Have you been recently diagnosed with incontinence?
If yes, it’s relieving to know that you’re not alone. According to recent statistics, about one-quarter to one-third of seniors in the United States suffer from urinary incontinence.
But you don’t have to suffer in silence like most incontinent people. Not when you can manage the condition effectively using adult diapers.
Here’s a guide to incontinence and how adult diapers might help.
What Is Incontinence?
Incontinence is losing control of the muscles that regulate bladder and/or bowel movements.
There are two primary incontinence types, depending on the affected organs. They include;
- Urinary/Bladder Incontinence – Caused by the inability to control the muscles regulating bladder movements, resulting in unintentional urine passage
- Bowel/Fecal Incontinence – Results from the loss of control of the muscles regulating bowel movements, leading to inadvertent bowel movements
Old age is the leading cause of urinary incontinence among seniors. Note that the body loses its ability to regulate bladder and bowel muscles as we age. It’s only worse for seniors who also grapple with old age diseases, such as cancers, diabetes, chronic constipation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and vaginal infections.
Besides age and disease, incontinence may also result from certain medications or extreme anxiety.
Being diagnosed with incontinence is understandably scary for many seniors. However, it’s reassuring to know that the condition is controllable.
You can manage incontinence using incontinence pads for bed. Bed pads prevent body fluids from seeping into the mattress in the event of bathroom accidents overnight. Simply place the pads between the mattress and the top sheet.
But perhaps the most popular way to manage incontinence is using adult diapers.
What Are Adult Diapers?
Adult diapers, also known as incontinence briefs, are designed for seniors with incontinence issues.
Adult diapers are the most common incontinence wearables. They resemble regular baby diapers, with their enlarged size being the key differentiator.
How Might Adult Diapers Address Incontinence?
Wearing adult diapers reduces the anxieties of having bathroom accidents in public. These incontinence products are made from a thick absorbency material that soaks up bladder or bowel fluid, preventing it from leaking through your outer garment.
The average incontinence brief can soak up 30 ounces (about 4.75 cups or 887 milliliters) of urinary or bowel leakage. However, the core absorbency layer in adult diapers differs in thickness and design based on the following factors;
1.Incontinence Levels
There are three different levels of incontinence, depending on the amount of fluid discharged in 24 hours. They include;
- Mild Incontinence – Between 1.3 and 20 grams
- Moderate Incontinence – From 21 to 74 grams
- Severe Incontinence – Over 74 grams
Adult diapers designed for severe incontinence usually come with a thicker core absorbency material. Such briefs can keep you dry for hours, making them particularly suitable for overnight use or while traveling.
Picking an incontinence brief rated for your incontinence level allows you to go about your routines uninterrupted. You can comfortably run errands, hang out with your buddies, or go on a long road trip without having to deal with the embarrassment of urine or fecal leakage.
2.Gender Differences
Incontinence briefs were initially gender-neutral. That’s because most people regarded them purely as functional wearables rather than symbols of personal taste and style. Today, many adult diaper brands manufacture gendered briefs.
The fundamental difference between male and female diapers is in the layering of the core absorbency material.
Male incontinence briefs have the absorbency fabric concentrated in the front of the diaper, while female diapers have their absorbency layer placed in the diaper’s undersides.
Adult diapers for men and women may also differ in their fitting and contouring. Male briefs are primarily fitted by waist sizes, while female diapers may be fitted with both waist and hip sizes.
3.Incontinence Type
Most adult diapers are designed for urinary incontinence. That’s understandable, as urinary incontinence is more prevalent than bowel incontinence.
However, you could also find diapers engineered for either or both conditions. Again, the difference is in the construction of the absorbency material.
Briefs for urinary incontinence usually have the core absorbency fabric concentrated in the front (for men) or the underside (for women).
For diapers intended for bowel incontinence, the absorbency material typically runs from the back to the front or underside, depending on the targeted gender.
Making the Most of Adult Diapers for Incontinence
Besides the thickness and construction of their absorbency material, the efficacy of adult diapers also depends on the size.
It’s prudent to take your waist, hip, and thigh measurements before you go shopping for the right adult diaper size. Note that an oversized diaper promotes leakage, while an undersized brief can irritate your skin.
Other principal considerations when shopping for adult diapers include disposability, eco-friendliness, and ease of changing.
It is important to change your incontinence briefs as regularly as the manufacturer recommends. Keeping a soiled diaper on longer than you should may cause skin irritation.
Wrap Up
Wearing adult diapers is only one of the numerous ways to manage incontinence. You could also cope with the condition by making certain lifestyle adjustments, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and cutting back on diuretics.
Treating constipation promptly can also go a long way in minimizing the severity of bowel incontinence. Don’t forget kegel exercises as these may strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, prolonging urine and fecal retention. The most exciting part is that you can explore these interventions while still wearing premium-quality adult diapers.
