When your body systems go awry: Urinary and bowel continence problems affect millions of people, according to federal data.

Byline: Tammie Smith

Feb. 22--If you believe a late-night infomercial, an autopsy of a popular actor showed him with about 40 pounds of undigested food in his colon when he died. Web sites discount the story as an urban legend, but the notion that wastes can clog up your system is not totally off base, as anyone who has had chronic constipation can attest. Elimination or voiding issues, in general, of the bowels or the bladder -- are embarrassing for people to talk about. That reluctance means booming sales for products such as incontinence pads and adult diapers and the overuse of laxatives. Experts say many bladder and bowel continence problems have solutions, including some newer options. "The biggest barrier to successful treatment of incontinence, both urinary and fecal, is the reluctance of people to bring this to their…