It’s National Bladder Health Awareness month what better time to learn how to effectively manage your incontinence symptoms?
Here are seven tips to help you do just that:
-Learn how to do pelvic floor exercises and then actually do them. Kegel exercises can be effective in helping many people learn to control bladder leakage, but many people do not perform them correctly and many more don’t bother to stick with a regular schedule. Kegels are very discreet; they can and should be done throughout the day to maintain strength and reduce leakage.
-Watch your fluid intake. Yes, you want to be sure you drink enough to stay hydrated and avoid urinary tract infections, but try to limit drinking shortly before bed or before going out.
-Limit caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps your body get rid of excess fluid. The result: Greater chances of leakage and urgency. Alcohol has an effect on your brain and the signals that tell it when you need to use the bathroom and it also acts as a mild diuretic.
-Set a bathroom schedule. Make a note of how often you feel a need to go and then schedule a bathroom break shortly before that time to make sure you’re keeping your bladder empty.
-Cut back on really spicy foods. Spicy foods can irritate your bladder’s lining, increasing feelings of urgency.
-Lose those extra pounds. Even moderate weight gain can place extra pressure on your bladder, resulting in unexpected leaks.
-Avoid foods and beverages with citric acid as well as carbonated drinks. Lemons, oranges, grapefruit even cranberries all of these contain citric acid which can increase that urgent feeling that you need to go. Carbonated beverages can have the same effect.
If you suffer from incontinence, learning to manage your symptoms can make life more enjoyable, but it’s also important to get treatment. Today, there are lots of options for treating incontinence so you can lead a happier, more confident life. Call the Incontinence Institute today at (800) 771-1953 to schedule an evaluation.