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Page 1 - Advice and Information - Incontinence Management
What is Incontinence
Incontinence affects several million men and women in the UK. It causes the bladder or the bowel to leak without control.
The four main types are given below:
Stress
Usually light leakage caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles. This is often triggered after childbirth or the menopause, and activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or physical exercise.
Urge
Usually heavy leakage caused by an inability to "hold" the bladder until you reach the toilet. Often as a result of injury to, or illness of the central nervous system, commonly related to age, medical conditions or accidents.
Overflow
Mainly light to moderate leakage identified by frequent visits to the toilet but with little urine release. Often caused by an obstructed bladder due to prostrate problems, or damage to either the spinal cord or the central nervous system.
Reflex
Varies from light to heavy depending on the individual, who may experience no urge to visit the toilet. Reflex incontinence results from damage to either nerves, spinal cord or the brain.
What causes Incontinence
Common causes of incontinence are an over active bladder, incomplete emptying of the bladder, difficulty in getting into, or to the toilet because of a physical disability, or weak muscles around the bladder, (especially common in women after childbirth or after the menopause). Certain drugs, constipation or even urine infections can contribute to cause incontinence.
Help with Incontinence
Bladder control problems for many people can be improved or cease completely. there are medicines that your doctor can discuss with you and prescribe if appropriate, a healthy, varied diet and special regular exercise can also help.
VAT exemption
People who suffer from incontinence are eligible for VAT exemption for products purchased for personal use.
Benefits
Anyone being incapacitated by incontinance is entitled to financial help from the benefits system if their incapacity fits the criteria to receive the award of that benefit.
see Financial Help Index.
Incontinence Products
See Incontinence category in the Focus on Disability Shop - Pads - Bedding - Books - Exercisers and more.
Further Information and Advice
The following people can help and advise you about dealing with your particular problem.
* Your GP
* Your Pharmacist/Chemist
* A continence advisor - there are nurses or physiotherapists
who are trained in incontinence management
The Bladder and Bowel Foundation
(formerly Incontact and the Continence Foundation)
the UK’s leading charity providing information and support for people with bladder and bowel disorders, their carers, families and healthcare professionals
Helpline: 0870 770 3246
Bladder & Bowel Foundation
SATRA Innovation Park
Rockingham Road
Kettering, Northants, NN16 9JH
Tel 01536 533255
Fax 0870 770 3249 Website: http://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/
PromoCon: provides a national service, working as part of Disabled Living, Manchester to improve the life for all people with bladder or bowel problems by offering product information, advice and
practical solutions to both professionals and the general public.
Helpline: 0161 834 2001
Website: http://www.promocon.co.uk/
ERIC
(Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) is a national children’s health charity dealing with bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling in children and young people. ERIC provides information, support and resources to families and health professionals on bladder and bowel problems.
Helpline: 0845 370 8008 10am-4pm , Monday-Friday
ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)
36 Old School House, Britannia Road
Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.eric.org.uk/
Next page: Coping with Incontinence
