Staying Hydrated is Important as We Age

Why is staying hydrated so important to healthy ageing?  Staying hydrated is important at all ages, but our bodies nutritional needs change as our bodies lack of sufficient sustainable nutrients are less absorbed.  What I’m trying to say is as we age our bodies need a little more help in adjusting to each phase of life and the ageing process.  The truth is our body absorbs less than before and we begin to feel the effects of ageing, something we have no control over, but living a healthier lifestyle can actually slow down and delay what is inevitable, growing old.

Now when I say staying hydrated I’m not talking about your daily allowance of sodas, lemonades, fruity cocktails etc.  I’m talking about drinking water, yes, plenty of plain water or water with lemon just to add a little something.  Water, is what I truly believe is the key to the fountain of youth.

According to https://www.nestlenutrition-institute.org/Education/practical-tools/Documents/Waters_Senior_light_pages.pdf

Gradual ageing of the body is accompanied by several changes, both physical and physiological.  The decline in lean body mass is accompanied by a decrease over time in the percentage of water in the body.  So, the percentage of body weight made up of water falls from about 60% in adults to about 50% in the elderly.

Age reduces the sensation of thirst:

Seniors are more at risk of dehydration as the sensation of thirst decreases with age, and their kidneys have decreased ability to concentrate urine.  The sensation of thirst allows the body to realize that it lacks water.  Thus, when we feel thirsty, our body is already slightly dehydrated.  In seniors, the sensation of thirst is decreasing, and therefore they are more at risk of becoming dehydrated.

Age and impairment of kidney function:

With age, the kidneys do not function as well and renal ability to concentrate urine decreases.  In fact, between the ages of 30 and 80, there is often a 20 to 25% loss of renal mass, the most of which is from the cortex.  Other changes explain the difficulty which kidneys have adapting urine concentration. When seniors are slightly dehydrated, they can feel the onset of some physical signs: thirst of course, but also a dry and sticky mouth, muscle weakness, headache, sleepiness or tiredness. So it’s important to drink water regularly throughout the day, and to drink before becoming thirsty.

Intestinal Comfort:

It is common knowledge that elderly people are affected by problems with bowel movements and constipation. From Suares study, constipation affects between 11% and 18% of the people according to geographical region. And the prevalence of this disorder is even higher and older people.  Constipation in the elderly has many potential causes, including a reduced fluid intake, malnutrition, reduced fiber intake, lack of physical activity, impaired mobility, side effect of medication, an acute or chronic illness. Therefore, it is important to practice regular exercise, healthy eating including fruits, vegetable, and whole grain foods as sources of fiber, and maintaining an adequate fluid intake with fiber consumption.  The bulking effect of fibers consists in retaining water.  Drinking enough water is a good habit.

Urinary Incontinence:

(Urinary incontinence is a symptom or sign of any involuntary loss of urine.  Continence (storage of urine) is maintained when the urethral pressure is greater than the pressure inside the bladder itself (intravesical pressure).  Urinary incontinence causes include structural changes in vesical muscle as well as impaired neural control and age-related changes of the lower urinary tract.).

Urinary incontinence is a rather sensitive issue for women and especially for senior women.  In fact, urinary incontinence affects about 19% of women aged 19 to 44 years, 25% of those aged 45 to 64 years, and 30% of those aged 65 year and older.

Adopting healthy habits can bring a real relief:

*Drinking enough water throughout the day is important for seniors to be well hydrated.  A decrease in fluid intakes may lead to urinary tract infections, constipation, or dehydration.

*Maintaining normal weight though adulthood may be an important factor in preventing the development of urinary incontinence especially in women, because overweight increases the pressure on the bladder and surrounding muscles.

*Prescribing some physical rehabilitation therapies with a physiotherapist including musculation of the pelvic floor can also be useful for initial management of urinary incontinence.

*It is also a good idea to go to the toilet regularly.

