Incontinence is the inability to hold urine or feces inside the body, an involuntary loss that is sufficient to be a problem. Fecal incontinence can range from some occasional leakage of stool with the passage of gas, to a complete loss of bowel control.

Incontinence affects more than 13 million people, of which the majority are elderly and female.

Incontinence is not a disease and it is not "just what happens when we get older," but it is a frequent symptom of many of the changes our bodies go through as we age. It is also not a "women's problem," although a substantially higher number of women than men suffer its effects. Fecal Incontinence can range from an occasional leakage of stool with the passage of gas, to a complete loss of bowel control.

Most people urinate an average of six times a day. Less than four, or more than eight, times during a 24-hour period, or more than twice at night, may be cause for concern. Normal adults urinate between 700-2400 cc's daily, and may have anywhere from 3 - 21 bowel movements per week.

No matter which of the many types of incontinence you suffer, it is not a normal part of aging and Whitestone recommends that you talk to your doctor about the best course of treatment for your situation. Click on the link (below) for each type of incontinence to learn about which products are most often recommended for each. Our Product Catalog section can also help you choose the most appropriate product.

Types of Incontinence

Stress Incontinence. If you frequently lose small amounts of urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or participate in any strenuous physical activity, you are experiencing Stress Incontinence. It can result from multiple pregnancies, pelvic injuries or loss of muscle tone, loss of estrogen, or an enlarged prostate. Effective treatments include pelvic (Kegel) exercises, weighted vaginal cones, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles. Medications such as estrogen replacement therapy and anti-depressants can also help relieve symptoms.

Urge Incontinence is sometimes nicknamed "Key in the Door Syndrome" because it is characterized by a sudden need to void immediately, often while hurrying to the bathroom. Also called "Overactive Bladder," another symptom is frequent (more than 8/day and 2/night) trips to the bathroom. Urge incontinence can result from strokes, dementia, Alzheimer's Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, pelvic, bladder, or brain tumors, or poor diet and voiding habits. Treatments include pelvic (Kegel) exercises, dietary and voiding pattern modifications, urge inhibition training, and biofeedback. Several courses of pharmaceutical therapy are also recommended to relieve symptoms or urge incontinence. Your doctor can give you specific advice about which might be right for you.

Overflow Incontinence. Frequent leaking of urine from a full bladder without feeling the need to void is known as Overflow Incontinence. The result is a constant dribbling of urine. Overflow incontinence can be caused by pelvic trauma or surgery, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, shingles, polio, or any disease or trauma that causes decreased bladder capacity or blockage of the natural passage of urine out of the body. A bowel regimen can be a very effective treatment for overflow incontinence, and suprapubic tapping can help fully empty the bladder. Skin care is also a very important consideration, due to the almost constant dribbling or urine.

Functional Incontinence is due to impairment of physical or mental abilities, as opposed to an incorrect functioning of the bladder or urinary system. It may be due to dementia, disabilities that prevent independent toileting, sedation, inaccessible bathroom facilities, or any other factor that interferes with the aiblity to communicate or reach a commode. Environmental assessment and mobility training are the most successful tools in reducing the occurrence of functional incontinence. Bowel and bladder retraining programs can have a high rate of success in the functional incontinence is the result of relatively short-term recouperation from surgery.

Transient vs. Established Incontinence:

Transient incontinence is common in the elderly, accounting for up to one-third of the incontinence in community-dwelling individuals and up to half of incontinence in the institutionalized elderly. It occurs suddenly and temporarily.

Transient incontinence can become persistent or established if its cause is left untreated.

Causes of transient incontinence include:

Delirium	Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Atropic urethritis and vaginitis	Pharmaceuticals
Restricted mobility	Stool impaction

Established Incontinence occurs when the above causes have been addressed, but the incontinence problem continues.

If incontinence persists after causes have been addressed, lower urinary tract causes should be considered. Diagnostic testing and the services of a physician, an R.N., P.A., and/or nurse specialist would be required.

Factors that can contribute to or cause incontinence include:

Immobility	Medications
Low fluid intake	High impact physical activities
Stroke	Estrogen depletion
Pelvic muscle weakness	Smoking
Multiple vaginal delivery pregnancies	Diabetes