Health: Myths and facts from below the belt



(NC) -- As many as 3.3 million Canadians suffer from incontinence. The Canadian Continence Foundation shares myths and facts about this health issue:

MYTH: Only a few, older people experience incontinence.

FACTS: Incontinence, the loss of bladder and/or bowel control, affects over 3 million Canadian men and women of all ages.

Adult incontinence affects the following groups of people:

One in four women middle-aged or older;

15% of all men aged 60 years and over; and many individuals with neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries.

MYTH: Incontinence is a disease.

FACTS: Incontinence is a symptom of something else going on in the body, and should always be assessed and diagnosed by a healthcare professional experienced in incontinence. Incontinence has many causes, including:

- Conditions that affect the nervous system such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or spinal cord injury;

- Consequences of surgery, e.g. prostate surgery;

- Side effects of medications e.g. anti-depressants, sedatives, diuretics, or muscle relaxants;

- A birth defect of the urinary system;

- Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles which may occur, for example, after childbirth or menopause;

- Changes that occur with the natural aging process, such as enlargement of the prostate in men, or the loss of estrogen in women;

- Being overweight since this puts pressure on the bladder

Feelings of frustration, shame and embarrassment tend to prevent people from reaching out for help. An awareness campaign called Try It On Canada (www.TryItOnCanada.com) features the reliability of the Depend brand and aims to give sufferers the renewed confidence to enjoy an active lifestyle.






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