Date Added: August 19, 2013 11:43:02 PM

51.2% of New Zealand females think it’s normal to leak a little urine every now and then, according to a new survey of over 500 New Zealand women carried out by lights™ by TENA®. 45.9% of respondents believe bladder weakness is an issue that only women over the age of 40 suffer and only 10.6% believe it to be a problem women aged 20-29 encounter.

18% of women aged 25-29 and 40% of women aged 30-34 have experienced bladder leakage. Although little is known about it and it’s viewed as an ‘older female problem’, bladder weakness affects millions of females of all ages each year and is more common than hay fever.  In fact, 1 in 4 females experience bladder leaks at some stage in their life and 1 in 3 females over the age of 35 suffer from light bladder leakage. 58.4% of New Zealand women feel too embarrassed to talk or do anything about bladder weakness. Physiotherapist expert Jane Le Fevre says: “This is a modern day issue that modern day women have to deal with. It is more common amongst younger women than most people think. It’s important to understand that if this is something you are experiencing, it’s OK to admit it. But you don’t have to accept it. There are several ways to regain control and in many cases, prevent leaks happening altogether.” “If you experience an uncontrolled leak from time to time, you have light bladder leakage. Women have so much going on in their everyday lives, it’s easy to ignore light bladder leakages and pretend it’s not happening. But by acknowledging the problem, women can seek a solution and take control of their situation,” continues Mrs. Le Fevre.

1. Find your Pelvic Floor
   The Pelvic Floor runs from your pubic bone at the front of your pelvis to the coccyx at the back. Imagine this sling of muscles is like two elevator doors. As you lift it, imagine the doors closing together and then lifting towards your head. The rest of your body should stay still.
2. Practice gentle lifts throughout the day
   Practice lifting during the day at your desk, or at the sink while washing your hands, not just lying down at the end of the day. Work on connecting with it and then seeing if you can hold it for 5 seconds. As it is an internal exercise, no one will know you are working out. 
3. Combat coughs and sneezes
   Strong contractions are needed to resist higher loads on your pelvic floor, such as coughs or sneezes. So if you feel a cough or sneeze on its way, lift your pelvic floor as strongly as you can and try and keep it lifted while you sneeze. If at first this is a bit difficult, scrunching your toes in your shoes can help you to get a little bit more oomph!
4. Practice practice practice!
   If you don’t use it, you will lose it! Imagine a hose flowing with water lying on a trampoline. If the trampoline is floppy, when a foot comes and steps on the flowing hose, the flow will continue as there is no resistance from the trampoline. Now imagine the trampoline is strong, a foot stepping down on the flowing hose will be met with some resistance so the hose will be bent and the flow will stop.
5. Use the right product while dealing with the problem
   Use a correct liner such as one from the newly launched lights by TENA® range to handle the leakages while you’re dealing with the problem. The liners will keep you drier, fresher and odour free. And much less stressed.

For further information on lights by TENA® and an opportunity to receive a complimentary sample liner, visit www.lightsbyTENA.co.nz