Drinking water helps to maintain water balance.  Every day, water loss must be compensated by sufficient intake of water.  That is why it is important to remain properly hydrated.  A healthy sedentary adult living in a temperate climate loses 2lto 3l of water a day, mainly from urine.  But other vectors are also responsible for the body water loss: the skin, the respiratory tract and, at a low lever, the digestive system.  It is important to compensate those losses by a sufficient water intake. 

Our body produces water by metabolism and gets water from food but this is not sufficient to fulfill the body needs.  So an adult should drink on average, 1.5l of water a day.  With ageing, all parameters of water metabolism undergo changes and so, the water balance evolves.  Elderly people show lower non-renal water losses (mainly due to lower sweat losses); at the same time renal concentration capacity becomes impaired, resulting in an increased obligatory urine volume.  Because eating habits are changing, the volume of water obtained from food increases slightly with age whereas the metabolic water decreases.  So the water balance remains nearly the same and the water intake recommendations can be maintained.  But water input can be reduced due to the diminution of the thirst sensation and appetite.  Therefore it is important to keep a healthy habit of drinking 1.5l the equivalent of 8 glasses of water regularly throughout the day.  The daily needs are even higher when the outside temperature increases or when the inside temperature is overheated.

Observing the color of urine is an easy and rapid way to assess whether someone is properly hydrated.  If urine is dark-colord rather than pale yellow, it might mean you are not drinking enough.  One thing to keep in mind, the urine color can be affected by certain foods, vitamin supplement or medical treatment. 

Stay hydrated out there!

Peace and health.

April

The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Incontinence Products Plus Site or associated Blog!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Incontinence Products Plus or it's associated Blog does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site.

Vitamins by Age Group

Vitamins and supplements are a big industry, and there are so many to choose from.  Trying to figure out what to take, which makers have a better product and if it really adds value to your health. 

A dietary supplement is just that, it is a dietary ingredient intended to add further nutritional value to your own diet.  We do know that by eating the right amounts of fruits, vegetables, nuts, protein and dairy, we fulfill our daily requirements of vitamins needed to sustain a healthy body.  But a busy lifestyle doesn’t always allow for the perfect meal planning, so our bodies tend to suffer from lack of certain nutrients needed daily, so the next best thing is to reach for the vitamins/supplements to make up for those we are lacking.

That being said, what dietary supplements are the most important?  And what are the necessary amounts needed, as it varies with age and the daily diet doesn’t always provide all the nutrients needed.

According to WebMD:

Infants (0-12mos.):  Since infants can’t consume as many calories as adults, a diet high in fat supplies more than twice the calories of carbohydrates or protein.  Fat also supplies the essential fatty acids that attribute to proper brain development. Breast Milk, formula and animal products provide fat and cholesterol, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system.  Babies need Vitamin D every day to build strong bones and teeth.  Iron is needed as well to help support an infant’s rapid growth and development.

Toddlers & School Aged Children (1-8yrs.): Toddlers need about 1,400 calories a day. Milk provides calcium and vitamin D for the growing bones.  Everyone between 1-70 years old should get 600IU of vitamin D daily, about the amount found in five 8-ounce glasses of milk.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children of all ages who drink less than 32 ounces of vitamin D added milk daily need vitamin D supplements.  As a child’s diet begins to reflect the family’s eating patterns, the child may be at risk for a diet low in calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and fiber, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Kids who avoid meat and other iron-rich foods, or any food group, may need a multivitamin supplement to fill in nutrient gaps.  Children who don’t consume enough milk or calcium and vitamin-D foods may require extra calcium.

Pre-teens and Teens (9 to 19 years old): Adolescence is the time for a child’s final growth spurt.  A child’s body begins preparing for the changes to come starting around age nine.  Nearly half of all skeletal growth occurs during the teen years.  Rapidly growing bones trigger a higher demand for calcium and the body responds by boosting calcium absorption from food and depositing it in bones to make them longer and thicker.  From age 9-18, children require 1,300mg of calcium daily, about the amount found in 32 ounces of milk.  Children of all ages require 600IU of vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption in the body.  Iron requirements increases at age 14 to support increased blood volume and muscle mass.  Teen girls due to menstruation need more than boys to make up for monthly losses.  Inadequate iron intake can lead to anemia, the most common nutrient shortfall for teen girls. Teens who skimp on animal products run a greater risk for iron deficiency and insufficient intake of vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D, among others.  A daily multivitamin helps to fill in small nutrient gaps in a teen’s diet.

