This Condition Affects Nearly 25 Million Americans…

What Can You Depend on to Help Stay Active and Fit?

Mika Bradford CN, CPhT

Special Contributor

These days’ people are living longer and the quality of life they expect to live is also increasing. Sitting at home in a sedentary lifestyle is no longer assumed or expected of adults as they transition into their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Staying fit and healthy is easier than ever before with more information available regarding health conditions, nutrition, medications and daily living supports. Some health conditions that were once thought as being too taboo to discuss with friends or in public like depression, erectile dysfunction and bladder control difficulties are now being discussed regularly in advertisements seen on TV, in print and online. Of course, just because we are seeing advertisements and information about these personal health concerns doesn’t necessarily mean we are comfortable with asking questions about medications or products used to address them. While Viagra, Cialis and Lexapro are medications most people have heard of along with the conditions they treat, many people with bladder control issues are not aware of the selection of under garments and medications that are available to improve their quality of life.

Bladder control issues, also known as incontinence, results in a lack of control over when you need to urinate. This condition affects nearly 25 million Americans.Despite its prevalence, some people still keep bladder control issues a secret because of social perceptions, embarrassment and from not realizing how common it actually is. This can cause men and women both to be uncomfortable asking for information, solutions and the support they need to address bladder incontinence. Bladder control issues are caused by a variety of things, including weak bladder muscles, pregnancy and childbirth in women, complications from surgery, stroke or chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis (MA) and Parkinson’s disease. Other diseases that affect bladder nerves or the spinal cord, like diabetes, can also cause bladder control issues. In men, serious conditions like prostate cancer can also play a role in the development of bladder control issues. It is most common in people over 50 years old, but it can also affect young people. Bladder control issues can affect anyone– not just older people.Other health conditions like prostate cancer also play a role in the development of bladder control issues in men. According to Johns Hopkins Health Alert on incontinence, bladder control issues are a common side effect of prostate cancer treatment, which may irritate the urethra or bladder, or damage the muscles that prevent urine from flowing out of the bladder.

As you can imagine, if you or a friend has struggled with this condition you know firsthand how it can limit a person’s level of physical activity or participation in social events and sports. Many men and women keep their bladder control issues a secret because it’s a condition that can take away one’s sense of normalcy, cause embarrassment and lower self-confidence. DEPEND®, adult incontinence products from Kimberly-Clark Corporation,provides consumers with great protection and helps give them the confidence they need to lead normal, active lives. DEPEND® offers a variety of absorbent underwear for men and women in various absorbency levels, and guards for men, all of which provide outstanding protection and worry free odor control.In recognizing that people living with bladder control issues want a discreet solution that gives them the confidence to lead their normal lifestyle, DEPEND®introduced the Silhouette for Women and Real Fit for Men absorbent briefs.The DEPEND®, Real Fit® and Silhouette® Underwear are products that look, fit and feel like real underwear, featuring a cloth-like fabric for a sleek, ultra smooth fit and underwear-like comfort.

In 2012 DEPEND®launched a campaign partnering with high-profile celebrities and athletes known as “The Great American Try On”.The Great American Try On from DEPEND® was a bold invitation to all Americans to try the discreet DEPEND®,Real Fit® and Silhouette® briefs. The program looks to help restore self-confidence and give people living with bladder control issues the ability to enjoy an active lifestyle. Once incontinent and continent people try the underwear-like DEPEND® products, it will help them perceive absorbent underwear in a whole new light. DEPEND®boldly invites all Americans to try Real Fit® and Silhouette® Underwear in The Great American Try On – a program encouraging people to experience these groundbreaking products for themselves – to help restore the confidence and active lifestyle of people living with bladder control issues.

The Great American Try On is a multi-faceted program that includes:

Partnerships with high-profile celebrities, including web videos and broadcast integrations
Charitable partnerships with Dress for Success and The V Foundation
Web creative designed to encourage consumer engagement
Category boundary breaking television advertising
Product sampling and retail support

The list of celebrities DEPEND®has partnered with included actress Lisa Rinna, with support of her husband Harry Hamlin, and NFL athletes Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers), Wes Welker (New England Patriots) and DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys) in The Great American Try On.

