Are Pads and Diapers a Natural Sign of Aging?

You have seen the ads on TV and in magazines. Pads and adult diapers are advertised for those that have lost bladder control. You can use their product and continue to have an active lifestyle; go to church, play golf, go shopping. But is a lack of bladder control a normal sign of aging? The advertisers would want you to think so. But the answer is NO.

Both men and women can suffer from poor bladder control, otherwise known as urinary incontinence. Women are more likely to suffer from poor bladder control if they have had many children. As the pelvic floor muscle that support the bladder and the uterus age, the muscles sag, making it harder to control the urine flow. Men also have bladder problems. A large prostate may cause difficulty starting, maintaining or ending the urine stream. Many elders cannot make it to the bathroom in time when they feel the urge to urinate due to inability to control the bladder or to other problems such as arthritis and other mobility problems. But pads and adult diapers are not the answer.

Talk to your health care provider if you have to urinate more than eight times during the day, have to get up many times to urinate at night, or have wetting accidents. Simple tests can determine if you have bladder control problems, or urinary incontinence. A variety of exercises and medicines are designed to help patients with bladder control issues.

Some men with a large prostate may need medicines to shrink the prostate. Others with more advanced prostate enlargement may need surgery to remove prostate tissue that presses on the urethra, a tube running from the bladder to the outside of the body. Other men with loss of bladder control may have an enlarged prostate that is cancerous. A thorough digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test can determine whether the prostate is just large or cancerous. Surgery can be done to remove a cancerous prostate, or radiation therapy can be utilized.

Women with bladder control issues that do not improve with exercise may be candidates for biofeedback, pessary placement, or bladder surgery to tack the bladder back in place.

The bottom line is (pardon the pun) that loss of bladder control is NOT a normal sign of aging. Talk to your health care provider today. Save your money. Don't buy adult diapers.

Is Grandpa Old, Forgetful, Ornery, Tired or Depressed?

Many elders blame everything on getting old. They tend to think that forgetfulness, lack of sleep, sleeping too much, getting ornery are all natural things that happen as we age. These symptoms could be a sign of Depression.

Depression can happen to anyone. And Depression is not your fault. Many times Depression is hereditary. Depression is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. And Depression can be easily treated with medications once it is diagnosed. Some depressed patients may need counseling.

Some signs and symptoms of Depression include:

• Sleep Disturbances; sleeping too much or inability to sleep
• Fatigue
• Lack of appetite, weight loss
• Irritability
• Forgetfulness
• Inability to Concentrate
• Lack of interest in things formerly involved in: golf, fishing, church
• Loneliness
• Moodiness, crying, more emotional
• Isolation
• Fear of crowds
• Lack of confidence

If you have a loved one that shows any of the signs listed above, get them help. Get them assessed by a health care professional. Many elders are afraid to mention memory loss because they are afraid of the diagnosis of dementia. Depression is easily diagnosed and treated with medications and has a good outcome.