African American Women and Urinary Incontinence

According to a University of Michigan Health Systems study conducted in 2008, African American women experience urinary incontinence less than half as often as Caucasian women. However, the study found that when incontinence does occur, the condition is usually worse than in white women. Black women experience a heavier flow of urine leakage during each occurrence of incontinence, sometimes to the point of noticeable wetting of their pants compared to only one third of white women.

The medical community has always believed that African American women don't experience stress incontinence, or urine leakage during exercise, coughing, laughing or any activity that increases pressure in the abdominal area. Those with stress urinary incontinence have inadequate strength of the pelvic floor muscles. The U of M study proved otherwise. Black women do experience stress urinary incontinence, but may not have been diagnosed because of the common held belief that they don't.

The study also found that African American women experience urge incontinence twice as often as Caucasian women. Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is characterized by the sudden contraction of the bladder's muscular wall causing the urgency to use the bathroom and involuntary urine leakage. Fast movements often trigger urge incontinence and it can be acquired as a result of pregnancy.

In the past doctors also believed that the medical conditions that influence the occurrence of urinary incontinence are different between black and white women. The U of M study found that this is not the case. Those conditions, such as constipation, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung disease and depression were found to be the same in both races and cause urinary incontinence to occur at comparable rates between the two.

Numbers from the University of Michigan Health Systems study:

* The study included over twenty eight hundred African American and Caucasian women from three southeastern Michigan counties
* 27 percent of the women surveyed experienced moderate urinary incontinence
* Of these women experiencing moderate urinary incontinence, 14.6 percent were African American women and 33.1 percent were Caucasian women
* 25 percent of black women with moderate incontinence experience stress incontinence compared to 39 percent of white women
* 24 percent of black women with moderate incontinence experience urge incontinence compared to 11 percent of white women- 51 percent had a combination of both stress and urge incontinence
* The ages of women in the study ranged from 35 to 64 years old. The average age was 42 and around 70 percent had delivered at least one child vaginally

Overall, the study demonstrates that in the moderate category white women have significantly higher incidences of incontinence; black women may experience incontinence less often but at a higher severity. The study also showed that African American women have higher incidences of urge incontinence and that Caucasian women have higher incidences of stress incontinence.

Regardless of your frequency and level of bother, managing urinary incontinence is made easier than ever before. New gender specific products have become recently available in hospital grade protection. Health care centers and medical equipment supply companies can provide you with a discreet fit and the proper protection level. Products, in ascending protection level, that help you manage urinary incontinence include: pads and liners; incontinence pants paired with a pad or liner; underwear, also known as pull-ups; and briefs, commonly known as adult diapers. A reputable health care center and medical equipment supply company will treat you to personal customer service to help tailor your product purchases to your unique situation. They are available continuously through toll free phone numbers, in stores or online.

A few health care centers and medical equipment supply companies also offer discreet incontinence supply home delivery programs. You save money by utilizing their "try-before-you-buy" sample programs and receive meaningful discounts for ordering your urinary incontinence products in volume. In addition, you also save time by having them delivered right to your doorstep each month.

Understanding your condition and the wide variety of products used to manage urinary incontinence is empowering. Stay active and feel confident knowing there are a wide range of hospital grade protection choices. The sooner you find the protection right for you, the sooner you can get on with your life.

About Binson's Home Health Care Centers
Binson's Home Health Care Centers began as Binson's Pharmacy in Center Line, Mich. during the 1950's and grew to the home health care center it is today. Currently, there are Binson's retail outlets in both Michigan and Florida. With continuously updated products and services and new locations, Binson's is destined for exceptional dynamic growth in home health care. For more information about incontinence products and programs call Binson’s at 888-246-7667 and ask for the IP Program, or visit: http://www.binsons.com/

How Can I Take Better Care of My Loved Ones Experiencing Incontinence?

Each February everyone puts a lot of effort into demonstrating their feelings towards their loved ones. They make or buy gifts, plan special excursions and recommit their lives to each other. They act in such a way that makes their special someone feel loved, cared for and cherished. Some people though, will argue that this demonstration of affection toward loved ones shouldn't just occur during February but should happen all year long as well. Caregivers and family members of people experiencing incontinence are constantly striving to provide the best care for their loved ones to demonstrate their affection. However, as many know, caring for their loved one's unique incontinence situation can be difficult.

