Did you know that over 4 million Australians experience some form of incontinence. While it is more common in the elderly it can be found in children who wet the bed and women who have given birth. There is no discrimination when it comes to incontinence it can affect people of all cultures, background, ages and in both men and women.

Incontinence is a term that describes any accidental involuntary leaks of urine, this is known as urinary incontinence or bowel motions, faeces or wind from the bowel, this is known as faecal or bowel incontinence.

Below outlines of some the different types of incontinence that may affect you

Urge and Frequency Incontinence: This the second most common incontinence coming in just after stress incontinence. It is an involuntary loss of urine that occurs when you have a strong and sudden need to urinate. Urge or Frequency Incontinence can also be referred to as an Overactive Bladder. It can vary from frequent trips to the bathroom at night to urine leaking most commonly when you are laughing or sneezing.

Stress Incontinence: Is the most common form for Incontinence reported. Stress incontinence is the insufficient strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Women often experience stress incontinence after pregnancy, child birth and menopause. Diabetes, constipation, obesity and a prescient cough, such as with asthma or bronchitis, can play a vast contributing factor in stress incontinence.

Bowel Incontinence: Is the inability for one to control their bowl moments. It can range from a person having excess wind, slight bowl movement with wind or the complete loss of bowel moments. There are a range of factors that can lead to bowel incontinence such as bowel disease, never disorders (Parkinson’s and MS), diabetes and medications.

As always it is best to consult your healthcare professionals if you think you are suffering from any form of incontinence. They will be able to diagnose, incontinence can be a sign of an underlying health condition and provide you with your incontinence treatment plan. Many times incontinence can be treat.

So take that first step in taking control of your life again.