People talk a lot. About herself, friends, life and taking wonderful journeys. Yet there are also many subjects that are taboo. It's not talked about because people feel uncomfortable about it and don't want to hurt others. One of those topics is incontinence. In the Netherlands there are an estimated 700,000 women who suffer from incontinence. There is an increased risk of developing this, especially during and after pregnancy and in women at an older age. In this article, we'll tell you more about incontinence and why you shouldn't be ashamed of it.
Incontinence is simply a condition in which a person cannot hold his or her poo or pee. As a result, someone unintentionally loses poop and pee. There is no longer any control over the sphincters of the bladder or the bowels. As a result, someone can no longer control this properly. This can happen after pregnancy or when you get older. Yet it is also more often seen as the malfunctioning of a body function. Incontinence can also be the result of a neurological disorder or surgery.
At the moment about 1.5 million Dutch people suffer from incontinence. It occurs in both men and women. Unfortunately, for many people it is something they are ashamed of. Something completely unnecessary. The right help for incontinence can make a big difference, according to Abena.nl
There are different types of incontinence. Following are seven different types of incontinence:
Overflow incontinence or dripping occurs because urine remains in the bladder or urethra after urination. As a result, the bladder literally overflows.
People with urge incontinence or urge incontinence have trouble holding their urine. Irritation of the bladder or, for example, old age can play a role in the development of an overactive bladder and urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence is the most common form of involuntary leakage of urine. Stress incontinence occurs during physical exertion such as running, jumping and coughing. That is why stress incontinence is also called stress incontinence.
Fecal incontinence or faecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of stool. The degree of faecal incontinence varies from unintentional passing of gas to complete defecation.
Reflex incontinence or neurogenic incontinence is the collective name for involuntary loss of urine caused by problems in the nervous system. Because urine leakage is caused by underlying problems that are usually chronic in nature, people with reflex incontinence are dependent on incontinence materials.
In functional incontinence, the bladder works properly, but other physical or psychological limitations make it difficult to reach the toilet in time. Think of people who are in a wheelchair or who are blind.
Hormonal changes with a weakening of the pelvic floor combined with pressure from the uterus on the bladder can cause stress incontinence. That is why this form of urine loss is also called pregnancy incontinence.
Incontinence is a condition that needs to be addressed. And despite the fact that the step is big, it is good to go to the doctor. It is important to get over the shame and choose your health. The GP knows best how to deal with this and it is nice if a confidential person can assist you in this. The GP can prescribe different treatments for incontinence and give an indication for the use of incontinence material, but also refer to the outpatient urology for an appointment with a urologist or continence nurse.
Chances are that you are not comfortable with yourself when you suffer from incontinence. People are afraid of bad smells, feel uncomfortable and ashamed of them. This is completely understandable. But remember, as you read before, 1.5 million people have the same problem. So you are not alone. It is obvious that it is annoying. But you simply can't do anything about it.
What always helps in all situations is talking. When these kinds of things are discussed you help yourself enormously. After all, it is out and it provides openings and perhaps even solutions. And don't forget:everyone has something wrong, no one is perfect. Neither do you. And that doesn't matter at all. You will be eternally grateful to yourself if you ring the bell and go through life pleasantly and happily despite the incontinence.
This is a sponsored article
