Check Up: Dealing with Urinary Incontinence

Dear Readers

Portmore resident Tamara, 40, has three children. Recently she started spurting small amounts of urine whenever she laughs out loud or sneezes. She asks how to overcome this problem.

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is a very common problem in women, especially so in women who have borne children. Some pass a few drops of urine during coughing while others feel a sudden urge to urinate just before a good amount of urine escapes the bladder. Urine loss can sometimes also occur during sexual intercourse. Women experience UI twice as often as men and this is directly related to the life events specific to being female such as pregnancy, child birth and menopause. Both sexes can become incontinent of urine after neurologic trauma, stroke and problems associated with aging. UI occurs because of injury or defect to the muscles and nerves associated with holding and releasing urine. It is when the urinary sphincter muscles are not strong enough to hold back urine from passing or if bladder muscles are damaged. UI occurs in pregnancy and with obesity because the abdominal pressure is increased, exerting constant excessive pressure on the bladder walls. After childbirth the pelvic muscles and ligaments can be weakened allowing the bladder to slip down towards the vagina. This prevents the bladder muscles from closing off the urethra, from which urine flows, tightly, resulting in passage of urine with coughing or sneezing. To prevent this the individual should empty the bladder regularly so that incontinence hardly occurs, slowly extending the time between bathroom visits to "retrain" the bladder to function normally. Also, restrict liquids such as coffee and alcohol which affect bladder function. Kegels exercises also strengthen the bladder wall muscles and improve UI.

When churches and social groups host Christmas dinners it is very important to be vigilant to avoid people choking on food not cut into small pieces.

Other Christmas health tips:

" Keep the children out of the kitchen! Hot fat, boiling hot sorrel in pots and sharp cutting knives to slice the ham and turkey make the kitchen a dangerous place for young children. Yes, you're mixing the Christmas pudding and a glass of wine feels good at this time but try to avoid alcohol until the cooking or baking is done. This will help avoid oil burns from an overturned frying pan of a broken hip after slippage on egg yolk!

" During Christmas parties people fall while seeking our bathrooms. Indicate where the bathroom is and try to have the bathroom on the same level as the function if possible. Ensure that the area is well lit.

" Another source of Christmas accidents is youngsters and parents stabbing themselves with scissors as they open gifts and try to assemble toys. Make sure to use a screw driver to assemble toys, shelves, or any gifts which require assembly and PAY ATTENTION to the task. Put the knife or scissors down when distracted. People also trip over toys and other gadgets.

" More people die in house fires at Christmas than at any other time. Never put real candles on or near a Christmas tree and never leave a candle flame unattended.

" The stress of the pressures brought on by Christmas shopping plus the combination of drinks and lack of sleep can even cause a nervous breakdown. Take time out for peaceful and relaxing moments in the midst of the hectic activities. Visit your church.

" Food poisoning is always a problem at Christmas. Ensure that meat is well cooked and not left to spoil. Keep the potato salad in the fridge after most people have been served. Also be conservative in the mix of foods at any one event. It is best to avoid salmonella food poisoning and the hospital admission with vomiting and diarrhoea.

" Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Some people don't seem to be able to enjoy themselves without drinking too much. If you must, try to confine the health risks by not driving after these events and not attempting to operate hazardous equipment even the day after. Alcohol reduces your awareness of surrounding risks. Also, empty all glasses after a function at home as young children like to taste the glass contents.

" Don't drink and drive..........and, have a wonderful and joyous season!

Write to:

Check Up,

PO BOX 1731,

KGN 8.

Email: arnaj56@gmail.com

AJM