Adult Incontinence

Is Adult Incontinence a Normal Part of Aging?

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:40:59 +0000

No, in most cases, adult incontinence is not a normal part of aging. You do not have to continue to wear pads to soak up dribbles, wear dark clothing to conceal your leaks, or cross your legs every time you laugh or sneeze.

Our bodies are designed not to be incontinent until the time we die, and many of our age-related changes that contribute to adult incontinence (having given birth in the past, not walking very much now, etc.) are reversible.

Many people who tell their doctor about their urinary incontinence are prescribed drugs or even surgery. However, Peggy Landini, a licensed occupational therapist specializing in the treatment of adult incontinence, recommends another approach.

Ms. Landini shares her experience, “I have seen hundreds of patients with urinary incontinence, and more than 80% of them can stop wearing protective pads within just a few weeks without either prescriptions or surgery.

“I work in a gynecologist’s office,” continues Ms. Landini, “and before she will perform the corrective surgery, she refers every patient to me. In most cases, we are delighted that the surgery is no longer necessary once the patient learns some simple things to change about her liquid intake, exercise, and daily activities.”

The majority of people with adult incontinence can stop leaking with three simple exercises and an investment of about 15 minutes a day. Do you find that hard to believe? Start keeping track in a journal or small notebook how much you are drinking and what you are drinking. Here is a link to a “Voiding Diary” that will help you to track your fluid intake and your leaks.

Before you start, write down your estimate of how often you think you are leaking. Then track it for a week. Most people are surprised to find that they are actually leaking more often than they thought.

Now that you know your starting point, your “baseline,” you can then work on some ways to change. Small adjustments in your fluid intake, specific exercises and activities can make a big difference. The combination of these things will mean that the next time you track your leaks and compare your results with your baseline starting point, you will probably see dramatic changes in your leaking incidents. We guarantee it.

The Pelvic Floor Exercise Doctors Recommend Doesn’t Work for Most Women

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:36:11 +0000

Have you ever told your doctor you have a leaky bladder? Chances are good s/he told you to do Kegel exercises–try to stop the flow of urine while you are urinating. “Do that several times a day and in 3 months, you should be good as new!” a physician told a friend of mine.

If you try to “pull in” as if to stop the flow of urine, it is easy to “recruit” adjacent muscles to do the work. Example: try pulling in right now. Did your buttocks also tighten? That is an example of recruiting nearby muscles. It is also an example of an incorrect way of doing a Kegel exercise. Now when I tell you that it is difficult for people to know if they are doing the Kegel exercise correctly, you know what I mean. Short of hooking up biofeedback electrodes, it is difficult to know if you are isolating the exact muscles you are targeting in this exercise..

Studies indicate that Kegels actually do not work for 6 out of 10 women who try them. And worse, for those women for whom they do actually work, it takes many weeks to experience the results of fewer leaks..

Our pelvic floor exercise program, though, targets the same pelvic floor muscles that Kegels aim to strengthen, but the good news is you can see results in just a few weeks and they are very simple to perform. With this good news, who needs Kegels?.

Is Your Urine Green?

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:16:34 +0000

If you answered “yes,” don’t worry. You may be at the forefront of Going Green. I’m talking about using urine for fuel and energy. That kind of “green.”

As reported in the Huffington Post in March 2011, companies are now developing technologies to harness the power of pee. England’s newspaper, The Guardian, reports that Gerardine Botte of Ohio University has invented a way to create hydrogen fuel from urine.

E3 Clean Technologies is developing a GreenBox to convert urine into energy through a process called “ammonia electrolysis.” It will be used in areas with large groups of people such as office buildings and sports arenas..

Also, Bristol Robotics Lab is working to create energy-producing urinals and urine-powered robots. Another group is working to use urine in fuel cells–maybe even ones that will power submarines. Who knew?.

They are all working to take urine out of the (water) closet! No need to be embarrassed about your body’s new-found energy source. Maybe we will no longer see signs that say, “No Public Restrooms.”.

Skin Care for Aging Skin

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:58:24 +0000

I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Paula Dhanda. I provide incontinence treatment in Dr. Dhanda’s office to her patients. I have admired Dr. Dhanda since she moved to our community 20 years ago. She quickly became known as being an excellent gynecologist and surgeon.

A few years ago, Dr. Dhanda began going on medical missions, taking a team of medical professionals to Chad in April 2009. I was part of that original mission. Each of us was allowed to use carryon baggage for our clothing and personal items for the two week trip, and the “checked baggage” allowance was completely dedicated to bringing medical supplies. Our team worked tirelessly in heat that reached 118 degrees to provide surgery and rehabilitation to people who would otherwise not have been able to receive these medical services.