Incontinence is not uncommon. Urinary incontinence affects more than 200 million people worldwide and nearly 25 million American adults are currently experiencing temporary or chronic urinary incontinence. According to the National Association for Incontinence (NAFC), incontinence characteristically affects more women than men. In fact, one out of four women and one out of eight men experience incontinence.

Enhancing the quality of care you are providing your loved ones experiencing incontinence means improving the quality of control with the right products and right fit at the best price. Here are three ways that can help you demonstrate your affection towards your loved ones experiencing incontinence by ramping up the quality of your care.

1. Buy hospital grade incontinence care products to keep your loved one comfortable.
Hospital grade incontinence care products are far superior to the products that you can buy at a local superstore. These products are better quality and can increase your assurance in managing your loved one's incontinence. They provide the highest level of protection, superior odor protection, the best fit, and the latest technology to quickly draw wetness caused by urinary incontinence away from your loved one's body. With hospital grade products you can be sure that your loved one will remain dry and comfortable all day long.

2. Buy from a knowledgeable home health care center or medical equipment supply company.
Highly regarded home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies focus on ongoing personalized management for your loved one's unique urinary incontinence situation. They can provide personal support over the phone, online and in the store to find the best incontinence care products for your loved one. Briefs, protective underwear, pads and liners are available in gender specific fits and an array of sizes and protection levels. Home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies can offer insight to customize incontinence care products for your loved one. They can also recommend products that are easy to get on and to change, improving the ease of care. Their knowledge can enhance quality of life for individuals dealing with incontinence and can help caregivers and families provide more supportive care.

3. Enroll in a home delivery program to save money and time.
Experienced home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies can connect you with money and time saving options that other stores cannot. The best offer discreet home delivery programs that can supply caregivers and family members with the convenience of on-time supplies at their doorstep with a range of cost effective savings plans. These programs allow you to order the highest quality products in bulk. After all, buying and ordering incontinence care products should not have to take precious time away from spending moments with your loved ones.

Demonstrate your feelings towards your loved one experiencing incontinence all year long through providing them the best care and incontinence care products possible. Seek the help from a knowledgeable home health care center or medical equipment supply company. They have resources and support staff dedicated to making your job easier and your loved ones happy and comfortable.

About Binson's Home Health Care Centers
Binson's Home Health Care Centers began as Binson's Pharmacy in Center Line, Mich. during the 1950's and grew to the home health care center it is today. Currently, there are Binson's retail outlets in both Michigan and Florida. With continuously updated products and services and new locations, Binson's is destined for exceptional dynamic growth in home health care. For more information about incontinence products and programs call Binson’s at 888-246-7667 and ask for the IP Program, or visit: http://www.binsons.com/

Solutions for Parents with Children Experiencing Incontinence

Parents everywhere wish their child's urinary incontinence problem was as simple as wetting the bed. Yet parents with children with mental or physical impairments often come to the realization that their child may never overcome incontinence and stress about finding the best solution to meet their child's specific incontinence needs. The good news is there are many services and incontinence products available to help you manage your child's unique incontinence situation and keep them dry and happy all day long.

Urinary incontinence can be tough on the whole family. The constant worrying about urine leakage, embarrassing odors, uncomfortable rashes, change schedules and costly incontinence products are common factors that may trouble you. They can cause stress and tension every time the child with incontinence leaves the care of your immediate family. When sending your child to school, you wonder if the caregivers will change your child's diaper in a timely fashion. You wonder if your child will experience embarrassing urine leakage or odor problems during class. You worry that school will become a stressful situation for your child due to the complications of urinary incontinence.

