Urinary incontinence is a serious problem that affects tens of millions of people in the U.S. and hundreds of millions worldwide. It is defined as the involuntary loss of urine, which can range from a small leak to complete loss of bladder control. While incontinence is often associated with older adults or those with chronic health conditions, it can affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on quality of life and health.

The Toll Incontinence Takes

One of the biggest problems with urinary incontinence is the embarrassment and shame that often accompanies it. People with incontinence often feel self-conscious and avoid social situations, leading to isolation and depression. They routinely curtail their physical activities and exercise due to fear of accidents, which can contribute to further health problems.

In addition to the emotional impact, urinary incontinence can also have significant physical consequences. People with incontinence are at increased risk for skin irritation, urinary tract infections, and bladder and kidney damage. The constant leakage of urine can also lead to skin breakdown and increase the risk of infections and pressure ulcers.

Then there’s the financial impact. People with incontinence may need to purchase special incontinence products, such as pads or briefs, which can add up and become quite expensive over time. They may also require additional medical care and treatments, such as physical therapy or medications, driving up the cost of this condition even more.

An under-appreciated health toll of urinary incontinence comes from the side effects of the medications doctors prescribe to treat the problem. The main class of drugs is widely believed to cause memory loss and accelerate dementia, hardly the sort of side effect we wish to see for ourselves or a loved one. AARP recommends those over 50 should not take those medications despite the fact they are among the most prescribed drugs in the world.

Understanding Incontinence

There are several different types of urinary incontinence, usually overlapping, each with its own causes and treatments. Stress incontinence, for example, occurs when physical activity or stress on the bladder causes it to leak. Urge incontinence, on the other hand, is caused by an overactive bladder that contracts without warning. Overflow incontinence is a condition in which the bladder does not empty completely, leading to leakage.

The causes of urinary incontinence can vary and the true cause for any one person’s condition is often multifactorial. In some cases, it may be a result of a chronic health condition, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes. In others, it may be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, or related to aging and menopause. Certain medications, such as diuretics or anticholinergics, can also contribute to incontinence.

Despite the widespread prevalence of urinary incontinence, many people are hesitant to seek help for the condition. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed, or they may believe that incontinence is a normal part of aging and can’t be treated.

Most unfortunately, many healthcare providers have little training or understanding of incontinence. However, there are highly effective, minimally invasive treatments available that can help people resolve or manage their incontinence and improve their quality of life.

Getting Support and the Right Treatment

Although lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes, pelvic floor exercises, and weight loss, can help improve urinary incontinence, neuromodulation is considered the best treatment. In more severe cases that also involve prolapse of the pelvic organs, surgery may be necessary to repair physical damage to the bladder or other structures that are contributing to incontinence.

It is important for those with urinary incontinence to seek help from a knowledgeable healthcare provider. This professional can perform a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the incontinence and recommend the most appropriate treatment. They can also provide support and guidance to help people manage their incontinence and improve their quality of life.

With the right support and treatment, people with urinary incontinence can manage their condition and regain independence and control of their lives.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What toll does incontinence take on your life? Have you found help and would you say you are happy with the support and treatment you received?

Amanda Batula’s Purple Turtleneck Dress on Her Instastories

Summer House 2023 Instagram Fashion

Okay yet another Summer House press day look. Now it’s Amanda Batula wearing a simple and sleek purple turtleneck mini dress. I love this look I think it’s great for literally any season of the year. And thankfully Amanda shared the deets so we can easily welcome it into our fall spring winter summer house in no time.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her The Andamane Dress

Photo + Info: @amandabatula

Originally posted at: Amanda Batula’s Purple Turtleneck Dress

Dolores Catania’s Floral Flutter Sleeve Dress

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 Episode 2 Fashion

Here at BBH we’re always really excited when a Real Housewife posts a pic of an event from that night’s episode before it airs. Normally it’s because it means we have an early look at the outfits. Today, I got pretty excited over the idea that the picture is of Danielle Cabra’s MOZZARELLA MAKING party! I mean, I literally cannot keep fresh mozz in my house because I will eat all of it. And now that I know people are making it at parties? I cannot even.

The mozarella on the caprese icing on the cake? Dolores Catania’s floral flutter sleeve dress is still in stock in many sizes and on sale! And it’s the perfect, flowing, forgiving shape for my post-finding-out-about-mozzarella-making-parties bod.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her All Saints Fleur Buruberu Dress

Photo: @DanielleCabraOfficial

Other Colors:

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Originally posted at: Dolores Catania’s Floral Flutter Sleeve Dress

Dolores Catania’s Yellow Printed Dress

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 Episode 2 Fashion

You may recognize Dolores Catania’s yellow printed dress from tonight’s Real Housewives of New Jersey because we’ve posted on it a couple times. Once when Delores first wore it on Instagram and once when Kyle Richards wore it on Ultimate Girls Trip. I figured we should post on it again ICYMI because you were distracted by their fun, revealing little game. And while it’s not up for grabs anymore, I definitely think you should get on the balls and scoop up a  Style Stealer ASAP.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Also Seen on Kyle Richards:

Click Here to See Her Zimmermann Paisley Floral Dress

Originally posted at: Dolores Catania’s Yellow Printed Dress

Most beginner photography articles on the web start with complicated drawings of the exposure triangle and intricate explanations of white balance.

I think that’s the perfect way to take the fun right out of learning photography because it focuses too much on the technical side of things. I’m not saying technique isn’t important. It is. But I do feel it’s not the best way to start learning photography.

Photography Is an Art

Despite the generally advocated idea that photography is not too difficult, there’s a lot more to it than pushing a button. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and defeated after you’ve bought your first ‘serious’ camera and the thing looks like an alien to you.

