At least not until something goes wrong. Once the painful urination starts or the embarrassing leakage happens it is hard to think of anything else. Still, few people realize how easy it is to keep your bladder healthy so that they are less likely to have to face such problems. With just a few basic lifestyle changes, your bladder can continue working just as it should leave you free to go about your business as usual.
When You Go, Go All The Way
When you get that urge to urinate, make sure that you completely empty the bladder each time. Many people (especially women) tend to rush the process by constricting the muscles to stop urinating too soon. When this happens, some of the urine travels back through the urethra and into the bladder carrying unwanted bacteria with it. This creates a breeding ground for infections that trigger many of the bladder problems that most have to deal with.
Drink Plenty Of Water
It is always important to keep hydrated but it is especially important for your bladder health. The best way to do that is to drink at least six to eight glasses of water every day. While you can drink any number of fluids, water is the best choice for bladder health. Because water is pure and free from added chemicals it can flush out any excess bacteria and acids that may build up in the bladder or in the urethra causing irritation and infections.
Start Walking More
If you are more sedentary than most, it is a good idea to start walking more. Those who are less active throughout the day tend to have fluid buildup in the legs, which begs to be released late at night. If you find that you are frequently waking up during the night to urinate you can probably conclude that you have this fluid building up and putting a strain on your bladder. Start taking short walks throughout the day to push that fluid out and take the pressure off of your bladder.
Stop The Alcohol and Caffeine
Cut back your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Caffeinated foods and drinks like coffee, tea, chocolate, and even those sugary soft drinks can interfere with the proper functioning of the urinary system. Depending on how much you consume, you could suffer from mild symptoms like the frequent need to urinate to more severe issues like kidney problems. At the very least, cut back on those foods that contain alcohol and caffeine and give your bladder a break.
Quit Tobacco
Most people think of tobacco and how it affects the lungs. But the ravages of tobacco go much further than that. You might not realize that the toxins in tobacco can wreak havoc once inside your system, but they can do even more damage as they are leaving it too. The carcinogens in tobacco are expelled through the urinary tract. This exposes the bladder to high concentrations of toxins that can lead to bladder cancer. The sooner you stop the tobacco, the sooner you can see your way clear to better bladder health.
Stand Up More Often
One of the main causes of bladder problems is an infection. Infection is usually at the root of issues like incontinence, retention, and urethral stricture. However, in many cases, these can be avoided simply by adding a bit more mobility into your life. Studies have shown that people who spend more than five hours a day sitting tend to have more bladder problems than those who were more active. So, if your job requires you to sit all day, start getting up throughout the day and get moving. Even if it is just for five minutes every hour, the results will definitely be worth it.
While it is impossible to control everything that contributes to your bladder health, by making just a few basic lifestyle changes like those listed above, you can gain better control of how it affects your bladder and your life.