Why does a person who has suffered a spinal cord injury often become much more susceptible to heart disease?

A new study undertaken at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation seeks to answer this question.  The answer may lie in a previously less emphasized area--autonomic nervous system pathways disrupted by spinal cord injury (SCI). 

Autonomic pathways serve involuntary functions of the internal body, involving organs of respiration, digestion, elimination, circulation.  Lungs, heart, stomach, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, spleen, intestines, blood and lymph vessels, reproductive organs, glands.  All structures and functions unseen by the eyes are maintained by autonomic nerve pathways which travel from the brain through the spine to the internal body.

The research was targeted specifically to heart disease, which affects people with spinal cord injury disproportionately, and at a younger age than the general population.

The study involved assessments of a control group of 14 able-bodied persons and another group of 20 persons who have sustained SCI.  The group of 20 was further subdivided into those who had sustained autonomic pathway disruption with those who had not.

Conclusive findings showed that while both SCI groups had high cholesterol, the group with autonomic nerve pathway disruption had considerably less glucose tolerance and greater overall fat and abdominal fat, putting them in a prediabetic state, a known factor in increasing heart disease risk.

Also noteworthy, the SCI control group with autonomic pathway disruption showed less normal indicators of internal functioning overall, even with a healthy lifestyle including exercise.  It remains inconclusive at this stage whether patients' pattern of internal dysfunction is due solely to such disruption, or to patient characteristics after such an injury.

While there is clearly a requirement for more independent research, the study points to a directive--more thorough screening of patients with spinal cord injury.  In addition to measuring of sensory and motor damage, patients should be tested for autonomic nerve functioning after an injury.
   

Certain parts of your body can benefit from eating specific foods, which help keep those parts healthy and free of illness and disease. The bladder is an important part of your body, keeping waste from building up within your body and keeping you healthy. However, you must work to keep your bladder healthy so it can do its job. You can do this by eating specific foods that have been found to improve the health of your bladder.

Fruits & Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables have a positive impact on your bladder health, as well as on your overall health. Fruits, especially cranberries, can provide your bladder with a protective layer that prevents bacteria from growing into an infection of the bladder. For some people, drinking cranberry juice at the first symptoms of a bladder or urinary tract infection can cut off the infection before it sets in. Pears are another good example of a fruit that has a positive impact on the bladder, helping to balance acidity in the body.

Water
Water is important for anyone to drink to remain hydrated. Water is also good for flushing bacteria for your system. However, it is important to balance drinking enough water with drinking too much. If you feel as though you are constantly using the bathroom due to your water consumption, it is time to cut back. The amount of water a person requires varies and may take some trial and error before you find the right balance for you.

Whole Grains
The consumption of whole grains serves multiple purposes toward your overall health. Eating whole grain breads, pastas and rice has a positive impact on your digestive health, of which your bladder plays a role. These foods can also help with weight loss. Being overweight can have a negative impact on your bladder health because of the amount of work your body requires it to do. 

Yogurt
Some women already know that eating yogurt can help fight off yeast infections. However, many people don't realize that eating yogurt can also play a positive role in your bladder health. Yogurt has active bacteria that your body needs to balance itself. Studies have shown that eating yogurt can help reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer by keeping the cells of your bladder healthy.

Fiber
Foods high in fiber may not have a direct impact on the health of your bladder, but they can fight constipation. When your body is constipated, your intestines place more pressure on the bladder. This can make you feel as though you need to urinate more often and can have a negative impact on your bladder health. Therefore, eating fiber-rich foods, such as apples, raisins, strawberries, popcorn, peas, beans and broccoli, fight constipation and relieve the pressure on your bladder.

Protein
Protein is an essential element in maintaining your pelvic muscles and hormone regulation. Both the pelvic muscles and hormones in your body play a role in whether your bladder is healthy. Eating a diet high in protein helps your body to maintain itself, including the bladder. Some foods that are high in protein include meats, peanut butter and fish.

Irritants
In addition to eating the right things, it is also important to avoid eating certain things to avoid irritating your bladder. Caffeine is a primary irritant that can impact your bladder health. If you are prone to infections, it is best to avoid consuming caffeine-rich foods, such as coffee, chocolate and soda. Acidic and spicy foods can also negatively impact your bladder. However, as with many other health issues, moderation is the key to keeping your bladder healthy and enjoying the foods you love.
   

Female incontinence is a very common problem, and it doesn't just affect elderly women. While the statistic is high in women above age 60 – over 50% of women in that age group require the use of female catheters – the problem reaches every age group. Female incontinence is reported to affect 7% of women aged 20 to 39, and 17% of women 40 to 59.

Female incontinence is categorized into three types based on the cause of the incontinence; female catheters are usually only necessary for two of those types.

Stress Incontinence

The mildest form of female incontinence is stress incontinence: this type is categorized by a few drops of urine escaping when pressure if placed on the bladder muscles. The stress can be from something as simple as coughing or laughing, or from something more strenuous like lifting a heavy weight – it’s the most common type of female incontinence and is typically the form experienced by the younger age group. Childbirth can also trigger stress incontinence, since the pelvis and abdominal muscles are experiencing intense strain.

Stress incontinence does not require the use of female catheters, but can be treated with medication or physical therapy. Kegel exercises are often an effective treatment, involving the contraction and relaxation of the muscles used for regulation of urine flow.

Urge Incontinence

Often called overactive bladder or OAB, urge incontinence is characterized by a strong need to urinate and a loss of bladder control. The muscle controlling urine flow almost becomes paralyzed, and urine flow cannot be inhibited.

This type of female incontinence can be triggered by an infection, muscular or neurological disease, or even a simple irritation. The latter is temporary and does not always require the use of female catheters to treat the problem, while disease is usually degenerative and may necessitate the use of catheters for a lifetime. If the cause is an infection, female catheters may be used to relieve the symptoms for the duration of the infection. Medication and physical therapy may be useful to lessen the effects of an overactive bladder, but often are not entirely successful at alleviating female incontinence completely.

Overflow Incontinence

Overflow incontinence is often indicative of bladder problems or neurological disease and damage.  This form is characterized by an increased frequency of urination and an inability of the bladder to empty completely during urination. More often than not, physical therapy is not successful for overflow incontinence; female catheters can be an effective form of treatment by emptying the bladder entirely. Other treatments include stimulation of the muscles for urinary control by electrical impulses: this can enhance the bladder’s ability to contract and relax normally, emptying the contents entirely. Insertion of a blockage device in the urethra can also effectively treat female incontinence.  

Because of the prevalence of female incontinence, many women consider it “normal”. But whether treatment is a simple exercise or the use of a female catheter, there is no need to suffer the stresses and worries of urinary incontinence. You’re not alone, and you don’t need to suffer alone.  Be sure to talk to your doctor about the correct female catheters for your needs.