A recent article from the NAFC looks at a symptom that 13.5 million people are too embarrassed to speak about with their own doctor. That symptom is incontinence. As the United States population ages, many baby boomers find themselves experiencing incontinence as a symptom of another medical condition. Examples of these conditions are prostate cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27 million people in North America will suffer from some level of incontinence by the year 2010.  So, if a large section of our population will experience these symptoms, why is it still so difficult to talk about? Your doctor is a wonderful and trusted source to answer any questions that you may have about the onset of incontinence as a symptom. Here are some questions and answers that The National Association For Continence (NAFC) provides to help you start that conversation with your trusted health professional.

1. Is incontinence a normal part of aging?  - No, it is not considered "normal" and it should be brought to your doctor's attention for a recommendation of treatments.

2. What type of incontinence do I have?  - Two common types of urge incontinence and stress incontinence. Urge incontinence is also known as an overactive bladder. Stress incontinence is loss of control due to factors such as exercise, coughing or laughing.

3. How serious is incontinence?  - It is not life threatening but incontinence can be disruptive of daily activity and complicate other pre-existing conditions.

4. What is the most common way to treat incontinence?  - Many people use absorbent products such as adult briefs, protective underwear and liners to continue with their lifestyle. Look at the Products section of Fenway Medical to see the various types of incontinence supplies available.

5. Where can I go for additional support about incontinence? - Consult with your doctor or take advantage of many on-line resources to answer any questions that you may have.