Adults (19 to 50 years old): Calorie needs decrease when you’re done growing.  A woman’s iron needs increase again in adulthood, to 18mg daily.  During pregnancy, iron requirements rise to 27mg daily, which is difficult to satisfy with food alone. 

Folic acid is another important nutrient during the childbearing years.  This B vitamin helps to prevent birth defects during early pregnancy.  The Institute of Medicine encourages women who may become pregnant to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily from fortified foods, dietary supplements, or a combination of the two.

With the exception of pregnancy, calcium absorption starts decreasing during adulthood.  Women, and men, should satisfy their daily calcium needs during this stage, which arte 1,000mg to reduce the risk of bone fractures later on in life. Calcium and vitamin D supplements make sense if you don’t consume the recommended 24 ounces of low-fat (1%) milk or fat-free milk or yogurt, or a combination of these every day – or if you don’t get the recommended calcium and vitamin D from other foods besides dairy.

Senior (50years old and older):  Nutrient needs change with advancing age for several reasons:  the body absorbs less, it requires more, or it needs less of certain nutrients.  For example, after menopause, women need less iron – 8mg daily – compared to 18mg daily during childbearing years – but they require more calcium.  As estrogen production decreases during menopause, more bone is broker down than constructed.  In addition, the body absorbs less calcium than it did earlier in life.  After age 51, women should consume 1,200mg calcium daily and men need 1,000mg.  Vitamin D needs go up with age, too.  After age 71, you should get 800IU daily.  Unless you drink 64 ounces of mild each day, you need a vitamin d supplement.

It’s harder to absorb naturally occurring vitamin B12 after age 50, because your body is less able to grab the vitamin B12 from foods and absorb it.  The body easily absorbs synthetic B12, however, which is why experts recommend it as the primary B12 source for people over 50.  Foods fortified with vitamin B12. Such as breakfast cereals and other, grains, or a multivitamin can help you meet your vitamin B12 needs.

Also keep in mind that certain nutrients interfere with over-the-counter and prescription medications.  As always, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the dietary supplements you take and how they may affect your medications.

Tranquility Incontinence Products by Principle Business Enterprises

Incontinence Products Plus is proud to be a Tranquility Authorized Online Dealer. Tranquility is a manufacturer of premium protection incontinence products. Their products are known for their super levels of absorption, leak control, odor control, and comfort. Our product offering includes all of their products including the popular Premium Overnight Protective Underwear, ATN (All Through The Night) Adult Diapers, and XL+ Bariatric Brief Adult Diapers.

Tranquility Premium Products are used by home healthcare, medical facilities, and consumers that are looking for premium absorption and protection and comfort. They offer an extensive array of products to meet a full range of incontinence needs including disposable protective underwear, briefs (adult diapers), underpads (bed pads or “chux”), liners and pads, disposable swimwear, gloves, and wipes. The product line provides a complete line of highly absorbent products including the new EliteCare Super Absorbent Adult Diapers with a fluid holding capacity of 44 ounces!

Tranquility incontinence products improves exceptional capacity and comfort. They also help reduce needless changes so that users and caregivers can enjoy uninterrupted sleep and normal socialization. These improvements help the users quality of life by helping provide a sense of happiness and peace of mind that stems from daily activities of wholesome living and caring.

Tranquility products peach-colored core symbolizes the promise of unsurpassed performance in the areas of skin dryness, odor reduction, urine pH neutralization, and inhibition of bacterial growth.

Tranquility brand products are made by Principle Business Enterprises which is a woman-owned , family enterprise celebrating over 50 years of service. They are located in the USA in Dunbridge, OH. The Principle Business Enterprise family of products includes Tranquility, Select, ComfortCare, Swimmates, and Pillow Paws.

