Accidental bowel leakage and my morning coffee

I’ve grown accustomed to nearly spitting out my coffee over many things in my morning paper.

Still, an ad for an “accidental bowel leakage” product darn near had me spewing my French Roast Colombian all over the paper the other day.

First, let me emphasize that I know there’s undoubtedly a need being served by this product.  And I am not belittling that need.

I am only commenting on the marketing. Just one more little observation about how health care marketing dominates our media consumption.

But I learned something.  I learned that what we used to call “fecal incontinence” is now ABL.  And there it is advertised in my morning paper right alongside snow tire sales and department store sales and travel agency ads trying to get me out of Minnesota in January.

So ABL joins the Hall of Fame of health care condition acronyms created largely by drug companies or others selling health care products.

Can you provide the full name for the following acronyms AND what the condition used to be called? (Quiz answers appear at the very end of this article.)

• ED
• EIB
• OAB
• BBS
• GAD
• SAD
• HSDD
• ES caused by SWD or OSA

Before we give you the quiz answers, here’s news about another new marketing twist.  A billboard outside the Denver Broncos’ football stadium, capitalizing on the All-Pro performance of quarterback Peyton Manning to urge men to join those who are “manning up” and having vasectomies. Thanks to Deadspin.com for bringing this to our attention.

 

Now, here are your quiz answers.  A free vasectomy to anyone who answered them all correctly.  You just have to go to Denver to pick up your prize.

• ED = erectile dysfunction or impotence.  That was the easy one.
• EIB = exercise-induced brocohspasm.  See https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2013/02/oh-no-no-disclosure-of-ohno-drug-company-payment/
• OAB = overactive bladder or feeling the need to pee a lot.  See https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2010/04/journalist-with-a-going-problem-balks-at-overactive-bladder-disease-mongering/
• BBS =  bashful bladder syndrome – or paruresis – or bashful kidneys, mental cloggery, stage fright, pee fright, urophobia, pee-shyness, the slow dribbles, creeping pee-pee, public piss syndrome, shy bladder syndrome. And, yes, antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for it.  Aren’t they prescribed for everything?
• GAD = generalized anxiety disorder.  Yep, antidepressants again.
• SAD = social anxiety disorder.  Yep, antidepressants again.
• HSDD = hypoactive sexual desire disorder or not in the mood tonight.  Yep, antidepressants again.
• ES caused by SWD or OSA – excessive sleepiness caused by shift work disorder or obstructive sleep apnea.  See https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2011/12/twas-the-night-before-christmas-and-drug-marketings-in-high-gear/

OBHCM, I remain THNW.

(Overwhelmed By Health Care Marketing, I remain, The Health News Watchdog.)

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