Incontinence affects millions of people every day— both men and women. Talking about issues like stress urinary incontinence, an enlarged prostate, or adult bedwetting isn’t something people do regularly, so there are a lot of rumors swirling around about how to manage your bladder and bowel health.
We’d like to combat the rumors and get an honest dialogue going. Let us put the myths side by side for you to review.
Myths Vs. Truths of Incontinence
Myth: If you drink less water, you won’t have to go as often.
Truth: Drinking enough water every day is crucial to avoiding infections and keeping your body hydrated. Drinking fewer diuretics, like coffee or tea, will help lessen the urge to go.
Myth: Always buy one size larger in absorbency products.
Truth: It is very important to buy the appropriate size absorbency product to avoid skin rashes, leakage, or bunching under clothes. Learn more about how to find the right type of absorbent product here.
Myth: Incontinence just happens with old age. It’s normal!
Truth: Incontinence isn’t necessarily indicative of old age. It’s really indicative of weak pelvic floor muscles.
Myth: Going to the bathroom at night isn’t an issue until you have to go more than 3 times.
Truth: If you go the bathroom two times or more a night regularly, you may have Nocturia. Nocturia is an overproduction of urine at night or an overproduction of urine during the daytime and nighttime.
Myth: Accidentally wetting the bed is just a kid’s problem.
Truth: While once thought of as something only little kids experienced, studies show that at least 2% of adults lose control of urination during the night. This is bedwetting or Nocturnal Enuresis (NE).
Myth: Only women deal with incontinence. What I have is just temporary. Men don’t have problems like this.
Truth: Men and women are both privy to bladder and bowel struggles. In fact, as many as 50% of men experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate by the age of 60. An enlarged prostate can interfere with the urethra, the tube inside the penis that carries urine and semen out of the body and create pressure that blocks the natural flow of urine (and semen) causing irritation. If left untreated, this condition can lead to more serious problems.
Myth: You don’t need to talk to your doctor about your incontinence. It will go away on its own.
Truth: With more than 25 million Americans affected by either bladder control or bowel control issues, the medical community has taken note. And because incontinence is a symptom rather than a disease, the method of treatment depends on diagnostic results. Talk to you doctor to learn more about other areas of your health that may be affecting your bladder or bowel control. Click here to find the right doctor for you.
Did you learn anything new in the comparison above? Share your thoughts in the comment section or share this post to start the conversation on Facebook!
English 
Spanish 