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Harvard Medical School Better Bladder and Bowel Control (Harvard Medical School Special Health Reports)
Harvard Medical School Better Bladder and Bowel Control - Harvard Medical School Special Health Reports Author:May M. Wakamatsu, M.D., Joseph A. Grocela, Liliana Bordeianou Most people take bladder and bowel control for granted until something goes wrong. Then, unexpectedly, they find themselves hurrying to get to a bathroom on time, avoiding certain situations for fear of leakage, or relying on absorbent pads for protection. If you have had any of these experiences, you are not alone. An estimated 32 million adult... more »s have incontinence, the unintended loss of urine or feces that is significant enough to make it difficult for them to maintain good hygiene and carry on ordinary social and work lives. What s the cause? For women, it s typically a rarely discussed but common result of childbirth and aging. For men, it s most often a side effect of treatment for prostate problems. These and other causes can interfere with the muscles, nerves and other tissues that work together for urinary and rectal function. Middle-aged and older people are particularly susceptible to these conditions. But there are a variety of treatments available, including exercise programs, medications, and surgery. This Special Health Report, Better Bladder and Bowel Control, describes the causes of urinary and bowel incontinence and treatments tailored to the specific cause.« less