Urinary incontinence is a
common occurrence in older persons and affects
approximately 33% of women aged 65 and older,
and 15 to 20% of men aged 65 and older. While
the risk of having episodes of incontinence increases
with age, it is by no means an inevitable outcome
of ageing.
Incontinence has been shown
to adversely affect the physical health, psycho-social
outlook and quality of life of its sufferers,
and can result in skin problems, falls, depression
and social isolation. It can also be an economic
burden to sufferers of incontinence and their
care-givers.
Patients with incontinence
are often embarrassed about their symptoms and
fail to mention their problems to their care-givers
and doctors. In actual fact, many of the causes
of incontinence are amenable to treatment and
can potentially be cured. These may include urinary
tract infections, atrophic vaginitis (in women),
constipation, medication side effects, chronic
medical conditions such as diabetes, impaired
physical function or sub-optimal physical environment.
Even when the causes of incontinence
cannot be totally cured, many modalities of treatment
are available that can help to ease the distress
and stress associated with incontinence.
In older persons, many factors
can interact to cause the problem of incontinence.
If you (or your relatives) have experienced an
unintended loss of urine or have had problems
with your bladder, you may wish to consider seeking
medical attention for your condition. |