But you don't have to lose sleep over incontinence. There are many solutions available that can make life better for both your child and yourself. Here are some simple tips that you can follow to manage your child's unique incontinence situation:

1. Buy hospital grade incontinence products.
There is a big difference in the quality of incontinence products that you can buy at your local supermarket and hospital grade products. These products are better quality and can increase your confidence in managing your child's incontinence, even when they are away from your care. They can provide your child with the highest level of protection, the best fit, and the latest technology to quickly draw wetness away from your loved one's body. Even after repeated voids, your child will remain dry and comfortable. With these products, you can feel less stress when you put your child on the bus every morning because you'll know that they will not experience urine leakage or embarrassing odors in class anymore.

2. Buy from an experienced home health care center or medical equipment supply company.
Reputable home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies focus on customized management for your child's unique urinary incontinence situation. They can provide individual assistance over the phone, online and in the store to supply you with the sizing demands and changing needs of your growing children. Briefs, protective underwear, pads and liners are available in gender specific choices and a variety of sizes and protection levels. They provide discreetness under clothing and comfort for today's active students. The availability of lifestyle customization at home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies provides peace of mind for the individual dealing with incontinence, their caregivers and family throughout the years.

3. Enroll in a home delivery program to save money and time.
Buying from an experienced home health care center or medical equipment supply company can also connect you with money and time saving options that other stores cannot. A few excellent home health care centers and medical equipment supply companies have home delivery programs that offer the convenience of on-time supplies at your doorstep with a variety of cost effective savings plans by allowing you to order in bulk. You are already busy trying to provide the best care possible for your children, rushing out to buy more diapers at the last minute should not take up any more of your precious time than it has to.

Parents with children and youth experiencing incontinence have many options. Consult the experts at a medical equipment company or a home health care center for incontinence products that are created specifically for children and youth. Ask them about options and discounts that will make caring for your child much easier and less expensive.

About Binson's Home Health Care Centers
Binson's Home Health Care Centers began as Binson's Pharmacy in Center Line, Mich. during the 1950's and grew to the home health care center it is today. Currently, there are Binson's retail outlets in both Michigan and Florida. With continuously updated products and services and new locations, Binson's is destined for exceptional dynamic growth in home health care. For more information about incontinence products and programs call Binson’s at 888-246-7667 and ask for the IP Program, or visit: http://www.binsons.com/

Understanding Incontinence Products

With so many incontinence products available today with varying protection levels and fits and sizes, it can seem like a daunting task to determine which is right for your circumstances. Understanding the basic principles of cost, fit, and protection levels can help you decide what type of product is best suited for you.

A cost effective route to take when buying incontinence supplies is through purchasing reusable cloth adult diapers. These can be used for light leaks and heavy bowel and urine leakage when used with adult plastic pants. Cloth adult diapers are usually made from soft terry or flannel cotton and are available in many different styles ranging from pre-folded to pull-on. Most cloth diapers are made from breathable fabric that allows for moisture to evaporate and air to circulate through eliminating the problem of diaper rash.

Although reusable cloth adult diapers can save you money, they are a hassle to keep clean. Washing heavily soiled diapers requires multiple steps and can take up a lot of your time. Another great cost effective route to buying adult diapers is through a discreet home delivery system. Some medical equipment companies and home health care centers offer incentives and discounts for joining a scheduled home delivery service. These services bring you incontinence supplies discreetly to your front door each month in bulk- no more frequent trips to the store!

Understanding the basic principles of the proper protection level of varying incontinence products will save you many headaches as you try to pick the best product for your needs. Incontinence products range from pads to protective underwear to adult diapers all with increasing protection levels.

Incontinence pads and liners offer the lightest protection and are best used to enhance absorbency in other garments with a barrier. These products have the look of a feminine hygiene product and feature an absorbent layer to quickly dispense fluid and ensure dryness.

Incontinence pants offer moderate protection against more leakage when paired with an absorbent pad or liner. These pants eliminate the need for wide and bulky products and appear and feel like regular underwear.

For protection against moderate to just shy of maximum leakage, protective underwear, also known as pull-ups, is the best solution. All have a super absorbent core for maximum fluid retention and odor control. They are designed to offer a snug and secure fit to keep clothing dry for maximum discreetness.

