incontinence products

In case of occasional or persistentloss of urineThis is called bladder weakness orurinary incontinenceThis condition not only represents a hygienic challenge for those affected, but often also a major psychological problem.

Many people suffer from urinary incontinence, even in old ageevery third person. Nevertheless, the problem isincontinencerarely spoken openly.
We would therefore like to encourage you to look into this topic. We would also like to provide you with comprehensive information about the disease.
know how to prevent urinary incontinence, how to make the correct diagnosis and what therapeutic and accompanying options are available
consist.

We also provide you with practical tips and tricks that have proven to be effective in dealing with incontinence. In this brochure you will find suggestions on how you can
Be able to overcome the problem in the best possible way and regain a better quality of life.

Urinary incontinence - what exactly is it?

Involuntary urination is associated with disorders of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. In this chapter, you will learn more about the processes involved.

The term incontinence is derived from the Latin word "incontinens". The German translation of this term means "not retaining". Urinary incontinence occurs when urine comes out of the bladder involuntarily. The person affected can no longer consciously control when and where urination takes place.

Urinary incontinence is not a disease in itself. Various causes and underlying diseases can be responsible for it. It is therefore important to look for the underlying factors. These can be, for example, previous births, a kidney stone, a bladder infection or other diseases.

Urinary incontinence is a widespread problem

Incontinence is a common problem that can affect people of all ages. In the Federal Republic of Germany, at least four million people suffer from urinary incontinence. Incontinence is much more common among older people than among younger people. One in three people over 65 who live at home suffer from incontinence.

Emptying the bladder - a vital task of the body

bladder and pelvic floor
In order to understand the process of incontinence, you need to know how a healthy bladder works. Below we will explain how the urinary bladder and the pelvic floor muscles are anatomically structured and what they have to do. The bladder and pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in the natural process of urination (micturition).

Your kidneys continuously produce urine, partly to enable the excretion of toxic substances. The urine then flows from the kidneys via the two ureters into the urinary bladder.

The bladder is a very stretchable hollow organ in which urine is stored. The bladder can hold about half a litre, and if it is full, even more than
Liter. It consists of several layers of muscle and is lined with a mucous membrane. The urethra leads from the bladder at the bladder neck.

At the exit of the urethra from the bladder, some muscle fibers are arranged in a spiral, they form a loop and close the bladder. These muscle strands at the bladder neck
are called internal sphincters and work automatically (reflex-controlled).

The urethra then passes through the pelvic floor muscles.
This muscle is stretched like an upside-down umbrella between the pelvic bones and supports the bladder and other organs in the lower abdomen. The pelvic floor muscles form the external sphincter for the bladder with several muscle bundles, which can be consciously controlled. The inner muscle at the bladder neck and the external sphincter of the bladder together ensure that the bladder is closed: in order to urinate, they must relax, then the urine can flow out.

For the bladder to function properly, not only do the muscles of the bladder and the closure system have to be healthy, but their nerve supply also plays an important role because nerve impulses control muscle activity. You will now learn about these mechanisms that activate and control the bladder.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Incontinence can be caused by a malfunction of the sphincter system or by a disorder of the bladder muscles. In addition, disorders of the nerve supply can also lead to different forms of urinary incontinence.

The following forms of incontinence are distinguished:

stress incontinence

In stress incontinence, the closing force of the sphincter system at the urethral outlet is reduced. This means that any sudden physical exertion (which is referred to as "stress"), such as sneezing, coughing, laughing or even vigorous physical exercise, can trigger involuntary urination. This is because the sudden exertion leads to an increase in pressure in the pelvis and also an increase in pressure in the bladder. This increased bladder pressure then overcomes the reduced closing force of the sphincter system - urine is released uncontrollably.
As a rule, there is a functional impairment of the pelvic floor muscles, often caused by pressure damage during a vaginal birth, by operations and/or degenerative processes such as hormone deficiency during menopause or general muscle atrophy in old age. Furthermore, changes in position
of the urethra and bladder due to a prolapsed uterus is often associated with incontinence. The causes show why stress incontinence almost exclusively affects women. If it occurs in men, the cause is usually an injury to the sphincter muscle following prostate surgery.

