World Continence Week
This year, World Continence Week is 18 to 24 June. Incontinence is usually referred to any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder or bowel motion. Incontinence is a very common condition that ranges in severity from ‘just a small leak’ to complete loss of bladder or bowel control. Researches show that over 6 Million Australians over the age of 15 are incontinent and 80% of cases were found in women.
The Continence Foundation of Australia is doing a great job in promoting bladder and bowel health. The Continence Foundation of Australia’s vision is to have a community free of the stigma of incontinence.
Incontinence can start in any age, but The Continence Foundation of Australia provides following risk factors for urinary incontinence
- pregnancy (both pre- and post-natal women)
- younger women who have had children
- menopause
- obesity
- urinary tract infections
- constipation
- specific types of surgery such as prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate) and hysterectomy (removal of all or part of the uterus and/or ovaries)
- reduced mobility preventing you from getting to or using the toilet
- neurological and musculoskeletal conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis
- health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, and prostate problems, and
- some medications.
Following are 11 questions that you can ask yourself as advised by The Continence Foundation of Australia to know if you are having this condition.
- Do you sometimes feel you have not completely emptied your bladder?
- Do you have to rush to use the toilet?
- Are you frequently nervous because you think you might lose control of your bladder or bowel?
- Do you wake up twice or more during the night to go to the toilet?
- Do you sometimes leak before you get to the toilet?
- Do you sometimes leak when you lift something heavy, sneeze, cough or laugh?
- Do you sometimes leak when you exercise or play sport?
- Do you sometimes leak when you change from a seated or lying position to a standing position?
- Do you strain to empty to bowel?
- Do you sometimes soil your underwear?
- Do you plan your daily routine around where the nearest toilet is?
If you have answered yest to any of the above questions then you may have bladder or a bowel problem. Bellambi Medical Centre suggests you to visit us to discuss further. Incontinence can be treated and managed, in many cases it can be completely cured as well. For your convenience Bellambi Medical Centre is open until 6pm Mon-Fri and we are also open open on Sundays 8:30 – 12:30pm. While all of our doctors are well trained and experience we understand that some of our female patients are not comfortable in discussing Incontinence and other women health isses with male doctors, that is why we have 2 female doctors on site. You can create your appointment online at any time by clicking here.
Alternatively you can contact National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. The National Continence Helpline is staffed by a team of continence nurse advisors who offer free information, advice and support and can provide you with a wide range of information resources and referrals to local services