There are countless medical conditions that can crop up at any time. Some are life-threatening, some are minor and some are downright embarrassing. For people who have to deal with the latter afflictions, the conditions can seem life ending. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to just tough out an embarrassing health issue. For some of the most common issues, there are often easy solutions. 

Profuse Sweating 

At some point, everyone breaks into a sweat. For some people, though, it’s more than a few beads or a glow. When it’s warm outside or the body overheats, sweat just comes pouring out. Over-sweating is a condition known as hyperhidrosis. Sweaty hands is another common problem that’s brought on by nerves. 

In some areas (underarms, groin, scalp) sweat is produced by the apocrine sweat gland and cause an odor when it’s mixed with bacteria that live on the skin. Anti-bacterial sanitizer can help nix the smell, but other measures will have to be taken to keep the sweat under control.

Medical researchers have come up with a number of solutions for profuse sweating. The options range from Botox to hand antiperspirant. Stress reduction techniques can also help control sweating that’s caused by anxiety, nerves, and emotions. At the end of the day, the solution is going to hinge on where you’re sweating and what is causing you to perspire. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the least talked about health conditions because, for most people, it’s an embarrassing topic. IBS is an intestinal disorder that causes both constipation and diarrhea. In some cases, it can cause unexpected bowel movements that are uncontrollable.

IBS affects people of all ages. Many cases can be controlled with stress management and dietary changes. Those with IBS should focus on eating a diet that’s low-fat and high in fiber. It’s also best to steer clear of fried and spicy foods that can upset the intestinal tract.

For more severe cases of IBS, medication may be needed. Seeing a mental health therapist can also be beneficial if the IBS is brought on by stress and anxiety.

Stress Incontinence 

Another bathroom-related condition that can be difficult to deal with is stress incontinence. This is when you involuntarily urinate due to physical stress, not psychological stress. Stress incontinence can occur after lifting a heavy object, sneezing, coughing, exercise, or running.

The reason urine can leak out is weak muscles and tissues around the bladder and urinary sphincter. When force is exerted around the pelvic or abdominal region, the muscles aren’t able to withstand it. Two common causes of stress incontinence are prostate surgery and childbirth. Obesity and smoking can also make stress incontinence worse.

The first thing someone with stress incontinence should do is cut out cigarettes if they smoke and make sure they’re at a healthy weight. Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) can also go a long way in strengthening the urinary sphincter and its surrounding muscles. 

For women, there are two devices that could help. Urethral inserts act like a tampon to prevent leakage. A vaginal pessary is a ring-shaped device that sits in the urethra to support the bladder. In some cases, surgical procedures are used to correct stress incontinence.

Thinning Hair

Millions of men and women avoid mirrors because they know they’ll immediately start analyzing their hairline. Thinning hair is a part of aging, but there are actually many things that can cause hair to shed to the point that you start to notice your part getting wider.

While this is by no means a life-threatening condition, it hits people hard psychologically. Given that thinning hair is a problem that affects millions of people, researchers have been looking for solutions to it for years. There are a few promising ways to stop the shedding and even regain some hair growth.

If you have thinning hair, you may want to visit a dermatologist to determine what’s causing the problem since it could be from a number of things. Male or female pattern baldness is a genetic and hormonal issue. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for this type of hair loss. All you can do is slow it down with products that contain minoxidil. The only other solution is an expensive hair transplant procedure.

For some, the solution could be as simple as taking a daily vitamin if nutrients are the culprit. Ceasing medication could also solve the problem if that’s the cause. 

Remember: you aren’t alone. Just because you don’t often hear about these embarassing issues doesn’t mean that nobody else has to deal with them. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. There is likely a treatment that will help you!