urge incontinence
Urge incontinence is characterized by the compelling "imperative" need to urinate. This leaves the affected person with little time to reach the toilet and thus leads to involuntary loss of urine. Urge incontinence is an overexcitability of the bladder wall muscles, the detrusor, which acts as a "urine expeller" due to its ability to contract. The detrusor contracts excessively often and triggers the urge to urinate even when the bladder is only slightly full.
The causes of this overactivity are disturbances in the transmission of control signals from the bladder and its surroundings to the brain (e.g. due to cystitis, enlarged prostate, hormone deficiency) and from the brain back to the bladder (e.g. due to diseases of the “brain control center” such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia). In another form of urge incontinence, the urge to urinate is not caused by an overactive detrusor, but
due to disease-related irritation of the bladder mucosa, e.g. due to bladder stones or bladder tumors. In milder cases, the initial symptoms are only of an "irritable bladder" with the annoying need to urinate frequently. However, the urine can still be held. If the symptoms become more severe, the urge to urinate becomes uncontrollable, resulting in incontinence. The bladder can then be completely or partially emptied like a torrent.

Incontinence due to chronic urinary retention (overflow incontinence)
This form, which is also classified as overflow incontinence, is in most cases due to a narrowing of the urethra, e.g. due to an age-related enlargement of the prostate. Therefore, older men are particularly affected.
When the urethra is blocked, urine builds up in the bladder and gradually overstretches the bladder wall muscles. The large amount of urine retained simultaneously creates high pressure inside the bladder, which then eventually overcomes the narrowness of the urethra, so that urine is constantly dripping out. In addition to the form of incontinence caused by a blockage of the urethra, there is another form of chronic urinary retention that affects men and women.
This leads to a weakening of the bladder muscle with a lack of contractility and passive overstretching of the bladder with occasional or constant dribbling of urine. This situation can arise, for example, as a result of taking medication (eg ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, antidepressants,
sedatives or similar), metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus), diseases of the central nervous system (Parkinson's disease) or even psychogenic causes. The clinical picture of the so-called "neuropathic bladder" arises.

mixed forms of urinary incontinence
Basically, urinary incontinence in older people has the same causes as in younger people. However, in old age, several causes are often found at the same time,
so that mixed forms develop that are not always easy to diagnose. Essentially, the following five areas of cause can be named, which
Risk of becoming incontinent in old age increases significantly:

1. Reduced kidney function
On average, the kidneys of a 60-year-old person work only half as efficiently as those of a 30-year-old.

2. Altered rhythm of urine production
While younger people produce most of their urine during the day and relatively little at night, older people often produce just as much urine at night - or even more - than during the day. The altered production rhythm is particularly pronounced in confused, demented people.

3. Reduced capacity of the bladder
Older people therefore have to go to the toilet more often and feel a stronger urge to urinate with a significantly shorter urge time - without there being any real urge incontinence.

4. Impaired ability to completely empty the bladder
The decrease in the contractile force of the bladder muscles promotes incomplete bladder emptying with residual urine formation, which can lead to bladder infections and frequent trips to the toilet.
can result in.

5. Gender-specific changes
Prostate growth in men and increasing estrogen deficiency in menopausal women can lead to incontinence due to chronic urinary retention or stress incontinence.

What consequences can urinary incontinence have?

A stressful condition with consequences for health
Incontinence leads to recurrent urinary tract infections, especially when it is accompanied by impaired bladder emptying. The faulty emptying leads to the proliferation of bacteria and
other pathogens in the bladder and migrate via the ureters to the kidneys. Severe kidney damage can occasionally result. The cause of the incontinence can also be a serious illness. Treatment of this is essential for maintaining the health and quality of life of the affected person.

Damaged protective function of the skin due to external influences
In addition to the psychological stress, incontinence that is not treated or treated incorrectly can also lead to other health problems: skin irritation, chronic eczema or even open pressure sores (decubitus) develop when moisture and urine act on the skin for a long time.

