Testing for the presence of illegal or banned substances has been in practice for some time, and is usually conducted by professionals and laboratories that specialize in drug abuse testing. Drug abuse testing is mandatory by law for many jobs and professions, such as commercial drivers, law enforcement and other emergency personnel, and required by most employers and sports associations. The substances being tested for may not always be illegal; in the case of athletes, many performance enhancing drugs and/or steroids may also be screened for violation of rules, rather than laws.

There are two sides to the issue of drug abuse testing: safety of others, and the invasion of one’s privacy. Many people feel that had our forefathers foreseen the technology to screen our blood and urine for the presence of chemicals, they would have included bodily fluids into the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution; the right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. Others see drug screening as a way to keep them safer. For example, many people feel that it is legitimate to “invade our privacy” if it will keep truck drivers or forklift operators from operating potentially deadly equipment while under the influence of illegal drugs. Some people wish to work in an environment where they are not surrounded by other workers who use drugs, whether for safety reasons or personal preference.

In the world of sports, use of performance enhancing drugs gives an unfair advantage over other athletes who do not partake in the use of steroids or other boosting agents. Drug testing is therefore used by athletic associations to keep the players honest and within the guidelines allowed.

When drug abuse testing first came out, it was very easy to get false positive results from items that were similar to illegal drugs. Many people tested positive for heroin use from taking over the counter pain relievers such as Motrin, and poppy seeds were another common ingredient that gave false positive results. Over the years, the tests have become more refined; designed to screen out potential products or foods that could give a positive reading and possibly deny a person employment or worse yet, show drugs in their system after a fatal accident involving a commercial vehicle, where testing for the presence of illegal drugs is required by law.

In addition to the many labs and private companies that offer drug abuse testing on a commercial level, there are now home test kits available for parents who may suspect that their children may be using illegal drugs, or for people who may be facing a commercial drug test for an upcoming job interview. Many people still feel that these tests are intrusive to their privacy, and may elect to purchase a kit that allows them to “fool” the commercial test, and may use a home drug test kit one or more times prior to the actual test, to ensure that they will appear clean when they go to the lab.

Prescription drug abuse is perhaps one of the most common forms of recreational drug use or drug addiction after alcohol and marijuana. Diet pills (speed) and pain medications (narcotics) such as Hydrocodone (Vicodin and Lorcet) and Oxycodone (Percoset and Endoset) are by far the most common prescriptions that are abused, but they not always intentionally abused, and rarely if ever, start out to be used in a manner inconstant with their labeling, if the prescriptions are genuinely written for that person by their doctor. Prescription drug abuse is also one of the most embarrassing addictions, but one that thankfully is also the easiest to share with others, so that lessons learned may be passed on in hopes of raising awareness to this type of addiction. Since the drugs involved were not of the illicit variety, it is usually easier for a recovering addict to speak of his or her experiences with others.

Many people start out using their medications with the best of intentions, but may find themselves becoming addicted after prolonged use, or after mixing their medications with alcohol, either intentionally, or unaware that doing so may have serious and addictive side affects. Alcohol will increase the dizzying effect of narcotic pain relievers, and this can be a very pleasant side affect for some, but it can also quickly spiral out of control from occasional recreational use, to an outright addiction for the user that can be very difficult to recover from without treatment by professional clinics.

Diet pills are another source for prescription drug abuse that can start out with no intention of becoming addicted by the user. People who become addicted to diet pills may feel a psychological need to continue once they reach their desired weight, due to the fear of becoming overweight once again. They may also find that when they stop taking the pills, they feel tired and lethargic, due to the fact that diet pills are amphetamines (uppers). They may seek out the peppiness that now seems to be missing from their lives, and possibly causing them to be late for work, or to act sluggishly once they arrive. This can lead to perpetual use, in this case abuse, by the patient in question.