 You can visit our website here to view the complete line of Tranquility products.

Heart Health and Heart Disease

Heart Disease, also known as cardiovascular (CVD) disease, along with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), has been a common topic in the news today.  There are many who suffer from heart disease but it seems that as soon as we hear the news of a celebrity, for some reason it hits home and wakes us up.  The most recent celebrities to be plagued and to have succumb to this horrible disease are George Michael & Carrie Fisher, both with heart failure.  Such shocking and sad news, but this disease does not discriminate.

Cardiovascular disease include the following: 

• Angina
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Heart Failure
• Hypertensive Heart Disease
• Rheumatic Heart Disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Arrhythmia
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Valvular Heart Disease
• Carditis
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Peripheral Artery Disease
• Venous Thrombosis

According to CDC.gov, Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.  

• About 610,000 people die of heart diseases in the United States every year, that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.
• Every year about 750,000 Americans have a heart attack, of these 550,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.
• About 15% of people who have a heart attach will die from it.
• Almost half of sudden cardiac deaths happen outside a hospital.
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (47%) have at lease one of these three risk factors. 
• Several other medical conditions can attribute to the disease as well, including:
• Diabetes, being overweight and obesity, Poor Diet, Physical Inactivity and Excessive Alcohol use.

SYMPTOMS OF HEART ATTACK:

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is cut off.  The continued lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, can increase and greatly damage the heart.  Recognizing the signs of a heart attack and calling 911 immediately greatly increases the chance of survival.

The National Heart Attack Alert Program list the major signs of a heart attack: 

• Chest Pain or discomfort: Discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.  The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body:  Can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of Breath:  Often comes along with the chest discomfort.  But it also can occur before chest discomfort.
• Other Symptoms:  May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately.

Happy and Healthy 2017

Prostate and Male Urinary Incontinence

The other night at dinner a friend was telling me that his buddy of over 30 years had to stop wearing khaki pants because he is embarrassed by wet spots caused by urination. I immediately asked him if his friend had a prostate procedure and the answer was yes, which he then followed up with the question - “why?”.

To understand the “why” you have to have a basic understanding of what the prostate is, where it is in the male body, and why a procedure may cause urinary incontinence.

First off, the loss of the ability to control urination by men is commonly caused by surgery or radiation treatments for prostate cancer. It may be a short term issue or can be a lifelong issue. Let’s drill down into the details to understand “why”.

Lets start with the basics of what the prostate is and what is does and how it helps hold urine. Urine is stored in the bladder after it is drained from the kidneys. The bladder holds the urine until there is an urge to urinate. The bladder is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ. Urine flows out of the bladder and leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. Urination occurs when muscles in the bladder contract and forces urine out of the bladder. While this is happening the muscles that surround the urethra relax an allow the urine to flow out.

Here’s where the prostate comes into the picture - it is a gland that surrounds the urethra.

An enlarged prostate gland can obstruct the urethra and can cause urination retention or other problems with urination.

Removing the prostate through surgery or destroying it through radiation (via external beans or use of radioactive seed implants) disrupts the way the bladder holds urine and can result in urine leakage. Radiation can also decrease the capacity of the bladder and cause spasms that force urine out. Surgery can also damage nerves that help control bladder function.

Surgeons and procedures have changed over the years to attempt to reduce these issues. When removing the prostate they may try to save as much of the area around the bladder and the sphincter muscles around the urethra reducing the damage to the sphincter. Doctor have also improved the process of how they place the radioactive seed implants that destroy the prostate while limiting damage to the bladder.

Any man who is going through surgery or radiation to treat prostate cancer should expect to develop some problems with urinary control. There are new techniques that may help some men only have temporary problems controlling urine, and many may regain full control of their bladder over time.

