With an overactive bladder, involuntary urination occurs due to a sudden contraction of the muscles around this organ. Sometimes it is just a few drops of urine, but in severe cases, the bladder can be almost completely emptied.
In most cases, if the disorder is not properly treated at the initial stage, there is a risk of permanent urinary incontinence. Worst of all, many people simply ignore the symptoms until the disorder gets worse. They become concerned only when it reaches an advanced stage. This greatly complicates treatment, requires the wearing of pads, diapers, or male external catheter systems, and reduces the quality of life.
For this reason, you should be as attentive as possible to any changes in the process of urination. If you identify the reasons, take appropriate action immediately. Today we would like to share with you some tips on how to deal with an overactive bladder.
Tips To Prevent Frequent Urination
Despite the general recommendation to drink 1 to 2 liters of water per day, if you have an overactive bladder problem, fluid intake should be limited to avoid unnecessary problems. Apart from this, here are some more tips that will help you manage an overactive bladder.
1. Avoid Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol abuse leads to frequent urination and causes a large amount of fluid to leave the body. This is the reason those who abuse alcoholic beverages have more frequent visits to the bathroom. Apart from this, alcoholic beverages cause severe damage to many of the vital organs, e.g., the heart and liver.
Thus, it is extremely important to give up addiction and restore your well-being. You can even join support groups, such as 12-step programs to deal with addiction. However, if that does not fit your needs, you can look for their alternative, i.e., non 12 step rehab programs. It is a great way to fight addiction and eliminate it from your life.
2. Avoid Consumption of Certain Foods
A healthy and balanced diet is one of the main factors in the fight against frequent urination. Some foods stimulate the bladder and increase symptoms. So, in addition to controlling fat intake and counting calories, it is important to avoid the following foods:
- Spicy food
- Citrus juices
- Caffeinated foods and drinks
- Carbonated drinks
- Milk and dairy products
- Sugar and refined flour
- Deep-fried food and sausages
Once you eliminate these foods from your diet, you will notice an improvement in your overall health.
3. Add Kegel Exercises To Your Routine
Kegel exercises are aimed at working out the muscles of the small pelvis (pelvic floor), the area where the bladder is located. With the regular performance of these exercises, the muscles surrounding this organ get strengthened.
It increases the body’s ability to control the urge to urinate. In addition, this same therapy helps to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and improves sexual life. Kegel exercises do not take much time; you can easily include them in your usual workout.
4. Plan Your Trips To The Bathroom
For people with an overactive bladder, this can be a real problem, as the urge to urinate comes on suddenly and recurs quite often. However, such a habit can be a good workout and treatment at the same time. This will greatly facilitate the control of this state.
The idea is to plan the time to empty your bladder. This body will gradually get used to the schedule and adapt to it. This will help reduce spasms when your bladder is empty and make you less likely to feel like going to the toilet.
Of course, we are not talking about enduring for a long time. It gradually increases the duration of the delay before going to the toilet to increase your endurance. As a result, you will have full control over this process.
5. Control Your Fluid Intake
In order to stay healthy and energetic, our body needs enough water. However, people suffering from an overactive bladder should be careful with this recommendation. Excess fluid in the body can make treatment difficult.
Don’t eliminate water completely from your diet. Cut down on its intake until the bladder gets stronger. Remember that you should not drink lots of water before going to bed, it will prevent you from going to the bathroom.
6. Watch Your Body Weight
Be attentive and careful with your weight. Being overweight can also be one of the triggers for overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. After all, it accumulates in the body and weakens the muscles that support this organ. But it does not mean that you should abruptly lose weight. In this way, waking up dizzy and staying sick will become a part of your life.
An increase in weight gradually reduces the bladder’s ability to control the process of urination. For this reason, it is very important to monitor your weight and try to lead a healthy lifestyle. Good habits (in food and sports) will help you keep it within the normal range.
7. Quit Smoking
Smoking is harmful, especially for people who have experienced bladder dysfunction. Cigarettes are high in toxins and chemicals that, over time, cause inflammation in the body and weaken muscles. The negative effect of smoking affects the health of the respiratory system.
It also leads to problems in both: the urinary and cardiovascular systems of our body. So if you also smoke and suffer from the problem of frequent urination, you must quit smoking. You can even find help to get rid of smoking. Also, do not consider vaping as a healthy alternative to smoking because it also damages your health.
Take Away
Are you experiencing an uncontrollable urge to urinate? If so, check with your doctor to find out for sure if you have an overactive bladder. When you clarify your diagnosis (if it is confirmed), try to follow the above recommendations. They will help to cope with this disorder by changing your daily habits. These tips will not only help you cope with the problem of frequent urination but will also improve your overall health.