Prescription drug abuse should not be looked upon with the same disdain as the use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, or crack, which are almost always used intentionally for the sole purpose of getting high, or alcoholism. The resulting addiction to those drugs is understandably looked at with scorn by those who do not partake in the use of drugs for elation; however, such is usually not the case with prescription drug abuse.

One must remember that people who become addicted to medications dispensed by a lawful prescription from their doctor, took the medicine in good faith; intending to use it properly, and most likely became addicted by accident. There is a big difference in the resulting addictions caused by prescription drug abuse as opposed to those caused by intentionally using a substance that one knows to be an addictive drug.

More and more people are turning health conscious these days. They are recognizing the benefits of exercising regularly.

But many a times it is just not possible to join a health club and follow a regular routine of exercise. Factors like gym timing and distance makes the person reluctant to join any such gymnasium or health club. An all purpose treadmill plays a crucial role in commencing your exercising routine at a comfort of home in such situations.

So if you are a health freak and finding it difficult to join a health club because of your busy work life, buying a treadmill is the best bet for you to stay healthy.

Now, buying a treadmill is an expensive proposition which should not be entered into lightly. Getting a treadmill which is cheap, durable and compatible with your body is almost as taxing as figuring your taxes at the end of the year.

There are many ways to narrow down your search for buying a perfect treadmill. The best way to do so is by reading online ratings and reviews given by experts as well as common people on different brands and range of treadmills. You can read the ratings and reviews on the official websites of treadmill manufacturers as well. On most of these sites, the price of the treadmill is also mentioned for your comfort.

But herein comes the most taxing part– finding the machine which is compatible with your body.

Most of the time, this can be done in a commercial gym where you can use some of the machines to find out which is more compatible with your body. If you are buying your first fitness machine you should not go to the one with many features but should go to the one which is more durable in the long run.

The one with quite a lot of features will be more expensive on your wallet and you may not even use all the features. If you can't check out the machines in the gym then walk into a showroom and start testing some of the models there. The testing time for each of the machines should be more than twenty five minutes as anything less will not give you an accurate result.

After testing the machines you will have a definite idea about the machine you are going to buy. This brings us to the money part of the deal. It always helps to check out the maintenance and repair costs that will be incurred in the long term.

Here the guarantee plays an important part. If the company only guarantees the product for 90 days instead of 180 days or a year then chances are that the product will breakdown after 90 days. Along with the guarantee, buying a treadmill also depends largely on your body structure and what kind of exercise you will be doing on it. It is particularly dependent on what injuries you have and how you deal with it. A treadmill that incorporates all this is the right one for you.

We all want the path to least resistance, and that is particularly true when it comes to burning calories and losing weight. Elliptical trainers are growing in popularity not only because of the low-impact, upper and lower body workout, but also due to their amount of calories burned in the least amount of time.

Why are more calories burned in less time with an elliptical trainer?

Basically you are exercising more of your body at once. An elliptical trainer works out both your lower and upper body simultaneously. Consequently, you are exercising more muscle groups. With the dual function of an elliptical trainer you exercise the back, triceps, biceps quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and chest. There is no other machine that offers such extensive exercising.

By exercising more muscle mass you improve fat mobilization, build muscle endurance, burn more calories and fat in less time, and reduce your perceived rate of exertion. Regarding the reduced rate of exertion, many find working out on an elliptical trainer less exhausting. By exercising more muscle groups at once, there is the perception that you get more results with less effort.

It should be noted to gain the full advantage of the upper workout you must apply adequate resistance to the upper body. Many individuals let their lower body do most of the work while letting their arms just go through the motion when holding on to the handlebars. You want to distribute the resistance between your upper and lower body. This is how you ultimately can burn more calories in less time.

In recent studies it was concluded that energy expenditure among overweight subjects was higher on the elliptical trainer than a treadmill or stationary bicycle. For overweight individuals who are initiating a regular exercise program to decrease excess body fat, they will find that elliptical trainers optimize energy expenditure.

