Tips for Managing Incontinence During Travel

Standing in line at airport security is often a tedious wait, but for those with an unpredictable bladder, the fear of losing control can quickly turn a dream holiday into a nightmare. Research conducted by DEPEND^® has shown that people aged 40 and over are deeply impacted by bladder problems, which undermines their self-confidence, increases anxiety, limits their choices of activities and often disrupts their travel plans.

While a quarter of people found it affected their everyday travel, this almost doubled when longer trips were considered. Retirement is a time to travel and enjoy socialising with family and friends. Unfortunately, for the majority of people affected by bladder leakage or incontinence, the fear of bladder leakage accidents remains at the back of their minds and more than half of the people surveyed (54%) also mentioned that their bladder control impacted their self-confidence.

Fortunately, there are many practical ways of managing bladder leakage so you can lead a more active life and fulfill your holiday dreams. Joanne, a Neurological Continence Nurse Consultant and former academic at the Australian Catholic University (ACU National), offers some tips below on how to do just that:

• Plan ahead before you travel. Book your seats ahead, be it by bus, train or flight travel, so you’re situated closer to toilets and seated in an aisle seat.
• Stock up on your protective supplies before leaving home, no matter where you are going. It will help you avoid the stress of trying something new or having to go without. If you are amongst the many who use a sanitary pad and not a product designed specifically for moderate to high volume urine loss, consider swapping over. Depend^® has developed an online tool to help you find the right product and protection for your needs.
• Don’t be tempted to reduce your intake of fluids as this will not reduce your risk of leakage; but instead, choose your drinks wisely. Avoid caffeine, which is a natural diuretic (chemicals that make you need to pass urine) and bladder irritant. Ensure you drink between 5 to 8 glasses of water every day. If you don’t drink enough fluids, you will reduce your bladder's capacity and actually increase your bladder sensitivity.
• Up to 70% of people suffering from bladder leakage do not seek professional help for their condition. Don’t be one of them. Get in touch with your General Practitioner or seek out a specialist to discuss your needs. 

Don’t let incontinence restrict your life! DEPEND^® highly absorbent tape or pants product protects against loss of bladder control and are expertly designed for the ultimate discreet and comfort.

Sign up for a free sample now!

Grab A Free Sample