Briefs, commonly known as adult diapers, offer those suffering from incontinence with maximum protection against the heaviest bowel or urine leakage. Over the years these have been revamped and improved to supply those suffering from incontinence with a better quality of life. Their adjustable tabs allow for more secure fastening and curved leg elastic for a close fit to prevent leakage. Adult diapers with Velcro tabs offer a more secure fit than those with tape tabs and have unlimited refastenability. They can easily be put on without having to remove pants or pantyhose.

After you have determined which product will provide you with the best protection and fit, enroll in a home delivery program through a medical equipment company or a home health care center that will conveniently and discreetly bring the products to your door and save you money. Incontinence shouldn't hold you back from life- the right products will help you preserve your quality of life and your dignity.

About Binson's Home Health Care Centers
Binson's Home Health Care Centers began as Binson's Pharmacy in Center Line, Mich. during the 1950's and grew to the home health care center it is today. Currently, there are Binson's retail outlets in both Michigan and Florida. With continuously updated products and services and new locations, Binson's is destined for exceptional dynamic growth in home health care. For more information about incontinence products and programs call Binson’s at 888-246-7667 and ask for the IP Program, or visit: http://www.binsons.com/

Experiencing Urine Leakage after Prostate Cancer

Often after men have had radiation or surgery for prostate cancer they experience urine leakage which is commonly known as urinary incontinence (UI). For many men, post-prostatectomy incontinence resolves itself in four to six months after the operation. Fully understanding bladder function and why male UI occurs after prostate cancer treatments is crucial to the fast revival of bladder control.

The bladder's purpose is to receive urine from the kidneys and act as a holding tank until it is full and signals you to urinate. During urination, the muscles surrounding the bladder contract pushing urine out of your bladder and into a tube called the urethra. The muscles around the urethra then relax and allow urine to flow out of your body. In men, the prostate gland surrounds the urethra and as a result, an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer treatment can affect urination.

The most common type of UI in men is stress incontinence or stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and often occurs after a prostatectomy. Stress incontinence is when involuntary leakage or dripping of urine occurs due to inadequate strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Any movements that increase pressure in the abdominal area such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, physical activity, etc. will cause the leakage of small amounts of urine. Prostate surgery can weaken or damage the muscles that surround the bladder and urethra or can damage the nerves that help control bladder function and cause stress incontinence.

After radiation treatment urge incontinence (also known as overactive bladder) can occur. Urge incontinence is when the bladder's muscular wall has a sudden contraction causing an urgency to urinate and an involuntary loss of urine. Sitting, standing or fast movements can trigger urge incontinence. Those with this type of incontinence can experience urine leakage during sleep, after consuming a small amount of water or when they touch or hear water running.

Most men will experience UI of some form after prostate cancer treatments, but doctors have recently developed new ways to reduce the occurrence. Surgeons now have the ability to save more of the muscle surrounding the bladder and the urethra when removing the prostate. Doctors have also grown more accurate, with the help of new computer technology, in using radiation to destroy the prostate while minimizing the effects on the bladder. Both of these developments help patients retain the ability to control their bladder much more quickly after treatment.

Treating and managing UI after prostate cancer can range from at home techniques and post-operative support to medication and surgery. Talk with your doctor to determine which treatment or set of treatments is best for you. Most doctors will encourage you to try bladder training and behavioral techniques before trying devices, surgeries and medication.

Bladder training and behavioral techniques can teach you how to manage your UI and regain pelvic floor strength. They are successful approaches to treating both stress and urge incontinence. Kegel exercises, which involve the repeated squeezing of the muscles you use when stopping urination mid-stream; bathroom schedules, setting specific times to go to the bathroom; and lifestyle modification, the changing of habits to avoid caffeine, alcohol, irritants, drinking less fluids and not drinking before sleep are all a part of reviving bladder control.

Don't be embarrassed by UI leakage after prostate cancer treatment, learn properly how to manage it to give you the most comfort during the healing process. Talk to your doctor about ways to treat it and about which incontinence products will provide you with proper protection. Discreet delivery programs are available to bring the products directly to your door and save you money.