Interval Training

If you are out to burn the most calories in the least amount of time, you want to either use an interval training program, or simulate it through manual programming. Interval training is becoming popular not only on elliptical trainers, but also through fitness classes. As the name suggests, interval training is alternating between high intensity exercises and cool down periods. You burn an intense amount of calories for a limited period, recover, and do it again. Interval training is proven to be more effective in burning calories than a sustained level of exertion.

Cialis (Tadalfil) is in a class of drugs called phophodiesterase inhibitors. FDA approved Tadalfil – Cialis in 2003 for the treatment of men who experience difficulty having and maintaining an erection.

Cialis (Tadalfil), an oral treatment for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men, is a selective inhibitor of cyclic quanosine monophosphate (cGMP) - specific phophodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5).

Cialis is available in the form of tablets which contains 5, 10 or 20 mg of Tadalfil and inactive ingredients like croscarmellose sodium, hydroxpropyl cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulphate, talc, titanium dioxide and triacetin.

Recommended dose of Cialis in most patients is 10mg taken prior to sexual intercourse. Both Cialis and Viagra work in the same way, by helping blood vessels in the penis to relax allowing blood to flow into the penis causing an erection.

Cialis is slightly different from the other ED drugs available in the market as it may work up to 36 hrs after dosing.

Cialis is available online with various sites offering cheap Cialis. Forzest is the Indian answer to Cialis and is manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. Forzest is same as Tadalfil and is also known as Generic Cialis.

When a doctor prescribes and while buying it on the net there may be a choice between a brand – name medicine and the generic version of that medicine.

Generic Cialis is available online and one can buy generic Cialis from these legal sites. There are variants of Generic Cialis available in the market – they are called generic Cialis or generic Tadalfil. They have the same composition as the branded Cialis. One can buy generic drugs as they only may look different because in the US, FDA does not allow it to look the same. Colors, flavors and certain other inactive ingredients may be different but the core ingredient remains the same.

As most of the drugs fall under the patent law many companies are lining up to manufacture generic forms of the brand name drugs going off patent. Many Indian companies are in the race for regulatory approval to introduce medicines in the highly lucrative North American market.

Many Chinese companies are also scaling up capabilities so that they could also foray into the generic market. All these companies need to file DMFs (drug masters file) before the US FDA detailing confidential information about manufacturing, processing and storing of drugs. They contain information about what is usually referred to as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the core component of a drug. DMFs are also meant to support abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA). An ANDA approval is required to register generic versions of patented medicines that generate huge potential for what are often called ‘copycats’ of the drugs going off patent.

If you are contemplating a vasectomy, then one of the biggest questions on your mind is whether you can afford it? The vasectomy is one of the most efficient forms of birth control available and we shall be taking a look at what fees you can expect to pay within this article.

However, if you are contemplating a vasectomy, then you would be well advised to thoroughly investigate the topic and find out what’s involved for you. Find out what potential risks there may be when undertaking surgery and also how much recovery time you may need.

One of the main considerations for many of those involved is going to be the cost involved. When you start looking into the costs involved with a vasectomy, you may well be surprised at the differences you see. That’s because a vasectomy can cost anywhere from $2000 to $12,000. So if you’re looking to have a vasectomy, shop around!

So what can cause vasectomy prices to vary as much as they do? Well, it depends on how your vasectomy is carried out. For instance, if your vasectomy has to be carried out in a hospital setting, and you have to spend a few days as an inpatient then this would instantly add large costs onto your bill. Normally, this won’t be the case unless there are some complications. Usually, the vasectomy can simply be carried out in the doctor’s office as a straightforward outpatient process. In these instances, your vasectomy costs will be much lower; in some instances people have faced a bill as low as $200-$500!

There are also various types of vasectomies that may be carried out. Some of these are going to be more complex than others and therefore more expensive! If your vasectomy requires the latest in microsurgical procedures, then you can expect a more expensive bill!

So be sure to speak with a couple of doctors and get some idea of what procedures and costs will be involved. Taking the time to study the subject and speak with a few doctors could save you a lot of money.

