Urinary Incontinence in Aging : What You Need To Know

Have you seen the ads? “Helping Women Take Control”, “Laugh like You Used To” If you google “incontinence products” you will find the best sellers, discounted products, different sizes, and different widths. But that is often all people do, manage the problem. Incontinence doesn’t necessarily mean wetting yourself, it can mean withdrawal, early retirement, or depression. Leslie Kernison, MD on Better Health While Aging states:

• “1 in 3 older women and 1 in 12 older men have lower urinary tract symptoms that can include incontinence

• Urinary incontinence cost the US economy $66 billion in 2012

• 10% of nursing home admissions are due to urinary incontinence

• Only 22% of men with urinary incontinence seek help for the problem, as compared to 45% of women

With age, some of the muscle fibers in the bladder are replaced with stiffer fibrotic tissue and the neurological responses to maintain normal urinary function decline slightly.” At the point where you are getting up twice or more at night and/or going 13 time a day the number is 13.

I recommend seeing a urologist or starting with your primary care physician. If you are a caregiver, read the rest of the article, then take your loved one to a physician.