Stress Incontinence? Urge Incontinence? You're Not Alone

Incontinence can be embarrassing and tough to discuss, but if you are facing this problem you are not alone. According to the National Association for Incontinence (NAFC), urinary incontinence (UI) affects 200 million people worldwide (1) with 25 million adult Americans experiencing temporary or chronic UI.

UI is most prevalent in women. In fact, research results indicate that one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily (2). Men often experience UI after prostate surgery and in many cases, the incontinence resolves itself in four to six months after the operation. Some may also experience urine leakage during physical activity. Women often experience UI problems caused by menopause, a urinary tract Infection or pregnancy.

Most people generally view incontinence as a normal process of aging. Information on healthy bladder function can help promote the understanding that incontinence is not a disease itself, but is a symptom caused by other problems within your body that are usually treatable (3). According to research, nearly two-thirds of men and women age 30 to 70 have never discussed bladder health with their doctor (2). Understanding the many types of incontinence and why it occurs may help you feel more comfortable talking about and confronting the problem.

Types of Incontinence:

Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence or stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is when involuntary leakage or dripping of urine occurs due to inadequate strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Any movements that increase pressure in the abdominal area such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, physical activity, etc. will cause the leakage of small amounts of urine. SUI is the most common type of incontinence in men and often occurs after a prostatectomy. SUI occurs in women when physical changes to the abdominal area occur. These changes may result from pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. SUI can also occur during the week before a women's menstrual period because estrogen levels are lowered at this time. This leads to lower muscular pressure around the urethra which increases the chance of urine leakage.

Urge Incontinence or Overactive Bladder
Urge incontinence is when the bladder's muscular wall has a sudden contraction causing an urgency to urinate and an involuntary loss of urine. These contractions can occur because of damage to the bladder's nerves or to the actual muscles. Sitting, standing or fast movements can trigger urge incontinence. Those with this type of incontinence can experience urine leakage during sleep, after consuming a small amount of water or when they touch or hear water running. It is common for women to acquire this as a result of their pregnancy.

Bowel Incontinence
Bowel incontinence or fecal incontinence is the loss of control over your bowels. Common causes include prolonged muscle stretching caused by constipation, muscle damage to the internal and external sphincters, damage to the nerves that control sphincter function, decreased storage capacity caused by scarring on the walls of the rectum, and diarrhea. A weakened pelvic floor may also cause bowel incontinence.

Functional incontinence
Functional incontinence arises when you identify the need to urinate but are unable to make it to a restroom because of limited mobility. Generally you lose large amounts of urine. There are many causes of functional incontinence some of which include poor mobility, depression, dementia, anxiety, low dexterity or any other situation in which it is not possible to reach a bathroom.

Overflow incontinence
Overflow incontinence is the loss of the ability to identify the need to urinate. The bladder never empties and therefore continuously leaks. This type of incontinence is caused from weak bladder muscles, a blocked urethra due to a kidney stone or tumor, or from diseases that affect the autonomic nervous system which can reduce the signals from the bladder. In men, the enlargement of the prostate can restrict the flow of urine and cause overflow incontinence. This form of incontinence is rare in women but can be caused by fibroid or ovarian tumors or from a twist in the urethra. An early warning sign is a slow or timid stream of urine during voluntary urination.

Transient incontinence
Transient incontinence is temporary incontinence caused by certain medications, limited mobility, mental disability, urinary tract infections, and severe constipation, which can pinch the urinary tract closed and block urine flow. If urine leakage still occurs after all temporary causes of incontinence have been dealt with, the condition becomes established incontinence.

Incontinence can make you feel humiliated and alone, but self-treating incontinence is not the most effective way to manage the problem. Do not be afraid to talk to others about your concerns and don't hesitate to make an appointment to see your doctor to address these issues.

(1) Vulker, R. International Group Seeks to Dispel Incontinence "Taboo", JAMA, 1998, No.11: 951-53.

(2) Muller N. What Americans Understand How they Affected by Bladder Control Problems: Highlights of Recent Nationwide Consumer Research. Urologic Nursing. 2005:25(2): 109-115.

(3) Bell M, DeMarinis M. The psychological cost of incontinence. ECPN. 2006;109:13-14.