SINAI HOSPITAL
"Tissue ages, particularly at
menopause," she said. "In order
to have continence, you have to
have both pelvic floor support and
bladder support from above."
Given the effects childbirth
and menopause have on the blad-
der's support system, it is little
wonder that women experience
incontinence nearly twice as of-
ten as men.
"As many as 73 percent of
women may suffer from inconti-
nence at some time during their
life," said Dr. Christensen.
He can only speculate the
number is that high. The truth of
the matter is, no one knows pre-
cisely how many individuals live
with incontinence.
"Doctors don't ask, and people
don't tell," Ms. Hartmann ex-
plained.
According to a recent study
conducted by The Journal of
Family Practice, nearly 75 per-
cent of the individuals who expe-
rienced urinary incontinence
never reported it to a health pro-
fessional.
Belief that incontinence is an
inevitable part of growing older
accounts for much of the silence.
Feelings of shame and embar-
rassment also play a large role.
But incontinence is not an in-
evitable part of the aging process,
and treatment is available.
Women experience
incontinence
nearly twice as
often as men.
"It is very treatable," Ms. Hart-
mann stressed. "The earlier it is
caught, the better."
Oftentimes, exercises to
strengthen the pelvic floor mus-
cles are all that is required to re-
gain bladder control. These
include the kegel exercises taught
in childbirth classes, where the
woman tightens her pelvic floor
muscles by pulling them up tight-
ly, much like squeezing off urine
flow.
But in order to be effective,
they must be done properly.
"Greater than 50 percent of
(the patients) who thought they
were doing pelvic floor exercises
actually weren't," Ms. Hartmann
said. "They were actually push-
ing down instead of pulling up."
Ms. Hartmann has seen pa-
tients regain continence within
weeks of learning the proper ex-
ercise technique.
Other treatments Ms. Hart-
mann utilizes include biofeedback
relaxation exercises and electri-
cal stimulation.
"Oftentimes just learning to
control their posture makes a dif-
ference," she said.
Sometimes, surgery is neces-
sary to correct the anatomical
INCONTINENCE page 64
SINAI HOSPITAL GUILD
SINAI HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
AND
THE JEWISH NEWS
PRESENT
TAY SACHS SCREENING MONTH
APRIL 3 - APRIL 29
Tay Sachs is a rare genetic disease that a baby inherits from both
parents. It causes progressive destruction of the central nervous
system and death in early childhood. There is no cure for the disease.
Most carriers are Jews of Eastern European descent.
You should be tested if you are a male or female over age 17, of
Ashkenazi (Eastern European) descent and considering marriage or
pregnancy, or had been tested for the disease prior to 1980. Orthodox
Dor Yeshorim approach to screening is available.
For the month of April, Sinai Hospital will offer Tay Sachs screening
for a reduced fee of $20. The regular charge for this test is $90.
Call Sinai Hospital genetics counselor Robin Gold today at
313-493-6060 to schedule an appointment.
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