Looking for some straight forward tips on picking the best camera for you? Check out this How to Choose a Camera Guide.

Like so many other beginning photographers, you decide the safest thing to do is to keep it in Auto mode, so you don’t miss out on precious moments and once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities.

And that is a shame because your camera’s ‘brain’ is very limited. It really needs your loving guidance to get the best out of it.

So, I’m not going to overload you with technique. I am going to give you 5 simple and practical tips you can implement today. Without all the technical background information you have no place for right now.

This way you can start to get to know your camera a little bit better and most of all develop a sense of control and fun in the process.

Hold Your Camera the Right Way

So, let’s start at the very beginning. How to hold your DSLR or Mirrorless camera. It might seem like a trivial thing, but I can assure you it’s not.

Your camera is your tool, and you should feel very comfortable with it. The end goal here is for your camera to become an extension of yourself. That starts with holding your camera the right way.

Camera Shake

When you hold your camera the right way, it doesn’t move when you press the shutter because it’s supported by you. You have to become a living tripod to give your camera the support it needs to keep still.

When you don’t support it enough, you might end up with blurry pictures caused by camera shake. This is the super small movement the camera makes the moment you press the shutter. So, you see why this first step is so important.

The Steps

#1 Let the base of the camera rest in the palm of your left hand and wrap your fingers around the lens.

#2 Take hold of the grip at the right side of the camera with your right hand.

#3 Let your right index finger rest on the shutter, ready to press.

#4 Press your upper arms in the side of your body, and keep the camera as close to your face as possible.

#5 When it’s time to press the shutter, make sure your right index finger is the only thing moving.

#6 Holding it vertical is basically the same procedure. You support the camera with your left arm and hand, using your right hand only to release the shutter.

Shoot in Program Mode

Program mode is an often-overlooked exposure mode, and that’s a pity because it can help you to step away from Auto mode without the fear of missing shots.

In Auto mode, there’s absolutely nothing you can control. It’s the safe way to go for sure when you’re starting out. But soon you become frustrated because the camera is doing its own will.

Going from Auto mode to Manual mode is a huge step and often results in missed shots. And after you’ve missed a couple of important moments because you were fumbling with your settings you resort to Auto mode. Just to be on the safe side.

But there’s a solution for beginning photographers who don’t feel confident enough to shoot in Manual mode. It’s called Program mode, and it’s perfect for taking your first independent steps in photography. It’s like learning to ride a bike with the side wheels on.

There are a few important settings you cannot control in Auto mode, but you can control them in Program Mode.

Control the Focus

The most important one is setting focus. In Auto mode, the focus is determined by the camera and it might or might not align with where you think the focus should be. As a result, you end up with blurry pics regularly.

In Program mode, you gain full control of your focus settings. It’s the main reason why you should shoot in Program mode.

Control ISO

The second reason is you can deactivate the flash and select the ISO. The ISO determines the sensitivity of the sensor. And when you’re able to select a high ISO yourself the camera will not automatically open up the flash when there’s not a lot of light available.

Shoot in RAW

And the third reason is that you can select the RAW image quality. When you shoot in RAW the range of possibilities in the editing phase is so much larger than when you shoot in Jpeg.

This is good news when you’re starting because the margin for error in exposure is quite large when you shoot in RAW. This means that even if a picture is for instance underexposed you can still make it look awesome when you’re editing.

Shooting in RAW is a no-brainer even if you don’t have access to editing software right now. For now, you can select the Raw/Jpeg image quality.

Shoot a Lot and Experiment

To become a better photographer, you have to shoot a lot. And you should definitely not be afraid of getting it wrong. It’s how you learn the best.

Of course, there’s such a thing as overshooting. That condition when your finger is just not able to let go of the shutter, and you take dozens of identical pictures in a row. That’s not what I’m talking about.

Shoot with Intent

I am talking about shooting with intent, about experimenting and playing. Trying out different things when it’s okay if you make mistakes. To carve out time for yourself to practice without the pressure of others waiting for you or the fear of missing the shot because it’s an important moment.

This is really important when you’re learning. Because it doesn’t make sense to experiment when you’re shooting a once-in-a-lifetime thing or a precious moment. You need to do that when it’s okay to mess it up. So you become comfortable with your camera and confident enough to try out new things when it actually does matter.

Discover What You Love to Shoot

Shooting a lot and experimenting become so much easier when you photograph what you love. It doesn’t matter who or what it is.

Figuring out the subjects or situations that make your photography heart sing is a very important step as a learning photographer.

Maybe your idea of a perfect day is strolling the streets of a city with your camera, or your photo heaven is spending time in nature, or you get your photography juices by photographing your kids or grandkids.

It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you discover what you love to shoot so you can shoot with love.

Photographing with love gives you the motivation to keep at it. To show up again and again. To make the mistakes and keep coming back. For as long as it takes to get it right.

Mix Up Your Point of View

One of the most persistent mistakes I see beginning photographers make is to photograph from the same eye-level perspective all the time. Mixing up your point of view will dramatically improve your photography.

To mix up your point of view you want to be an active and involved photographer. Because what you actually use to change your point of view is not so much the camera but your body. That’s why it’s vital to be active, to walk around, and to look at your subject from different perspectives.

Walk towards your subject to photograph a detail, crouch down to get a low point of view or climb on top of things for an unusual perspective.

So, dust off your camera and start practising with these five simple, yet very effective tips, and I assure you, you will not want to stop photographing.

To help you get started, I created a free Starter Photography Playbook with a step-by-step guide for shooting in Program Mode. It gives you motivation to practice with 5 super fun and creative photography projects you can do at home.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Is photography a potential hobby? Have you tried going around town to take interesting shots? What subjects or events are your favorite to photograph? Has your hobby developed into something more? What tips might you have for a beginning photographer? Please share them below!