- Bowel incontinence – the loss of regular control of the bowels with involuntary excretion and leaking – affects people of all ages… however, it is more common in women than men, and more common in older adults.
- According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 5.5 million Americans experience bowel incontinence.
- In the United States, bowel incontinence is ranked as the second most common reason for nursing home admission, following dementia.
- Discussions about this delicate topic are often socially unacceptable… and those affected are overwhelmed by feelings of shame and humiliation. Countless people refuse to seek medical help, deciding instead to self-manage their problem… and this choice can lead to social withdrawal and isolation.
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- Bowel incontinence is not a disease… nor is it a normal part of aging…
- It is the symptom of underlying medical conditions, such as injury to the internal and external anal sphincter muscles, a pelvic tumor, sensory nerve damage caused by a stroke, degenerative nerve diseases, or multiple sclerosis, and more.
- For women, nerve damage can occur during childbirth.
- Diarrhea, or loose stool, is more difficult to control than solid stool… but for those normally unaffected by bowel incontinence, diarrhea can be a temporary condition.
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- Treatments depend on the cause and severity of bowel incontinence… and can include dietary changes, medication, bowel training or surgery. Because some forms of bowel incontinence can be complicated, more than one treatment may be necessary.
- Both cloth and disposable diapers are also available… pull-up diapers are not recommended and thicker diapers are generally the best.
- Food affects the consistency of the stool and how quickly it passes through the digestive system. Eating foods that add bulk to the stool can decrease the water content making the stools more firm.
- Avoidance of foods and drinks containing caffeine is recommended.
- Fruit, cured or smoked meat, spicy foods, alcohol, dairy products, fatty and greasy foods and artificial sweeteners should be eaten sparingly.
- Exercising the sphincter muscles can help restore muscle tone, and reduce or even eliminate bowel incontinence.
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