According to the American College of Gastroenterology, over 5.5 million Americans have bowel incontinence. This condition, also known as Accidental Bowel Leakage, causes the uncontrollable passing of fecal matter with varying levels of severity. While it can cause difficulties for those that have it, it is a not an illness. Nonetheless, the sufferer's emotional health, quality of life, and self-esteem can be affected.
Prevalence of Incontinence
6% of women experience bowel incontinence under the age of 40, jumping to 15% for those over the age of 40.Men come in at 6-10% of the community that suffer, and usually without reporting their symptoms.In the elderly nursing home population, it rises even higher with the occurrence of bowel incontinence jumping as high as 47% of all residents.
Why Incontinence Happens
In healthy people, nerves in the rectum create an urge to empty the bowels after digestion. If the person does not defecate when there is an urge, the person can "hold it in" which means the fecal matter returns to the colon. Our external sphincter usually responds when we want it to but for some people, that is not the case. There are various things that can cause bowel incontinence.
1. Damage to either the nerves or the muscle caused by an injury. Women can experience damage when the muscles become too stretched during childbirth.2. Loose or liquid stool passes much quicker than solid feces. Diarrhea can be caused by an illness such as a stomach virus, or can be diet related due to certain foods.3. Chronic laxative use will make the stool is too loose for the sphincter muscle to work properly.4. Physical problems with the rectum, such as rectocele or rectal prolapse can cause incontinence also.5. Hemorrhoid flare-ups interfere with the proper function of the sphincter muscle.
Symptoms of Incontinence
1. Urge bowel incontinence - bowel movement happens too quickly after sudden urge2. Passive soiling - no bodily indication of bowel movement is about to occur.
Incontinence Diagnosis
The Patient's doctor will ask questions about their symptoms, diet, medical history, etc. It is important that they stay open and honest in order to find the best treatment for their case. The doctor may examine the individual's anus to check for any damage, hemorrhoids, or any other conditions. They should also be able to determine if there are any tumors, muscle problems, or constipation.
Treatments for Incontinence
1. Medications such as anti-diarrheal medicine or laxatives2. Surgeries such as surgery to repair the sphincter muscle, a prolapsed rectum or remove hemorrhoids.3. Diet changes - for example, switching to lactose-free foods if lactose intolerant or increasing fiber intake.4. Rectal and pelvic exercises. These are exercises also called bowel training that strengthen the muscles to help them function properly again.5. Surgical procedures such as sphincteroplasty or sphincter replacement.
Ways to Prevent Incontinence
Often times, you can prevent bowel incontinence by avoiding constipation or diarrhea. Eating foods high in fiber and drinking plenty of water will reduce your constipation, whereas treating an infection in your digestion system will help get rid of diarrhea. Another precaution is to avoid over-straining when defecating to keep from weakening sphincter muscles.
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