By Lyn Mettler
Whether you're an old pro at managing incontinence or you're new to the experience, you probably feel like you know way more than you ever needed to about a part of the body you probably never gave much thought to until now. While you may feel you’re on information overload some days, it's important to learn as much as you can about the condition to help you find the best management techniques to suit your lifestyle and keep you on the go.
We've compiled this quiz to find out just how much you really know about bladder control. Don't worry if you don’t get every question right – you're sure to learn some important information along the way.
Answers follow the quiz.
1. Incontinence results when:
- a) The amount of urine produced exceeds the bladder's capacity.
- b) The pelvic floor muscle is weak or damaged.
- c) The nerve passages along the pathway from the bladder to the brain are damaged.
- d) All of the above
2. Is incontinence:
- a) A disease
- b) A symptom
- c) Imagined
- d) A disorder
3. How many Americans experience incontinence?
- a) 10 million
- b) 19 million
- c) 25 million
- d) 50 million
4. The number of men with incontinence:
- a) is lower than the number of women with incontinence
- b) is higher than the number of women with incontinence
- c) is equal to the number of women with incontinence
- d) is determined by heredity
5. Most male incontinence is caused by:
- a) prostate surgery
- b) enlarged prostate
- c) prostate cancer
- d) all of the above
6. Which of the following things can make your incontinence symptoms worse?
- a) Obesity
- b) Spicy foods
- c) Chocolate
- d) All of the above
7. Men with incontinence should drink how many ounces of water each day?
- a) Less than 20 ounces
- b) 20-40 ounces
- c) 40-60 ounces
- d) 60+ ounces
8. Which of the following is not a recognized treatment option for urinary incontinence for men?
- a) Medication
- b) Kegel exercises
- c) Meditation
- d) Surgery
9. What percentage of people age 65+ experiences OAB (overactive bladder), also known as urge incontinence or urgency?
- a) 33%
- b) 50%
- c) 75%
- d) More than 75%
10. Which of the following things should you add to your diet to improve your incontinence symptoms?
- a) Beer
- b) Soda
- c) Fiber
- d) Citrus fruits
Answers
1. The correct answer is d. Incontinence can result when any part of the urinary system malfunctions.
2. The correct answer is b. According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), incontinence is a symptom, not a disease in itself. This is because many things can cause incontinence, ranging from cancer to surgery to aging.
3. The correct answer is c. More than 25 million North American adults have some form of incontinence.
4. The correct answer is a. According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), women are about 4-5x more likely than men to have urinary incontinence problems.
5. The correct answer is d. Prostate surgery for prostate cancer accounts for much of the incontinence in younger men. However, as men age, the prostate gland can grow, causing urgency and frequency according to NAFC.
6. The correct answer is d. Spicy foods and caffeine found in chocolate, as well as carrying unnecessary additional weight, can all aggravate symptoms.
7. The correct answer is c. You should drink at least 50 ounces, or 6-1/2 cups, of water each day to keep your incontinence in check. Drinking less can actually worsen symptoms by potentially leading to dehydration or constipation which can put unnecessary pressure on your bladder. Drinking less near bedtime or travel time is recommended, and generally water intake should be spread throughout the day to avoid overloading at any one time.
8. The correct answer is c, meditation. Medication, Kegel exercises (exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor) – even for men, and surgery are all common treatment options for incontinence. Keep in mind that treatments vary according to each individual's situation.
9. The correct answer is a. While OAB is more common as we age, it should not be considered a normal part of aging according to NAFC.
10. The correct answer is c. Fiber can help with constipation and improving your digestion, all of which will ultimately benefit you and your incontinence symptoms. Alcohol, caffeine and fruits containing citrus can all aggravate incontinence.
Thanks for taking our incontinence knowledge test! There's a lot to know, but there are also many readily available sources at the library and on the Web to help you learn more. Depend.com has information and links to help you enjoy a full and active life.