During 2010, Dr. Dhanda took a team to Haiti to again perform surgery to persons affected by the earthquake. She returned to Haiti in April, 2011. Dr. Dhanda has a personal goal: to make as many medical missions as she can. In order to accomplish this, she has developed a line of skin care products that are available for sale online. All profits go to support Dr. Dhanda’s medical missions. The “buzz” around here is that Dr. Paula’s Skin Care Products are extremely effective and I cannot turn around without having one of my friends raving about them. Since a lot of my friends are in their 50s, I especially hear enthusiastic reviews about the anti-aging eye cream.

Dr. Dhanda also has a blog at http://www.DrPaulaDhanda.com where you can learn more about her foundation, W.H.Y, formed exclusively to fund charitable medical missions both here at home and abroad. You can sign up for Dr. Dhanda’s VIP club, which includes a newsletter with medical mission updates, skin care tips, and coupons.

Please visit http://www.DrPaulaSkinCare.com. You can get a complimentary online skin care evaluation worth $147 and then be matched with products that will leave you glowing.

To your good health (and healthy skin),

Peggy Landini

The Natural Bladder

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:25:59 +0000

Natural bladder sounds like it could be the name of a rock band! What it’s really about is ways to help with bladder problems without using surgery or prescription medications.

You might want help if you are leaking urine, are often unable to get to the restroom in time, have frequent bladder infections, and/or have accidents when you cough or laugh.

There are lifestyle changes that can help with bladder problems. I will discuss 4 areas to support the natural bladder.

Liquid Intake

In a lot of cases, people are not drinking enough water. The tendency with some is to drink less water because they don’t want a leaking problem. It is better for the bladder to have more water so that the urine is not concentrated and to reduce the chances of urinary tract infections. The bladder is a muscle, so stretching it a bit is a good thing.

Food and Drink

You may want to keep a food and drink diary to see if there are any things you eat or drink that seem to irritate your bladder or cause incontinence issues. Cutting out caffeine may be helpful because it can irritate the bladder. Maybe sodas are a problem for you? In the same vein, alcohol also irritates the bladder.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise is a recommendation for overall health. For bladder health and to strengthen the bladder muscles, you need specific exercises. Don’t bother with the difficult to do kegel exercises–they don’t work for 60% of the people who try them. Try these: From a sitting position, squeeze a ball between your knees; and alternate with resisting against a exercise band stretched across your thighs. Your muscle strength will show improvement in just a couple of weeks.

Relaxation and Biofeedback

You need to learn to relax. There is a scientific reason why stopping and doing deep breathing several times a day is good for you: it activates the parasympathetic nervous system. When you are constantly running on caffeine and adrenaline, your sympathetic nervous system is activated all the time. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, the parasympathetic nervous system is not, and vice versa. When the sympathetic nervous system is “on” all the time, guess what? The message it sends to your brain is a frantic one, telling it the bladder is full, and you’ve got to empty it now, now now! And when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, its message is more accurate, and more calm.

It is not good to use the bathroom every 15 minutes. The optimum is to pee every 3 to 4 hours. Through relaxation techniques you can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and learn how to relax when you get the “urge” and re-train your bladder. Some try biofeedback to help them recognize the signals their body is sending. We also have some suggestions for relaxation to help you turn on your parasympathetic nervous system.

Just know that there are many alternatives to surgery and potent prescription medications. Share with us what natural bladder remedies have worked for you or someone you know. Please share your story below.

What is a prolapsed bladder?

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:31:59 +0000

A prolapsed bladder, also known as a cystocele, occurs when a weakened bladder and vaginal wall stretches and the bladder bulges into the vagina. This doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds.

Have you had “accidents” where you don’t get to the bathroom in time? Do you have a feeling that you never really empty your bladder? Do you have a feeling of pressure “down there” after you have been standing for long periods of time? Is sexual intercourse painful?

These are some of the symptoms of prolapsed bladder. Other ones are frequent bladder infections, increased discomfort when you strain, lift, cough or bear down.

If you have an “ah ha” moment when you read these symptoms, have your doctor perform a pelvic exam to see if you have this condition.

How does this happen, you might ask. The most common causes of prolapsed bladder are pregnancy and vaginal childbirth. Other contributing causes are straining due to constipation, a chronic cough, and being overweight. Aging is also a risk factor because the loss of estrogen after menopause can weaken pelvic muscles.

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the vaginal wall. But, in most cases, lifestyle changes can take care of this problem. Lose weight, get rid of that chronic cough, treat your constipation, and avoid heavy lifting.

I haven’t yet mentioned the most important lifestyle change: strengthen your pelvic wall through specific exercises. In most cases, kegel exercises are recommended but they are difficult to do properly, take 2 to 3 months before they become effective, and they don’t work for 60% of the people who do them.

Yes, there is a simple alternative. There are 2 exercises that will strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, get results in 2 or 3 weeks, and work for 80% of the people who do them. The first exercise is pushing your knees together against a ball. The second exercise is resisting pressure from an exercise band placed around the thighs. These exercises need to be combined with lifestyle changes (monitoring your fluid intake using a voiding diary, and activating your parasympathetic nervous system) to be effective.

