Overactive Bladder (cont.)
What are treatments for the
chronically incontinent?
Although many people will improve their
continence through medications, pelvic-muscle exercises, and bladder training,
some will never achieve complete dryness. Sometimes treatment failures are due
to concurrent use of necessary medications, such as diuretics (water pills that
increase urination), that actually can cause incontinence. Others may have
dementia or other physical impairments that keep them from being able to perform
pelvic-muscle exercises or retrain their bladders. Many will be cared for in
long-term care facilities or at home. The following recommendations can help
keep the chronically incontinent drier and reduce their cost of care:
- Scheduled toileting:
Take people to the toilet every two to four hours or according to their toilet
habits.
- Prompted voiding: Check
for dryness and encourage use of the toilet.
- Improved access to toilets: Use equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and devices
that raise the seating level of toilets to make toileting easier.
- Managing fluids and diet: Eliminate
dietary caffeine (for those with urge incontinence) and encourage adequate
fiber in the diet.
- Disposable absorbent garments: Use these to
keep people dry.
- Overactive bladder results from sudden, involuntary
contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder.
- Overactive bladder is a form of urinary incontinence.
- Overactive bladder is not a normal part of aging.
- Treatments available for overactive bladder
include pelvic-muscle strengthening, behavioral therapies, and medications.
Last Editorial Review: 3/25/2008
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