Well it can be hard to talk about incontinence but when it affect 4.8 million Australians
the I'd say we're dealing with a pretty serious issue here.
For more we're joined by continence and women's health physiotherapist Shan Morrison.
Shan, 4.8 million Australians, this is a very serious problem.
Yes, Jamie, that number means that 1 in 4 Australians over 15 are incontinent.
And what most people aren't aware of is that this affects men and women of all ages.
Many people assume it's only an issue for the elderly
but when in fact most women affected are aged under 50.
So it really is an issue that we need to address.
Okay Shan so incontinence is the inability to control bladder and bowel functions, right?
Yes. That's right Jamie.
And unfortunately incontinence is a topic that most people avoid talking about
which means they typically suffer in silence rather than seek help.
And this is why we are raising awareness and it's so important.
Incontinence is common but it shouldn't be considered normal
or a natural part of ageing or having children
and people shouldn't be putting up with it.
So what we really want to communicate to those watching right now
is that is if you are suffering from incontinence you're not alone
and help is available to cure or improve the problem.
Okay so you can see the number up on the screen right now
it's 1800 33 00 66 and of course you can head to the website
which is continence.org.au for more information.
Shan, what actually happens when someone call that number?
So the National Continence Helpline is managed by the Continence Foundation of Australia
and it's a free service staffed by continence nurse advisors who provide advice
and free resources.
Great stuff. Shan, do we know what actually causes incontinence?
We know a lot about what the causes are of incontinence
but not all causes and treatment plans are the same
and that's why it's important that people be assessed by the health professional.
So the most common types of incontinence are stress incontinence
so leaking when you lift, laugh, exercise, cough or sneeze.
Any urge incontinence when you feel that sudden urge to go to a toilet
but you just can't hold on.
There are also certain issues and life stages that place people more at risk.
Such as prostate cancer surgery for men
and pregnancy, childbirth and menopause for women.
But whatever the reason, help is available
and there's no need to put up with it.
And there's no need to avoid exercising or social activities
for fear of suffering an embarrassing accident.
Shan, I just had no idea how common it is and obviously none of us are free from risk.
How can we prevent it?
Well in many cases incontinence can be prevented
and managed by adopting health diet and lifestyle habits.
So people often cut down on fluids thinking that that will help
but keeping up fluids can actually help.
So water is best as alcohol, fizzy drinks and caffeine can irritate the bladder.
Okay so more water, less alcohol. What about food?
So everyone should make sure they are eating plenty of fibre to avoid constipation
as an expanded bowel can actually contribute to bladder and bowel leakage.
So a fibre rich diet typically consists of 2 serves of fruit,
5 serves of vegetables, and 5 serves of cereals and bread each day.
And I'm sure being fit plays a part.
Absolutely it does.
Being overweight places you at risk of incontinence.
People should aim to exercise for 30 minutes everyday.
But just as importantly everyone, men and women,
should be exercising their pelvic floor muscles every day, 3 times a day
as these muscles are crucial in bladder and bowel control.
It's important that these exercises are done correctly
so people should visit a continence physiotherapist to check the correct technique
or they can go to continence.org.au for instructions and a video demonstration.
Shan, thank you so much. You've really opened our eyes to this very
common issue that we should all be very aware of.
Thanks Jamie.
Okay, now if any of this sounded familiar to you, the number is up on the screen.
Give them a call. It's 1800 33 00 66
or go to the website. It's continence.org.au.
Information and help is readily available to you.