If you have a mild to moderate prolapsed bladder, you may be able to make these lifestyle changes and heal yourself.

Please share your story with us in the comment area, below. Have you made changes that have worked for you? Any helpful hints for other people?

Frequent Urination in Women

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:26:59 +0000

There are many causes of frequent urination in women. Once a urinary tract infection (UTI) is ruled out, the catch-all phrase “overactive bladder” is often given to this frustrating condition.

Sometimes the underlying cause of frequent urination is your fluid intake. Too much caffeinated soda, too much coffee, and/or too much alcohol can all result in frequent urination. Many women are unaware of just how little water they are drinking compared to coffee, soda and alcohol. Why not download our voiding diary and start tracking both your fluid intake? It sounds counter-intuitive, but you may need to drink more water to urinate less.

You may have trained your bladder to send you a “I need to go” signal when it is only partially full. If you consistently run on adrenaline, your sympathetic nervous system could be in overdrive, sending you the “gotta run” signal even when there is plenty of strorage room left in your bladder. There are natural ways for you to bring your autonomic nervous system into balance, so the parasympathetic system’s signals of “everything is fine, you have plenty of time” can be heard and the “we need action, and NOW!” signals from the sympathetic nervous system can be settled down.

If you find yourself urinating more frequently than every 3-4 hours, you may be urinating more frequently than necessary.

How can I control bladder leakage?

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:01:59 +0000

Have you ever been standing in a checkout line and you realize that you need to find a restroom right away? If you don’t get to the restroom in time, you may have an “accident.”

You are not alone with this problem. About one-third of women have some problems with bladder leakage.

Some women plan their errands by mapping where there are public toilets. Some will not go out to a movie because it will be too uncomfortable to sit for too long. Some will drink very little because they don’t want to experience a leak.

There are medicines and surgeries that can be used to treat bladder leakage. The problem is that these treatments can be expensive, have side effects, be unsuccessful, or even make the situation worse.

Many women over the years have tried to do kegel exercises. These exercises are designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately, these exercises only work for about 40% of the women who try them. And they are difficult to do properly. Unfortunately, you will only know if they will work for you after months of regular practice.

You are in luck! There is an alternative–that works. There is a 3-step system of simple exercises, relaxation techniques, and tracking fluid intake. This system works for over 80% of the people who have tried it. You will see results within 2 weeks.

You don’t have to have bladder leakage. There is something you can do about it. Check back for our product release. We are about to film an instructional seminar demonstrating how to use the easy 3-step system.

Prescription Medications for Incontinence: Tolterodine (Detrol) – an anticholinergic drug

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:02:59 +0000

Anticholinergics: anticholinergics relax the bladder muscles to prevent the spasms. By stopping the spasms, it also stops the unusual urgency and frequency of urination. They affect gastrointestinal, kidney and liver function. If the patient is pregnant or nursing, caution in using this class of drugs is advised. Persons who should not take anticholinergics include those with narrow-angle glaucoma or myesthenia gravis (this syndrome is characterized by a reduction in cholinergic activity at the neuromuscular junction, so an anticholinergic drug would make it worse).

Tolterodine (Detrol): When clinical studies were conducted on 1120 patients, 42% were over 65 years old, and no differences in safety were noted between older and younger patients. Tolterodine is prescribed for treatment of overactive bladder.

Prescription Medications for Incontinence: Solifenacin (Versicare) – an anticholinergic drug

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:02:59 +0000

Anticholinergics: anticholinergic drugs relax the bladder muscles to prevent the spasms. By stopping the spasms, it also stops the unusual urgency and frequency of urination. Since anticholinergics can have a negative impact on gastrointestinal, kidney and liver function, caution is advised. Solifenacin is reportedly not to be given to persons with narrow-angle glaucoma, or women who are pregnant or nursing.

An international drug study over an 8-week period showed that Solifenacin can quickly reduce bladder spasms. The study used a Patient Perception of Intensity and Urgency Scale (PPIUS) to grade urgency on a scale of 1 to 4. Assigning a “3″ or a “4″ meant a strong urge to urinate, or actual incontinence.

Along with the PPIUS, the study participants also used a Patients’ Perception of Bladder Condition score, which grades on a scale of 1 to 6, along with daily diaries and visual analogue scales. Of the patients taking Solifenacin, seventy percent (70%) decrease in severe urgency on the PPIUS, with some patients reporting improvement within 3 days.

During this study, fifty percent (50%) of patients who were taking the placebo reported improvement in their overactive bladder. That finding certainly supports the premise on this website that being mindful about the bladder can have a strongly positive effect without any other intervention. If solifenacin has been recommended for you, you might consider trying our exercise program before you begin adding a prescription medication to your daily program.