It’s normal to feel devastated when a doctor diagnoses you with incontinence, or you start to experience the signs. However, you shouldn’t worry too much because you are not alone, as more than 200 million adults suffer from urinary incontinence. Besides, the condition is manageable.
The most common products for incontinence patients include adult briefs, women’s pads, bed pads, and extra absorbent inserts. These products are readily available online and are affordable. Once you wear them, you stay comfortable, whether sleeping or at a party.
If you have an active lifestyle, you need a comfortable, highly absorbent product to keep you dry. Keep reading for insights on picking the perfect one for your lifestyle.
1. Go for a Medical Assessment
Your first step in buying an incontinence product should be to go for an assessment to determine your incontinence level. After that, your doctor may recommend purchasing an adult diaper or any other product based on the severity of your incontinence.
Generally, there are three main urinary incontinence levels: light, moderate, and heavy.
To determine how severe your condition is, your doctor may ask a few questions, including if urine comes out when you cough or sneeze and the number of times you visit the washroom.
You should be honest in answering the questions to get the right assessment. Sometimes, the doctor may insert a catheter into your urethra to determine the frequency of your condition. Coordinate to get the proper diagnosis.
2. Understand the Available Products
Choosing an incontinence product for an active lifestyle is easy when you know what is available. During the assessment, your health practitioner may recommend some, but you can still do your research to find more.
There are many great incontinence products in the market that you can consider for an active lifestyle, and below are some of them.
- Adult briefs – they are the most common products for adults, and they come with a side tab for fastening. Most of them have a waterproof backing.
- Pull-ups– they come with a highly absorbent material, but the wearing design is pull-up, just like normal pants.
- Bed pads– these absorbent pads are fitted on a bed or chair to wick off the leakages and offer comfort when sleeping.
- Booster pads – they are worn alongside a normal incontinence material to increase comfort and help absorb more urine.
- Male guards– they work the same way as adult diapers, except that they are designed to fit the male anatomy.
At times, you may need to use more than one product if your level of incontinence is high. Understand all products to choose your preferred one for your active lifestyle.
3. Consider the Size
Incontinence products come in all sizes to meet everyone’s varying body needs. If you have an active lifestyle, you will need a well-fitting product to make you comfortable. It shouldn’t be too big, because it will slide off during your daily activities. Similarly, it shouldn’t be too small as it might hurt your waist when wearing. Before you buy, measure your waist and hip area correctly to get a fitting incontinence product. If you are unsure of the sizing, you can order one and add more later if the first one fits you well.
4. Consider the Comfort
Comfort is everything when you have an active lifestyle. Even if the product fits well, you must ensure it is highly comfortable to increase your confidence when wearing it. Here are the most common features to consider when determining the comfort of an incontinence product.
Absorbency Level
Some products are thick and have up to four cushioning layers, enhancing absorbency. If you suffer from heavy urine incontinence, a thicker adult diaper will be the best for you. It can be costlier than the smaller ones, but it guarantees maximum absorbency, so you won’t have to keep changing it.
Types of Material
An ideal material for an incontinence product should be gentle on the skin. The last thing you will need to experience when wearing an incontinence product is to get blisters because the material is rough on your skin. The right products should be made of a soft cotton material to reduce friction even when it’s filled up.
Odor Technology
Odor is one of the reasons why people with incontinence suffer from stigma. The smell comes when the pad is filled up and hasn’t been changed. However, some incontinence products have odor technology that wicks off any urine smell from the product, so you don’t need to use sprays to get a fresh scent. Pick them if you have an active lifestyle and want to stay fresh outdoors.
5. Pick Between Disposable and Washable
Incontinence products can either be disposable or washable. For people with an active lifestyle, disposable ones may be the best because you won’t have to keep washing them. Disposable ones may also be the best if you suffer from fecal incontinence. Review both options to pick what will best suit your busy lifestyle.
Conclusion
Incontinence products can greatly improve the quality of life for people with urinary or fecal incontinence. The products are readily available, and most of them are highly effective.
If you have an active lifestyle, you will need a well-fitting product that is also comfortable and keeps you odor-free.
As you buy, check reviews to see what other customers say about the product. Don’t forget to consult your healthcare provider for an honest opinion on what product may suit your active lifestyle.
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