Constant contact with urine and/or stool irritates the skin and means it can no longer adequately defend itself against pathogens. The frequent washing required puts additional strain on the skin and can disrupt the skin's protective acid mantle. Use soap-free, pH-neutral cleaning products to clean the skin. These are better than leaching soaps.

The risk of inflammation and infection is particularly high in older people, as their skin is less resilient due to the normal aging process: the skin produces less fat and sebum than in young people. If you use suitable care products, you can effectively support the protective functions of the skin.

If you have accompanying illnesses such as circulatory problems or diabetes, the skin's defenses are further reduced. To keep your skin healthy and effectively prevent inflammation, fungal infections or pressure sores, you should therefore pay attention to careful care:

Use highly absorbent pads, liners or briefs that protect against moisture and thus against inflammation and infections, as they deprive bacteria and yeast of a breeding ground. For example, the distributor pad (the top layer of the absorbent body) in all HARTMANN incontinence products has a skin-neutral pH value of 5.5. This creates a pH buffer between the skin and the incontinence product that protects and preserves the skin's natural acid mantle. At the same time, the distributor pad provides an antibacterial effect that prevents bacterial growth by 99.9999%. Sensitive skin is thus protected from skin irritation.

In addition, care for and cleanse your skin regularly with suitable products that provide your skin with sufficient nourishing and moisturising substances. This is particularly important to prevent further irritation of the skin and to maintain the protective function
of the skin. Special cleaning and care products have been developed for these requirements. Special skin protection products are also available to protect the skin in the intimate area. These are ideally suited to the incontinence products and do not affect their absorbency.

How can you prevent incontinence?

Regulated digestion
Persistent constipation leads to frequent straining during bowel movements, which overloads the connective tissue of the pelvic floor. Therefore, take your time during bowel movements and avoid straining: instead, tense the anal muscle several times in a row for about three seconds. This encourages the intestines to move more and thus initiates natural emptying.

Wholesome nutrition
A healthy, digestion-friendly diet contains a high fiber content. Fiber-rich foods include whole grain products such as whole grain bread, whole grain oat flakes and wheat bran, as well as raw fruit and vegetables. However, please avoid fiber-rich foods that can lead to flatulence - such as pulses, cabbage, onions, leeks and plums. Flatulence can sometimes worsen incontinence due to the increase in pressure in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, change your diet very slowly. Promote healthy intestinal bacteria that "digest" the fiber you eat and thus prevent flatulence. Yoghurt and kefir on your daily menu support the natural intestinal flora.

Adequate fluid intake
It is particularly important that you drink enough fluids to prevent constipation and to ensure that a high-fiber diet has the full effect. Herbal and fruit teas and low-carbonate mineral water are recommended.
Fruit juices and some vegetable juices have a diuretic effect and are therefore not suitable. Please do not drink black tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks too often, as these can lead to increased urination and irritate the bladder.

Regular relaxation
If your incontinence is causing you a lot of stress, a mental balance can be valuable. Get used to not concentrating on your worries. Consciously build opportunities into your everyday life that bring you joy: for example, meeting friends, going to the cinema or going for a walk. It can also be helpful to learn relaxation techniques. One easy-to-learn method is progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson. But many other methods are also suitable. These include autogenic training, yoga and meditation. It is not so important which method you choose. It is much more important that you practice regularly, ideally daily.

Correct Movement
Regular exercise is particularly important for incontinent people with constipation and can significantly improve symptoms. Suitable sports do not put a lot of pressure on the abdomen and pelvic floor: walking, swimming, dancing and cycling. The many small daily movements are usually carried out unconsciously in everyday life. This is precisely why it is important to choose the right posture and carry out sensible movements to relieve the pelvic floor. Therefore, pay attention to
Keep your back as straight as possible when lifting or carrying.

As a woman, you should be careful never to lift more than ten kilograms. When carrying loads, hold them as close to your body as possible and above your navel.

If you have to work in a crouched position, make a conscious effort to stay as upright as possible.
Only work on the surface directly in front of you. This is especially important when vacuuming, sweeping or mopping. In general, any movement that is gentle on the back also protects the muscles of the pelvic floor.