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Author:
Jeff Luckey

Urinary incontinence is closely associated with stroke survivors. People surviving from a stroke episode normally confront this embarrassing malady. Incontinence is not only distressing for the patient, but also equally troublesome for the caretaker. Only recently have reports become available on the possible neurological areas that are affected in stroke patients, and bladder impairment. There has hardly been any mention of the effects of treating urinary incontinence in stroke patients.

Urinary incontinence is a general outcome of a stroke because the portion of the brain that is damaged controls waste removal. Nerves related to continence may also get damaged during a stroke. For that reason stroke, survivors are required to use a catheter, a small tube, for urination. They might not need the catheter as their condition improves. However, in most such cases the bladder functioning improves over time and stroke survivors begin urinating with bladder control.

For persons who are not able to control urinary dribbling before making it to the restroom may follow some useful and practical tips mentioned here.

•Visit the restroom regularly to urinate even if you do not feel the urge. This is a good way of training your bladder. Besides, you would save yourself the embarrassment from urinary dribbling.

•If you are not yet able to make it to the restroom on your own, call for help immediately on feeling the urge to urinate. You could be taken to the restroom on time.

•Ensure privacy and enough time to seat yourself on the commode.

•Drink sufficient fluids during the day, while restraining your fluid intake in the evening. This will ensure that you do not have to wake up frequently at night to urinate. It will also be a big relief to your caretaker.

•Restrict your alcohol and caffeine intake, especially at night.

•Your physical therapist may suggest you certain exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area around the bladder. Strong muscles can certainly help in urinary incontinence conditions.

Treatment

Surprisingly, there is not much information available on the treatment associated with incontinence due to a stroke. It appears that the issue has not been addressed with the seriousness it deserves. Some studies that exist come from the Japanese academic press. In situations where conventional methods have failed, there have been suggestions of transurethral resection of the prostate in men with obstructions in the urinary flow. Another study suggests that pharmacological, surgical, toilet habits and behavioral therapies have substantially helped in such conditions.

Certain published evidences support physiotherapy and bladder retraining programs as highly effective methods of countering urinary incontinence in stroke survivors. Substantial improvements have been reported in such cases, though a proper investigation among stroke survivors has not been carried out. Such methods, if effective as claimed, need to be properly investigated and brought out in the open to help stroke survivors with urinary incontinence the world over.

The plight of the caretakers of such patients has never found any official mention. It is just as or even more stressful for them to handle such situations. Family members who volunteer to help need proper training to manage the situation. An overall in-depth study is the need to tackle the problem of incontinence associated with a stroke.

For more information on this topic, you may visit http://www.BioRelief.com BioRelief.com provides detailed info and comprehensive reviews on the best products for Incontinence and Stroke Recovery.

Jeff Luckey is in research and development at http://www.biorelief.com - Information and products to help manage incontinence, and related issues.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Stroke... Does Acupuncture Really Work The Way It Should? Acupuncture therapy for stroke-caused conditions such as paralysis, speech and swallowing problems, and depression is commonly used in the Orient. In China and Japan, an acupuncturist is likely to start therapy as soon as possible after a stroke. However, my recommendation is a delay of 2 weeks before acupuncture for strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, 10 to 20% of strokes (instead of the usual blood vessel block or clot). The wait is due to studies showing that acupuncture opens blood vessels for better flow and decreases clotting and inflammation. These effects are desired early when arteries are blocked, but after a stroke caused by bleeding has occurred, it is safer to wait until the bleeding blood vessel has clotted and is unlikely to bleed further before providing the acupuncture. Acupuncture is done on a daily basis in China. Uncertain as to whether daily acupuncture is essential, even in Western countries, some acupuncturists with experience in treating stroke with acupuncture believe treatment 3 times a week is optimal. Several different approaches have been used to treat stroke, demonstrating that acupuncture for this disorder remains a healthcare art: Traditional Chinese Yang meridian point therapy, Chinese scalp acupuncture. Does acupuncture really work to help stroke victims improve? Many studies involving thousands of patients have been published in China and Japan, and 2 of 3 studies from Scandinavia, demonstrated significant help. These studies indicate that patients get well faster, perform better in self-care, require less nursing and rehabilitation therapy, and use less healthcare dollars. However, since most studies come from China, they get little credence from the Western medical community because researchers in China do not appear to be...