Treatments options may include (always speak with your doctor for any and all treatment options):

Pelvic floor exercises. Doctors will often start with behavioral techniques that train men to control their ability to hold urine. These exercises are often called “Kegal Exercises”

Supportive Care including behavior modifications. This often includes reduction in fluid intake, reducing/avoiding caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods, and not drinking before bedtime. Regular and frequent urination and not waiting till the last minute to go may also be encouraged. Losing weight may also help. Medications that also interfere with incontinence may also be reviewed.

Medications may be reviewed as they can increase bladder capacity and decrease urination frequency.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is treatment used to retrain and strengthen week urinary muscles and improve bladder control. This treatment involves a probe being inserted into the anus and a current passed through the probe at a level below the pain threshold which causes muscle contraction. The patient is then taught to squeeze the muscles when the current is on. After the contraction the current is switched off.

Artificial sphincter is a patient controlled device mad of tree parts - a pump, a pressure-regulating balloon, and a cuff that encircles the urethra and prevents urine from leaking. Results from an artificial sphincter can cure or greatly improve up-to 70-80% of patients.

Bulbourethral sling is a device used to compress and suspend the urethra. It is made to help achieve ladder control.

Other surgery may also be available on your doctors recommendation to help men hold urine.

If you are experiencing male incontinence there are many products available to avoid embracing leaks through your clothing and also help control odors. Here is a link to our Male Incontinence Products that may help you live a more active and comfortable lifestyle after prostate surgery or radiation treatment.


To follow up on what started this discussion on why prostrate issues impact men and cause incontinence are: enlarged prostate may cause obstruction and flow of urine through the urethra making it difficult to urinate or control when to urinate. Treatments such as radiation and surgery will reduce or eliminate the prostrate, but may result in a reduction in bladder capacity and the inability to control urination and unwanted leakage. Luckily, treatments and surgeries are getting better. Any change in urination or feeling should be discussed with your doctor. Any treatments or changes to existing treatments should be discussed with your doctor.

Introducing All New Prevail Overnight Incontinenence Products

Prevail is introducing several new overnight use incontinence products to their excellent line of disposable incontinence products. Prevail is known quality, value and selection and we are pleased to announce these products aimed at the overnight and extended use levels of absorbency. These products are brand new and expected to start shipping in December 2016 - January 2017.

Prevail for Women Overnight Protective Underwear

• Designed for comfort and dryness for overnight or extended use
• Feminine look and feel in a disposable pull up underwear
• Made specifically for women
  

Prevail for Men Overnight Protective Underwear

• Designed for comfort and dryness for overnight or extended use
• Masculine look and feel in a disposable pull up underwear
• Made specifically for men

Prevail Overnight Bladder Control Pads

• Designed for comfort and dryness for overnight or extended use
• 16" long highly absorbent and comfortable pads
• Individually wrapped for convenience

About Incontinence: Incontinence can effect anyone at different stages in life for a number of reasons. Whether you're a new mom experiencing bladder leaks for the first time or a caregiver assisting an aging parent, Prevail has you covered. They offer reliable, discrete, and comfortable incontinence solutions designed to help you take control of your life.

About Prevail - Prevail is a manufacturer of fine disposable incontinence products for a wide range of adult and child incontinence needs. They are manufactured in Pennsylvania with attention to quality, safety, sustainability and responsible sourcing practices by First Quality, a family owned company.

Exercise & Mobilty for an Active Lifestyle as we Age

Mobility and flexibility get tougher as we age, our bodies change and we begin to feel limited in our movements.  Aging as well as injuries can put a damper on our active lifestyle, and we begin to struggle with motivation.  Any activity is good for the body, mind and soul it doesn’t have to be high impact, high intensity.  I guess what I’m trying to say, is you don’t have to kill yourself to feel like you are doing something good for your body.  

Every exercise, every movement has some sort of modification.  So if you are immobile, injured or just starting out, there is a modification just for you.  I found this site for ideas on how to get you started on some seated exercises, www.sitandbefit.org.  This fine organization is dedicated  healthy aging advocacy and believes that everyone has the right to feel good and age well - and I couldn't agree more!

Time to motivate and get your body moving.  Remember always check with your doctor and healthcare professional before getting started.

Peace and love-

April