The ONE thing NO ONE talks about but 1 in 5 of us are affected by
Incontinence. It’s a topic that nobody likes to talk about, but we must because it’s a condition one in five Australians are affected by. Often met with uncomfortable silence, incontinence is sadly seen as a source of embarrassment, anxiety and even shame. But it shouldn’t be. Urinary incontinence simply describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. There are actually a number of options available to help manage and treat it.
Given that many people are not comfortable talking about incontinence, it means that sadly people suffer in silence and end up feeling alone in their struggle. Take heart, if you are affected by incontinence, you are not alone. You may be surprised to learn that a leaky bladder is more common than you think. One in 10 men and one in three women experience some sort of bladder leakage. In a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, it was found that almost two million Australian women over the age of 18 suffer from incontinence. For women over the age of 60, 23 per cent deal with a weak bladder.
It is, unfortunately, an issue that is far more common in women. All those female-only things women go through – pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and the even the anatomy of the urinary tract – mean that the likelihood of women suffering from a weak bladder is higher than men.
Incontinence can range from a few drops leaking every now and then, to the frequent urge to run to the bathroom and sometimes more severe leakage. But whatever the issue, don’t despair. Too often the stigma and shame around this condition stops people talking about it, let alone seeking help. Some people don’t even know it’s a medical condition. Too embarrassed to look for help, often people bear the discomfort and even limit going out of the house.
Remember, you are not alone! Just ask some of your friends and you might be surprised by the stories they share. Beyond speaking to your friends, it’s a good idea to seek advice from your doctor. Ask about the ways you can manage incontinence – because there are options.
Here are just a few suggestions to help manage incontinence so you can lead a full life, unencumbered by worries. Remember, how you manage things will depend on the type of incontinence you have, the severity, your age, health and medical history, so always talk to a health professional first.
1. Pelvic floor exercises – Exercises that work to strengthen your pelvis area, which control your bladder, uterus and bowel, are an easy way to help control a weak bladder. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate exercise routine.
2. Incontinence products – There are a range of products available for urinary incontinence. Our favourite is Depend® because of the extremely comfortable fit. Depend offer a range of underwear for men and women that looks, fits and feels like real underwear. Depend underwear is designed to be highly absorbent, yet comfortable and discreet. For men, there are guards and shields, designed for light to moderate levels of leakage. With a range of options for all levels of leakage, whether light or more severe, using Depend means you can get on with your life without constantly worrying if you’re protected.
3. Bladder training – This works to increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold, without worrying about always going to the bathroom. You may be asked to keep a diary as a guide to train your bladder. Before you begin any type of bladder training, talk to your doctor.
4. Lifestyle changes – Did you know small changes to your everyday routine can reduce the severity of your incontinence? These simple changes include cutting down on diuretic drinks (coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol) as well as eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and fibre to help your digestive system work better. Making sure you drink two litres of water every day is also important. While drinking water may seem counterintuitive, if you don’t drink enough your urine becomes concentrated and irritates your bladder.
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