seek treatment with a physician.

Treatments for urinary incontinence include conservative treatments, as well as minimally invasive surgery. The first step is consulting a physician. Contact us to learn more or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953.