Many individuals suffer from incontinence. Although it is treatable, many people are embarrassed to let others, even the doctor, know about their condition. Incontinence has two basic types: fecal incontinence and urinary incontinence. Fecal Incontinence Fecal continence is a condition characterized by leaking or poorly controlled bowel movements. In the United States, more than 6.5 million Americans suffer from fecal incontinence and this affects people of all ages?children as well as adults. But according to research, fecal incontinence is more common in women than in men and more common in older adults than in younger ones. There are several causes of fecal incontinence. These include muscle damage, particularly to the anal sphincter muscle; nerve damage, loss of storage capacity in the rectum; diarrhea; and pelvic floor dysfunction. Aside from all these, there are also risk factors for fecal incontinence. Although they do not seem to be direct causes of the disease, they are in some way associated with the said condition. Risk factors include age, childbirth, and diabetes. Loss of bowel control, diarrhea, and leaking bowel movements are some of the symptoms of fecal incontinence. These symptoms should never be ignored or mistaken to be just a part of a loose bowel movement. Seek medical advice for early diagnosis and treatment. Various treatments for fecal incontinence include diet changes, medications, bowel training, and surgery. Urinary Incontinence Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. This condition can happen to anyone, but it is very common in older people and in women. Some symptoms include mild leaking and uncontrollable wetting. These symptoms might be due to problems such as weak bladder muscles, overactive bladder muscles, blockage from an enlarged prostrate, damage to nerves that control the bladder, and diseases such as multiple sclerosis. There are four types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, and functional incontinence. The choice of treatment for urinary incontinence depends on its type. Treatment options include Kegel exercises, bladder training, medications, and surgery. |
