Women in Hume and Whittlesea are reminded to pay attention to their health ahead of Women’s Health Week from Monday, September 5 to Sunday, September 11.
The Continence Foundation of Australia are highlighting a recent survey which showed fewer than two out ten respondents did their pelvic floor exercises daily, despite incontinence affecting one in three women who have ever had a baby.
With 80 per cent of those reporting living with incontinence are women, Continence Foundation of Australia chief executive Rowan Cockerell said there a number of ways to prevent incontinence.
“Incontinence is preventable and treatable in the majority of cases,” she said.
“The key to preventing or better managing incontinence comes down to protecting and strengthening the pelvic floor and adopting a few healthy lifestyle habits.”
A number of other risk factors can contribute to developing incontinence, such as age, being overweight, smoking, menopause, conditions such as diabetes and following bladder and/or pelvic injury and surgery.
Mrs Cockerell said it is also important to reduce the stigma and restrictions of all aspects of incontinence.
“Many people are embarrassed about any incontinence issues,” she said.
“We know that it can lead to some people limiting their social and sex lives and then we start to see it having an impact on their mental health.”
Details: www.womenshealthweek.com.au or www.continence.org.au or 1800 33 00 66