If it's left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other serious heart-related health problems such as hypertension, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, hypercapnia, stroke and heart disease. The link between heart disease and sleep apnea is still not fully understood, however.

People who are suffering from heart problems tend to have a high number of occurrences of sleep apnea. However, it isn't fully clear if the sleep apnea is the direct cause of the heart disease.

One thing that is clear is that someone who is suffering from sleep apnea has a much greater chance of developing hypertension. It has been shown that people who are suffering from both sleep apnea and high blood pressure show considerable improvement when treated for both. The same goes for sleep apnea and heart disease.

When a sleep apnea episode happens at night, the blood pressure increases because of a drop in the oxygen levels in the body. When this occurs, the brain tells the blood vessels to "tighten up" in order to get more oxygen to the brain and the heart, followed by the rest of the body.

The stoppages of breathing at night can last between 1 and 4 minutes, causing a large amount of stress to the heart. This also tends to carry forward into the daytime while awake. The mechanisms triggered by low oxygen levels in the body continue to operate during the day.

Sleep apnea sufferers have a 2.3 times greater chance of developing congestive heart failure than those who aren't dealing with it. Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a 1.5 times greater chance of having a stroke.

Sleep apnea can also contribute to more complications for anyone suffering from atrial fibrillation, a condition where the upper part of the heart (the atrium) is beating out of sync with the lower part (the ventricle).

To treat atrial fibrillation, the heart is cardioverted, meaning the atrium is reset to make it beat in sync with the ventricle. Over 50% of the people who have this procedure done suffer a relapse of the atrial fibrillation. In sleep apnea sufferers, that number has been shown to increase to 80%.

Health experts believe that the prevention of heart disease, particularly arteriosclerotic heart disease, is possible. To be sure, some risk factors are uncontrollable, such as sex, age and genetics; but there are a number of dietary and lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk.

Arteriosclerotic heart disease may be referred to as arteriosclerosis and is characterized by a thickening of and loss of elasticity of the blood vessel walls.

Atherosclerosis, which is a very similar and often confused term, is defined as a form of or a stage of arteriosclerotic heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the inner lining of the blood vessel walls. The prevention of heart disease focuses primarily on preventing this build up of plaque.

Plaque that is found in the arteries of the heart is referred to as atheroma. This plaque is composed of an inflammatory accumulation of macrophage white blood cells. It is believed that increasing amounts of LDL or bad cholesterol begin circulating in the blood stream, with dietary changes and habits that begin in school age children and are often carried over into adulthood.

Current research indicates that LDL cholesterol irritates and damages the lining of the blood vessels, leading to the inflammatory responses that cause the plaque. It is apparently a very slow process. It is quite possible that efforts for the prevention of heart disease should begin at a very early age.

Some of the suggestions from the American Heart Association for the prevention of heart disease include controlling childhood obesity and improving the nutritional value of the typical child’s diet or the typical “school lunch”. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein, such as fish or chicken, which is not fried or breaded, are heart healthy choices.

The best tests for detecting early arteriosclerotic heart disease are not commonly used or widely accepted. They are typically not covered by health insurance plans and often the disease is not detected until symptoms appear. According to data collected in 2004, a heart attack or sudden death is often the first symptom of arteriosclerotic heart disease. Thus, the yearly check-up is extremely important.

While doctors typically do not perform extensive tests for the early stages of heart disease, they do typically check weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These are the best indicators that the medical community has at this time. Additionally, a simple blood test for C-reactive protein, produced by the body during the inflammatory process, can indicate that inflammation of the arteries is present.

High blood pressure, high levels of LDL cholesterol or C-reactive protein circulating in the blood stream, along with obesity, age and heredity are all risk factors for the development of arteriosclerotic heart disease. Blood sugar levels also play a role, uncontrolled diabetes, particularly Type II or adult onset diabetes is currently considered a risk factor.

However, adult onset diabetes appears to be related to improper diet, lack of exercise and obesity, as well. While reducing age or changing parents is not possible, controlling the other risk factors can help with the prevention of heart disease.

