Try Some Lifestyle Strategies for Better Bladder Control

Bladder control problems in women can be an embarrassing and discomforting problem. If you have been suffering with bladder control issues, there are lifestyle strategies, also known as “behavior therapies” that you may want to try that are proving to be a help with bladder control issues.

What are lifestyle strategies?

Lifestyle strategies are easy, safe, low cost and effective techniques to help control bladder problems. They may be all you need to solve your bladder control issues. These techniques are what you may want to try, before using medications or surgery.

What are some effective lifestyle strategies?

• Drinking too much fluid. A healthy lifestyle includes drinking an adequate amount of fluids. It’s recommended you drink about 64 ounces of fluid every day. If you exercise frequently or live in a hot climate your fluid intake should be increased. The problem is when you drink a large amount of fluid too quickly. Your bladder is overwhelmed and a strong sense of urgency is created. A good way to get the right amount of fluid every day is to drink 2-8oz glasses at every meal with an 8-oz glass between meals.
• Drinking too little fluid. When you don’t drink enough fluid, your urine has a concentrated amount of waste products. This concentration of waste products can irritate your bladder, which can increase the frequency of your bathroom visits.
• Limit your consumption of caffeine and alcohol. They act as diuretics, which mean they increase urine production. A good way to see if they are part of the problem is to eliminate caffeine and alcohol and see if the problem improves.
• Certain fruits like grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges and fruit juice may irritate your bladder, and can contribute to leakage of urine. Carbonated drinks, spicy food, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, syrup, sugar and tomato-based products can also cause urine leakage.
• With all of the foods and fluids listed above, you may not have to avoid them entirely. Sometimes just reducing the amount you consume will be enough to solve the problem. If you have an idea that maybe one of the foods you eat or one the liquids you drink, may be causing the problem, you can eliminate them for a week and see if you have any improvement. If you see an improvement you can try consuming whatever it was that was causing the problem just reduce the amount.
• Bladder training can be an effective way to help with your bladder control problems. Basically it’s a diary you keep of every time you go to the bathroom to urinate. You calculate the time between each urination. For instance, if you urinate about once every hour, you start by adding 15 minutes to that time. So, in this case you try not to urinate for 1 ¼ hours, and try to stick to it. If you feel the urge to go, try relaxing or sit down. After a while you may be able to extend the between urination to an acceptable level.

What are some bladder control problems in men?

• Overactive bladder: This is where the bladder will squeeze out urine at the wrong time. If a person urinates 8 or more time a day or more than twice nightly there may be a problem.
• Urinary incontinence: This is where there is urine leakage when you sneeze, cough or lift something. Urine leakage can also occur when you have a sudden urge to urinate.

It’s not always clear what the cause of these bladder control problems are. Sometimes it can be caused by prostate cancer or nerve damage. As a start you may try the lifestyle strategies listed above. That’s a good start.

Whatever the cause of your bladder problems, keep working on a solution, either with these behavior therapies or with the help of a doctor or a combination of both.

About the Author:

Myke Thomas is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and social media enthusiast. Her blog Vitaminsandminerals.net focuses on health bloggers and fitness bloggers. You can follow him on Google+ and Twitter.