Active living

What Are Incontinence Pads

These tips and tricks help you to plan your life to reduce the stress of living with urinary incontinence problems – and get back to enjoying your life to the full.
 

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What are incontinence pads used for

Many of us develop our own strategies for coping with health issues, including incontinence. Millions of people around the world are affected by bladder weakness.1 Common strategies people adopt range from drinking less to socially isolating themselves – out of shame or fear of unpleasant situations, smells or accidents. However, instead of an avoidance strategy, consciously dealing with the issue and active planning can be very helpful. They can help you to enjoy your everyday life unencumbered: regardless of whether you are meeting friends, playing sport or travelling.

Many of those affected by incontinence go so far as to completely deny the issue of bladder weakness. According to the study ‘Breaking the Silence’, more than 59 per cent of those surveyed in Germany believe that the symptoms are simply a temporary problem. A total of 74 per cent indicated that their bladder weakness negatively affects their whole lives.

Our advice: please do not deny your have a problem. Speak openly about incontinence and act! With professional advice from your doctor, the right treatment and the right products, you can manage your incontinence more effectively and actively participate in life again. There are also a few things you can do to help, as well:

Courage at work

The study mentioned above shows that when people manage to open up to others, it can help them enormously. This does not just mean opening up to others affected by incontinence, relatives or friends.

This is also the case at work when colleagues are aware of your particular situation. Together, you can develop strategies for your everyday working life. Only by speaking about the issue can everyday problems such as a lack of rubbish bins in the men’s toilets be quickly and easily resolved. An anonymous tip to office management could also be a help here.

Can you use sanitary or menstrual pads as incontinence pads

A surprisingly common question is whether incontinence pads and sanitary or menstrual pads can be use interchangeably. The definite answer is no, you should never use menstrual pads as incontinence pads. Menstrual pads are designed to absorb menstrual flow, which is thicker than urine and slower to escape. Additionally, menstrual fluid leaks in smaller volumes, which is what menstrual pads are designed for. Menstrual pads are not designed to absorb a high volume of urine.

Enjoy an active life

As you can see, there is a wide variety of possible options that can help you manage incontinence. With suitable and high quality products such as the premium incontinence range from MoliCare®, you will feel even better protected, particularly in your everyday life.

You can regain your self-confidence and improve your psychological well-being.

Sex and Relationships

Many people believe that incontinence means the end of their sex life. Actually, the opposite might be true! This is because sex naturally strengthens the muscles in the pelvic floor, which can increase the closing force of the bladder, particularly in stress situations.

Strong pelvic floor muscles have another benefit: better orgasms! You can learn more here about sport with incontinence.

Still, little accidents can happen. The best way of dealing with this is to openly discuss it with your partner. Would you perhaps feel more comfortable with a washable mattress protector? The most important thing is that you do not lose your enjoyment of one of life’s greatest pleasures.

 

Take charge of your day with incontinence

These tips and tricks help you to plan your life to reduce the stress of living with urinary incontinence problems – and get back to enjoying your life to the full.

Incorporate safety nets in your everyday life

Make your everyday life easier if you experience bladder weakness using these simple measures:

You can consider setting up your workplace so that you can quickly and easily reach the toilet with no trip hazards.

When you are somewhere new, find out how to get to a nearby toilet before you need to go.

It sometimes helps to deliberately plan breaks to relax and to avoid chaos. Stress and tension can increase bladder pressure. Maybe you could consider some relaxation exercises.

When buying new clothes such as pants, ensure that they can be easily taken off and put on.

Pay attention to your lifestyle and diet

This includes a sensible and healthy diet (not too spicy and not too acidic), an adequate intake of fluids and exercise, as well as quitting smoking and ensuring that you get enough relaxing downtime.

Diet is particularly important. This is true for health in general, but particularly if you have problems with your bladder. Being overweight is one of the risk factors for bladder weakness. Losing weight can help you to prevent or relieve symptoms.

With a view to prevention, it is extremely important to know that there are foods and drinks that act as diuretics. Certain types of fruit and vegetables (grapefruit, cabbage varieties and root vegetables), coffee, caffeinated teas and alcoholic drinks should be avoided.

We have summarized here what you can do by way of prevention.

Find your own way to a treatment

Depending on the cause and type of incontinence, there is a whole range of possible therapies:

  • medications, lifestyle changes or herbal remedies
  • bladder training or strengthening the pelvic floor muscles
  • surgery that may be required if conventional treatment methods have not worked.

 

Rely on quality incontinence products

Good incontinence products have nothing to do with feeling like you are wearing a nappy. When urine is lost, these incontinence aids provide reliable and discreet protection. Premium products for incontinence are absorbent and discreet, neutralise odours and are gentle on the skin. Whether special pantyliners or single-use pants for greater freedom of movement and protection – a broad range of products ensures that you can find exactly the incontinence aid that meets your needs and fits your life. Feeling reliably, discreetly protected is a great feeling.

 

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