Clay, Wes and DeMarcus are very fit, active, all-American athletes, who we think can help inspire and give incontinent people the confidence to resume an active lifestyle. They also feel passionately about their communities and raising awareness for causes. Not only are they stars on the field, but they’re also standouts in their communities, as well. Given their success as professional athletes,we believe people will think about bladder control issues in a whole new light.

Consumers can get involved in The Great American Try On by visiting TheGreatAmericanTryOn.com and trying on the DEPEND®, Real Fit® and Silhouette® Underwear to experience these underwear-like products for themselves. People who would like to learn more about bladder control issues can visit Depend.com. The “Help Me Find My Product” guide can help you learn about the benefits and features of each product, and compare sizing, to help you find the right product for your needs. You can also view the “Articles & Discussion” section to read about others’ experiences with bladder control issues and share your own lifestyle tips.

Along with online resources the complete line of DEPEND® products can be found at Dallas’s own Dougherty’s Pharmacy located in the heart of Dallas, Texas at the corner of Preston road and Royal lane. Dougherty’s pharmacy opened in 1929, their focus was on personalized customer service and it still is today. For many years they’ve been the shoulder you can lean on in a time of need providing the support and advice you can count on. In addition to being a full-service pharmacy known for exceptional customer service they are one of the top 10 compounding pharmacies in the nation. Physicians from throughout the Southwest send patients to Dougherty’s for prescriptions and consumer health products not available anywhere else. Stop in and meet their team of health professionals and sales associates that can help you discretely find the products you need to help you get back in the game of life! To learn more about Dougherty’s Pharmacy visit Doughertys.com.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and are not related to Kimberly Clark or DEPEND®

Tags Conditions and Diseases Demarcus Ware depends Feature Green Bay Packers Health Kimberly-Clark Urinary incontinence Wes Welker

Author

Mika Bradford CN, CPhT

Mika Bradford, CN, CPhT Certified Nutritionist, Health Advisor, Pharmacy Technician and Writer Mika is a leading content specialist for various magazines and websites as a nutrition and health advisor, and internationally recognized expert on nutraceuticals and specialty compounding. She is a veteran at communicating such topics as nutrition, dietary and behavioral interventions and how they relate to everyday life. With over 13 years of experience in the natural foods and supplement industry, her ability to identify which supplements are best suited for an individual is unsurpassed! Mika chooses products based on many factors that include a persons health history, current state of health, daily struggles along with the dietary supplements and medications they are taking. Previously, Mika worked for Kirkman Laboratories, a specialty vitamin manufacturer. For ten years she was a sales representative and national spokes person, providing educational seminars on product facts and functions. Frequently, she speaks on topics regarding techniques for easy administration of nutritional supplements for individuals with special needs like autism, feeding disorders and multiple food allergies. During this time she was instrumental in producing nutrition videos for projectLD. ProjectLD is made up of a network of lifestyle websites, a production company, creative agency, and software incubator. Through the years Mika has also provided guidance to supplement manufacturers and natural product retailers on appropriate product selection processes when choosing items for specific populations with special nutrition needs. Mikaâ€™s familiarity with health conditions, frequently used medications and the nutrient depletions often associated with these conditions and medications led to the natural progression of working closely with the medical community. In August 2009 Mika joined Doughertyâ€™s Pharmacy in Dallas, Texas as manager of nutraceuticals. For more than 80 years, Dougherty's has been one of the nationâ€™s leading compounding pharmacies for the north Texas area and beyond. During this time she has began to provided nutrition consultative services specific to the needs of athletes, bariatric and geriatrics clients. Today, physicians, pharmacists and professionals from a variety of health and wellness entities call on Mika for input and guidance when choosing dietary supplements and Nutraceutical products for their patients.