Six Healthy Tips for Bladder Health Month
November is Bladder Health Month
There are simple steps you can take to help keep your bladder healthy. November is Bladder Health Month and this is a perfect time of year to get the facts about these issues.
Bladder Health Month
Bladder Health Month is a great time to focus on connecting, educating and empowering individuals to take control of their bladder health. Most Americans are still not yet talking to their healthcare provider about their bladder health symptoms because they are too embarrassed, but several bladder conditions can be treated through simple lifestyle changes, behavior modifications or diet and exercise.
Awareness is critical when it comes to reducing the stigma associated with incontinence and other bladder health conditions and symptoms.
For this year’s bladder health month, we want to share six healthy bladder tips to help you improve and maintain your bladder’s health!
6 Healthy Bladder Tips
Here are six simple tips that could help you improve or maintain your bladder’s health.
1.
Drink plenty of water: Strive to drink 6 to 8 cups of water each day. Cut down on the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink as these may upset your bladder.
2.
Use good bathroom habits: It’s normal to go to the bathroom 4 to 8 times a day and no more than twice a night. If you go more than twice a night, you may have a condition called nocturia. Women should sit to go to the toilet as they should not hover over the toilet seat.
3.
Stay away from foods that bother the bladder: Some foods can worsen urinary incontinence. Make sure to limit your intake of foods like chocolate (also a source of caffeine), as well as spicy or acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits.
4.
Take care of your pelvic floor muscles: Keep your pelvic floor muscles strong with pelvic floor muscle training. Read our pelvic floor muscles article to learn more about the possible benefits of kegel exercises.
5.
Stop smoking: It’s of great value to your bladder health when you stop smoking. Using tobacco is a major cause of bladder cancer. Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to be told they have bladder cancer, than nonsmokers.
6.
Speak freely about your bladder health: Tell your healthcare provider about your symptoms. You may feel embarrassed; but keep in mind, your healthcare provider is used to hearing about all kinds of problems. They are very common and there are a number of treatments available.
Your Bladder's Health
Many bladder conditions can be handled through simple lifestyle changes, behavior modifications, medication, bladder retraining or surgery. The bladder plays an important role in the urinary system. It receives urine from the kidneys and holds it until it is full. At that time, it signals the brain that it needs to be emptied.
Starting around age 30, individuals may begin to struggle with urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine, as well as overactive bladder, the involuntary leakage of urine due to the bladder’s inability to store urine.
If you feel you may have symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor or health care provider.