According to the most recent research, it appears that using a combination of approaches for the prevention of heart disease is more effective than a single approach. Among these approaches are: making dietary changes, losing weight (particularly around the abdomen), reducing blood sugar levels to low normal and taking certain dietary supplements.

Controlling blood pressure and lowering LDL cholesterol may be achieved through dietary changes or prescription medications may be necessary. The same is true for reducing blood sugar levels. The dietary supplements that may help with the prevention of heart disease include anti-oxidants, the B-vitamins and folic acid.

Mangosteen puree, a dietary supplement, contains the most antioxidants available from a single source. These antioxidants destroy free radicals that can cause cellular damage leading to arteriosclerotic heart disease.

Mangosteen is an exotic fruit from Southeast Asia, and should not be confused with the more mundane mango. Mangosteen is an excellent source of B-vitamins and folic acid which helps lower homocysteine, an amino acid found in meat. High blood levels of homocysteine are related to the early development of arteriosclerotic disease.

In addition, the mangosteen contains natural anti-inflammatory properties which may be helpful for the prevention of heart disease.

If you've noticed that your jeans are fitting a little tighter than it was a month ago or the buttons on your blouse look like they're about to pop, you may have to seriously start thinking of losing some pounds and controlling your weight gain. Otherwise, a few months from now, your wardrobe is going to be in dire need of an overhaul.

A gym membership can be expensive and you doubt you'll be able to maintain a regular walking or jogging routine around your neighborhood. So what the next best thing to do to shed those pounds? Get a treadmill and use it indoors.

A treadmill offers many benefits. One of the things a treadmill can offer you is privacy. If you're a shy person or have the tendency to be conscious around people, a treadmill is the perfect solution for you. You can keep yourself fit within the comforts of your own home.

You can walk, jog or run on a treadmill. Initially, you can begin walking for half an hour a day at a comfortable pace. It's best if you get an electronic treadmill because you can set how fast the belt moves. You can then gradually increase your pace until you are able to walk at least three miles a day.

Not only will you lose weight when you are faithful in using the treadmill. Your metabolism will also improve and you will burn more calories. You will have more energy to expend. When you get yourself on a regular treadmill routine, you will also most likely be able to sleep better at night. Thus, in the end, your body will be more fit and healthier than ever.

Try getting on a treadmill for a few weeks and see how your body feels overall afterwards. You may not lose 25 pounds right away after a few weeks, but regularly getting on that treadmill can help you get your body become shapelier and healthier.

Selecting proper exercise equipment plays an important role in building the muscles to achieve an amazing physique. In addition, you need to bear in mind the proper exercise routines. The different types of exercises include endurance training, aerobics, strength training, resistance, progressive resistance, etc. You should include endurance training and aerobics in any workout

routine.

Endurance training is designed to build staying power and stamina. Treadmills are a type of endurance workouts, which boost metabolism. Bicycling and treadmills are excellent options for people suffering weight problems. Do not forget your diet. Exercise and diet is just the beginning of achieving an amazing physique.

In order to achieve your goal, you must understand equipment, types of workouts, and body type. For instance, if your goal is to build muscle mass you should use progressive resistance training, strength training, endurance and aerobics.

If you plan to build strength in the larger muscle groups without taking into consideration cardiovascular, you will cause the body harm. This is why it is crucial to select the proper equipment. At the same time, you should include endurance, strength training, resistance and aerobics to balance your workouts. Again, do not forget your balanced diet.

Every exercise machine works in slightly different ways. For instance, aerobics supply oxygen to the lungs, which is vital to the body. Aerobic workouts increase the muscle speed, improve the respiration system and increase the heart’s rate of speed. The speed increase will benefit you while performing progressive resistance workouts or strength training.

Strength training builds the muscles strength, yet you will loose more fat from aerobic training. Strength training will also flex the joints, while building body composition. Strength training will augment the total physical condition of the body.

