Take Control of Bladder Health With Simple Daily Habits

Try these tips:

Drink enough water.
Not drinking enough can irritate the bladder. Sip fluids throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once.

Avoid trigger foods.
Common irritants include caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, artificial sweeteners and citrus foods. Keep track of what you eat and drink to find out what affects you.

Maintain a healthy weight.
Extra weight can put pressure on the bladder. This may lead to leaks and the sudden need to urinate. Losing even a small amount of weight may help.

Strengthen your muscles.
Kegel exercises can make the muscles around the bladder stronger. Bladder training means going to the bathroom on a schedule and slowly increasing the time between visits.

Don’t smoke.
It can irritate the bladder and cause coughing that may lead to leaks.

Eat a fiber-rich diet.
Fiber helps prevent constipation, which puts extra pressure on the bladder.