Common Myths About Incontinence, Debunked

There’s a lot of misinformation about medical conditions out there. That’s why we’re going to shed some light on some common myths about incontinence. We want you to be informed if you or a loved one is experiencing this condition.

Only Older People and Women Can Experience Incontinence

While incontinence may be more common among seniors and women, a person of any age and sex can experience it. It can develop due to obesity, nerve damage, and overall weakened pelvic muscles. These are factors that can stem naturally from aging and childbirth, but they can also affect anybody at any stage in life.

Surgery Is Needed To Fix Incontinence

Another common myth about incontinence to debunk is that surgery is necessary to fix the condition. Surgery should be the last resort for incontinence due to the risks involved, and surgery may even worsen the condition. Instead, your doctor will likely recommend exercising, changing your diet, and possibly taking prescribed medication.

Reducing Fluid Intake Will Help With Incontinence

One of the best ways to improve incontinence issues is to make some lifestyle changes, especially with your diet. Even though your doctor will give personalized suggestions on which adjustments will be best for you, limiting fluid intake will not be one of them.

Cutting back on the amount of water you drink could actually worsen your incontinence by putting you at risk for a bladder infection. A better approach is drinking water consistently throughout the day but in smaller doses. This should reduce trips to the bathroom without negatively affecting your bladder.

Holding Your Urine Will Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor

Doctors also highly recommend strengthening your pelvic floor as another way to improve your incontinence. Although there’s a common belief that holding your urine is an effective method for strengthening pelvic floor muscles, this can result in an overstretched bladder, worsening the issue. To effectively strengthen your pelvic floor, targeted pelvic floor exercises are the best course of action.

Incontinence Supplies Are Too Expensive

If you experience incontinence, you may often need to purchase a lot of disposable medical supplies to manage the condition. This can get expensive. However, using insurance coverage and buying products from the right places, such as My Care Supply’s online store, can provide you with affordable products to manage your incontinence.