Strength training will augment protein fibers and its function. It will also make the muscles relax through active force, which contracts the muscles, thus marking the muscles force. As a result, the muscles will enlarge. Strength training toils the prime mover muscles, as well as the stabilizer muscles. Strength training also works the antagonistic muscles.

Urinary incontinence is the inability to stop urine leakage. Incontinence can be embarrassing in that it interferes with living a normal, full life. But there are several ways to control it. This article explains the different types of incontinence along with management and treatment options.

Incontinence is Common

If you have trouble controlling your bladder, you are not alone. Loss of bladder control is a common problem, shared by millions of Americans. Incontinence can rob you of sleep and leave you exhausted. It can make travel awkward and keep you from enjoying physical activity. Despite these frustrations, fewer than half the people with incontinence seek help. Many feel too embarrassed, while others don’t realize that help is available.

Incontinence is Treatable

The successful treatment of incontinence begins with an accurate diagnosis. Then you and your doctor can discuss your treatment options. These may include certain medications, exercises and other therapy to help strengthen muscles, procedures to help stop leakage, or surgery. Incontinence can be controlled and, in many cases, even cured.

Types of Incontinence

There are different types of incontinence: urge (also known as overactive bladder), stress, and overflow. You may have only one type. Or you may have urge incontinence along with one of the other types (mixed incontinence). All people with incontinence have bladder control problems. But each type of incontinence has its own pattern of signs and symptoms. You can identify your type by comparing these typical patterns.

People with URGE INCONTINENCE or OVERACTIVE BLADDER may:
• Wet themselves if they don’t get to a bathroom immediately
• Get up frequently during the night to urinate
• Go to the bathroom at least every two hours
• Feel they have a weak bladder. Each drink of coffee, cola, or alcohol seems to cause urination out of proportion to the amount they actually drink
• Wet the bed at night

People with STRESS INCONTINENCE may:
• Leak urine when they cough, sneeze, or laugh
• Go to the bathroom more frequently in order to avoid accidents
• Avoid exercise because they are afraid it will cause leaks
• Sleep through the night, but leak upon getting up from bed in the morning
• Sometimes leak urine when they get up from a chair

People with OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE may:
• Get up frequently during the night to urinate
• Take a long time to urinate and have a weak, dribbling stream with no force
• Urinate small amounts and not feel completely empty afterward
• Dribble urine throughout the day
• Feel the urge to urinate, but sometimes can’t

*People with mixed incontinence have a combination of the above signs and symptoms

When You’re Continent

Continence means you have control over your bladder. You can hold urine in or let it out when you choose. For example, you may be in a situation where it is not convenient to get to the bathroom. Even if your brain gets the message that your bladder is getting full and you feel the desire to urinate, you can consciously tell your system to wait to expel the urine until it is convenient.

HOLDING URINE IN
1. Brain gets signal that bladder is full, and you feel the urge to urinate
2. Spinal Cord sends message from brain telling external sphincter to contract
3. External Sphincter contracts and stays closed
4. This signals bladder to relax and bladder neck to stay closed. Urge to urinate subsides LETTING URINE OUT
1. Brain get signal that bladder is full, and you feel the urge to urinate
2. Spinal Cord sends message from brain telling external sphincter to relax
3. External sphincter relaxes and opens
4. This signals bladder to contract and expel urine, and bladder neck to open, allowing urine into the urethra

When You’re Incontinent

Incontinence means loss of bladder control. It occurs when any part of the urinary system fails to function. Both men and women may develop overactive bladder, stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, or mixed incontinence. Women are more likely to develop incontinence than men because their internal organ structure is different to allow for childbirth. Pregnancy, childbirth, and decreased levels of the female hormone estrogen can weaken pelvic floor muscles, allowing organs such as the bladder, urethra, and uterus to shift out of place (prolapse). This may cause incontinence and a feeling of pressure or that something is slipping. Men have fewer incontinence problems because the shape of the male urinary tract and longer urethra offer more support.

