Ask the Pharmacist

In March's edition of Ask the Pharmacist, Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy's Pat Harmon explains the treatment options available for people who suffer from incontinence and irritable bowel disease.

Urinary incontinence in simple terms relates to a partial or complete loss of bladder control. We all have a sphincter muscle that acts as a control of our bladders. In many people this function can be impaired, be it from an acute injury , infection, advancing age etc. Incontinence is far more common in women than in men but can happen to anyone at any age. Childbirth is a common cause of incontinence in many women, the muscles can be weakened during the process of childbirth. In some cases this can be corrected via specific exercises. Other times it can be corrected surgically if the situation is intolerable. However the majority of people will find themselves in an in-between scenario where they must learn to live with their symptoms for the rest of their life and this can be enormously distressing. It is important to know that you are not alone and this condition is far more prevalent than the statistics show.

There are a variety of subtypes of incontinence-stress incontinence happens during any activity that puts pressure on the bladder so even a simple sneeze or a fit of laughing can leave you running to find the nearest toilet. Urge incontinence is when you cannot make it to the toilet in time to empty your bladder and can be a sign of a bigger problem such as an enlarged prostate in men. Overflow incontinence happens when there is dribbling from the bladder as a result of not emptying the bladder completely. Whatever the cause or subtype, the end result is always the same. Incontinence can have enormous impacts on people's mental health, the fear of being caught out when out in public can make people virtual prisoners in their own homes. I would urge anyone who is suffering in silence with this condition to come forward to ask for help as these days there are several options available to people to manage it. In a medical intervention there are medications available to treat incontinence and it could be worthwhile talking to your GP about your options. While there is no magic cure per se, we often find people find the medicines effective. Call into us if you would like more information on your treatment options.

In terms of supportive appliances there are an enormous range of pants, pads, liners and disposable underwear and in Mounthawk Pharmacy we are proud to stock an extensive range of products to suit people's needs. There products contain special absorbant materials that help to keep the skin dry and prevent leakage to your outer clothes. They are designed to be discreet and can give you peace of mind when out and about. We have an extensive range and can order in special brands and appliances on request. In terms of lifestyle advice to improve bladder control there are a few things that can be tried. Caffeine is a known diuretic and is proven to increase urine output. Cutting down on tea/coffee intake can have real benefits. Exercise and weight loss may sound a cliché but studies have shown that overweight people suffer more from bladder issues so any attempt at weightless can only be beneficial.

The morale of the story is this is is a condition that is very common and there is no need to suffer in silence. Come forward to ask for help and you won't regret it.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an increasingly common condition affecting people and can make life truly miserable for sufferers. It is characterised by alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation and associated symptoms such as bloating and abdominal cramps. The symptoms can be mild and no more than a nuisance or disabling and really affect a person's quality of life. The difference between IBS and more serious intestinal disorders such as Crohns/Ulcerative colitis is that often no pathological disturbances will show up on examination. The symptoms can appear to have no underlying cause and this can make diagnosis and finding the right treatment options more difficult.

There is often a strong dietary cause of IBS and sufferers will learn what foods aggrevate the condition and simply avoid them. Common triggers are dairy produce, wheat and spicy foods. If a person can identify the foods that cause the unpleasant symptoms then they can exclude them from their diet and hopefully this will resolve their symptoms. For others it isn't this clear cut and there is no easy answer for why the symptoms are occurring. There is a strong correlation between stress and IBS and people often find that when stress levels rise that their symptoms get worse. Obviously this is not an easy fix but in such cases, learning coping techniques to reduce stress levels can be enormously helpful. Some patients may benefit from antidepressants and these are proven to help in certain patients where an emotional component is involved in IBS.

For symptomatic relief we are happy to say in Mounthawk Pharmacy we are well stocked in all the popular remedies that are on the market today. For constipation we have tried and tested products such as Senokot, Lactulose and Dulcolax. For diarrhoea we have Imodium and Dioralyte to help prevent dehydration. For bloating we have Bloateze and for cramping we have Buscopan. Probiotics can have huge health benefits in many IBS sufferers and in Mounthawk Pharmacy we sell the full range ranging from Alflorex, to Biokult, to Udos Choice to Zenflore. Our experienced team have many years experience dealing with these products and can help you to find the right one for your needs.

I hope you found this months issue of Ask the Pharmacist useful and as always, feel free to pop into store if you have any questions about any of the issues discussed above. Until next time!"

E: mounthawk@allcarepharmacy.ie

Ph: (066) 712 8989

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