You may be sitting on a serious health condition
29 July 2010
It’s certainly not a high priority health condition – but it should be. Many people don’t mention it to their doctor – but they should. It’s widespread - but still largely hidden. It’s not something you could talk about over dinner – but it could make for some interesting conversation!
Bowel health isn’t something you’d normally talk about but this year the health issue is in the spotlight during Continence Awareness Week (1-7 August).
Hunter New England Health Continence Clinical Nurse Consultant Bernadette Grattan says good bowel control is important for our quality of life.
“Like bladder control, we can easily take it for granted until there’s a problem,” Mrs Grattan said. “Incontinence can be annoying, frustrating and embarrassing - and poor bowel control can be particularly distressing.
“About 4-5 per cent of school children soil their pants. It is involuntary and very distressing for the child and family and often leads to social isolation. It can affect any child and it is not the child’s or parent’s fault. Soiling often occurs as a consequence of chronic constipation.”
Some common bowel-related problems are constipation, faecal impaction (a blockage of faeces in the bowel), diahorrea, haemorrhoids, faecal incontinence (bowel leakage, or soiling) and embarrassing wind. Constipation is unfortunately common for many adults and children. This is when we have difficulty passing bowel motions that are hard and dry.
“Perhaps you’ve come to accept your poor bowel function as normal?” Mrs Grattan said.
“Maybe you’re putting up with a bowel problem because you think nothing can be done? The good news is help is available.
“The key is identifying the cause of the condition. There’s a range of bowel problems and some of the causes can include low dietary fibre, too low fluid intake and reduced mobility or low levels of exercise. Some of the medicines taken for other health conditions can also cause or worsen constipation as well as incontinence.”
If you believe you or your child suffers from a continence concern please contact your local Community Health Centre. Monthly continence clinics are held at Community Health Centres across the New England. For more information contact Bernadette Grattan on (02)6776 9820 or your local Community Health Centre.
You can also call the National Continence Helpline, which is a free call on 1800 330 066. The Helpline is a service staffed by a team of experienced continence nurse advisors, who provide you with confidential advice, free resources, referrals for local continence services and help with Government subsidy schemes for continence products.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: (02) 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767