Urge Incontinence and Overactive Bladder

MEDICAL HISTORY Your medical history may show that you have been experiencing persistent and extreme urgency, even after urinating. You may have wet the bed as a child, because overactive bladder can occur temporarily in childhood, then reappear in adulthood. Overactive bladder often reappears after menopause, because hormonal changes can weaken the external sphincter. Your history may include prior pelvic surgery, back problem, nerve problems, or infections.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence occurs when pelvic floor muscles have become weak and pelvic organs slip down (prolapse). As a result, the bladder neck is not in the correct position. When activity such as lifting heavy objects, coughing, laughing, sneezing, or getting up from a chair increases pressure on the abdominal cavity and the bladder, the bladder neck opens. If the external sphincter is also weak, urine leakage occurs. In people with mixed incontinence, overactive bladder is also present.

MEDICAL HISTORY Women who have had one or more pregnancies and deliveries often develop stress incontinence. That’s because pregnancy and delivery may stretch, relax, and weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Lowered estrogen levels during menopause also weaken and thin these muscles and surrounding tissues. Prior pelvic surgery can affect the position and tone of the organs and muscles. Men may experience temporary stress incontinence after prostate surgery. You may also notice your symptoms are worse if you suffer from a cold, bronchitis, or allergies.

Overflow Incontinence

Overflow may result when scar tissue or prolapsed organs make the urethra narrow, blocking urine from flowing when you try to urinate. In women, it may arise temporarily due to swelling after pelvic surgery or childbirth. In men, it may be cause by an enlarged prostate. Or it may occur if the bladder stops contracting because of medications, injured nerves, or overstretching of the bladder tissue. As a result, the bladder stays full, and constant pressure on the bladder neck results in urine leakage. Some people with overflow incontinence also have overactive bladder (mixed incontinence).

MEDICAL HISTORY Your medical history may indicate that your urine stream is getting weaker, and that it takes you a long time to urinate. You may be experiencing a dull ache in the lower abdomen, low back pain, or have accidents during the night. Women may have a feeling or fullness in the vagina. Causes include childbirth, previous pelvic surgery, prostate problems, and diabetes, medications that hinder bladder contractions, constipation, nerve or muscle problems, and a history of sexually transmitted disease.

Absorbent Products

Products that absorb urine are available in both disposable and reusable forms. They may be used temporarily until your treatment has a chance to work, if the treatment yields less than perfect results, or if you undergo no treatment. By reducing wetness and odor, they help keep you mobile, functioning, and comfortable.

Absorbent Pads Pads come in varying degrees of absorbency. They’re attached to underwear and can be worn under normal clothing.

Adult Briefs These are bulkier than pads but are more absorbent. They’re fastened with self-adhesive tape.

Bed Pads Bed pads protect the bed linens and mattress at night. They are available in different sizes and absorbencies.

Skin Care

Prolonged contact with urine is very irritating to the skin. Keeping yourself clean and dry will reduce skin rash and odor. Wash with mild non-deodorant soap and avoid harsh detergents. Special cleansers and protective creams and powders are available. Specially formulated deodorant tablets, taken daily, may further help control odor.

As our population ages we will see more and more folks choosing in-home health care, instead of Old Folks Homes. Of course this does not mean it will be cheap or free by any means. Prices can range from $75.00 to $150.00 per day presently and that could either increase due to supply and demand and nurse shortages or drop due to more companies entering the market.

In fact one company in Arizona has recently franchised this concept and those who would like to provide in-home care can buy a franchised business to do this type of work. With more of our population living longer and having fewer kids to support them in their old age we will see this industry sector increase. Most health care analysts believe that home health care and in-home care will become a multi-hundred billion dollar business very soon and could hit a trillion a year by 2025.

Of course with these high daily costs, you can imagine that this could take quite a bit of money to insure one is able to afford it. Luckily there are insurance companies, which will provide coverage incase you are home ridden in the future. Just be sure to pick a reputable company that will be around later if you sign up for such insurance now.