How to Navigate Incontinence

As humans we have universally shared emotions, some pleasant, some we’d rather forget. You probably know that feeling of urgency you get when you need a bathroom, immediately. Maybe the lineup is too long, or the rest station is too far away. For some of us, these experiences occur more often than we’d like to admit. The conversations around incontinence tend to be a little hush hush but part of feeling your best is being able to talk about what happens when you don’t. Let’s get started with a few definitions.

What is Incontinence?

Incontinence refers to the loss of control over the bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel (bowel or fecal incontinence). Both types occur far more often than people tend to imagine, with millions of adults all over the world affected (did you know the average age for incontinence is 52?!)¹

Lifestyle Changes That May Help With Incontinence

If incontinence is impacting your life, or the life of someone you love, what can be done? Here are a few suggestions:

• Your body knows best. Pay attention to what you eat and drink and how your body responds. If spicy foods or cheese correspond with incontinence it might be time to reevaluate their role in your diet.
• Stay hydrated. On a related note, don’t stop drinking water just because you’ve had the occasional leak. It might seem logical, but dehydration will cause more problems, rather than solving this one.
• Stop smoking. Raises your chances of leaking less²
• Try Kegels.  Kegel exercises are a safe and effective method of strengthening pelvic floor muscles for men and women. Over time these exercises can improve bladder and bowel control.
• Consult your doctor. Some of us hesitate on this step, feeling embarrassed, but incontinence is such a common condition your doctor will have heard all of this before and will be happy to help. Bring along any information that you’ve noted in terms of the impact of your diet and lifestyle.

As lovely as it would be to wave a magic wand and have this over and done with, it’s unfortunately going to take a little more effort. Please don’t let that stop you from living your best life, confidently! It’s easy to feel like retiring from the activities you once loved after an occasional bladder leak, but with a little extra planning you can stay in the game.

Helpful Tips to Manage Incontinence in Public

If you’re heading out for an unexpected day filled with activities, pack an extra pair of pants and underwear, along with some urinary incontinence underwear, in your backpack, gym bag, locker or car trunk, to keep you feeling confident even if a leak happens. Add Cottonelle® Flushable Wipesinto the mix and you’re all set to go. They’re a lifesaver in those moments where a shower is unavailable but the desire for that shower fresh feeling is strong. Discreetly packaged and septic safe, these will clean up any accident and leave you feeling refreshed. They’re infused with the gentle cleansing power of water and are created without the plastic found in standard wipes, so you can officially flush it and forget it. They’re also free of alcohol, parabens, and harmful chemicals so they’re a safe way to achieve that freshness boost which will leave you feeling like the best version of you.

Add Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes to your regimen and soon you’ll want to share your Downtherecare™ routine with everyone you know. Check out our coupons to save on your next flushable wipe purchase!

¹Kimberly Clark Global Incontinence Study (2017).

²https://www.urologyhealth.org/healthy-living/care-blog/2018/7-urologic-conditions-impacted-by-smoking