Urinary Incontinence: Unpopular topic but one that is affecting 17 million Americans

Incontinence is not the kind of thing one wants to have a deep discussion about. However, when I saw a posting about urinary incontinence at So Baby Boomer saying that 17 million men and women have some form of bladder problems, it became clear that it is in fact something that should be openly discussed.

What used to simply be a symptom of aging is now viewed as a treatable condition and one that drug companies are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars. Besides the reduction of potentially embarrassing situations, some doctors believe "the ads are driving more people to seek medical advice, leading to earlier detection of serious problems such as cancer or blockages that need to be fixed with surgery." In economics class this would have been called a "positive externality."

In fact the first step is a visit to the doctor (or urologist or gynecologist) to determine the cause and prescribe a treatment. Non-drug treatments include exercises, bladder training, and dietary changes (among other things). Of course it shouldn't take a "symptom of aging" to get someone to the doctor as an annual physical should be part of their program as much as regular exercise and proper diet.