The bladder is one of those body parts that no one really thinks about until it stops working properly. Some health problems involving your bladder can cause urine leakage and painful urination. If you are having one of those problems, here are a couple of tips you can adapt to help ensure that your bladder remains in tip top shape.
7) Let It All Out
Urinary tract infection (UTI) involving the bladder usually affects more women than men. According to Dr. Gopal Badlani, a specialist in bladder issues in Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., one way to reduce the risk of UTI is to make sure that you urinate completely. Some people make the mistake of tightening the muscles to stop urinating too soon. This causes some urine to go back to the bladder, resulting in bacteria going into your system.
6) Drink Lots Of Water, But Not Too Much
Drinking six to eight glasses a day can help flush out the bacteria from your urinary tract and help prevent you from developing bladder infections. But too much can be a bad thing, says Dr. Badlani. If you are spending a lot of time going in and out of the bathroom throughout the day, go easy on your fluid intake. Also make it a point to avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks as they will only make you urinate more.
5) Take A Walk
Some people suffering from heart disease may develop fluid build-up in their legs during day time. This same built-up fluid causes them to urinate throughout the night. If fluid retention is making your bladder active at night, try walking more during the day. If for some reason you cannot walk, raise your legs to waist level and flex your muscles.
4) Avoid Tobacco
More than 50,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year. Dr. Badlani warns that using tobacco is a major risk factor. Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than nonsmokers. Do your bladder a favor and talk to your doctor about how to quit smoking.
3) Learn Proper Kegels
Kegel exercises are good for developing muscles that allow for better bladder control. Most cases of urinary incontinence or urine leakage are caused by weak muscles if you have issues when it comes to bladder control, talk to your doctor about how to properly do kegel exercises.
2) Be Careful When You Are Having Sex
Sexual intercourse can cause bladder infections for women. The urethra, the tube that is leading from the woman’s bladder towards out of the body, is situated where bacteria thrive. One simple yet effective way of avoiding this infection is by making sure that your genital and anal area are clean before intercourse. Urinating before and after sex also helps flush out bacteria out of the body before they can cause bladder infection.
1) Watch What You Eat
Interstitial cystitis, a condition more common in women than men, can cause bladder pain and causes you to pee more often and urgently than normal. According to Dr. Badlani, there are certain foods that can worsen this condition. Orange juice, tomatoes and other acidic foods may cause flare-ups. One way to find out if a type of food is causing interstitial cystitis symptoms is by keeping a diary of your food intake and see if you can connect then to any symptoms.
