Chennai: Incontinence is one of those conditions in our world today that is shrouded in mystery. This is not for a lack of information or knowledge; it is mostly because many people do not want to talk about it.
Truth is, incontinence is not really something you can hide when it happens, so it’s best you’re armed with proper information to deal with it, says Dr K Mohan, diabetologist (Aus. University)
“Incontinence can be quite an embarrassing condition, however it’s important to know that it’s mostly not your fault. But because people do not want to talk about it, several myths have been established over the years, and it’s easy for myths to spread like wildfire when related to subjects that are already considered a social stigma,” he says.
First things first, incontinence simply means minor or major loss of bladder control, and it has nothing to do with bladder capacity, but is more likely caused by weak muscles, medication side effects, infection, or nerve damage. Truth is, you need to share, not just with your doctor but also with family and friends because you need all the help you can get.
According to Dr Mohan, some of the myths about incontinence are: It’s just another aging problem, Fluid intake should be reduced, There’s only one type of incontinence, Incontinence in old people can’t be treated, and Surgery is the sole option.