If you’re like most people, the health of your bladder may not be something you think about too often. Unfortunately, when bladder issues strike, it can be hard to think of anything else. Bladder health issues don’t need to be simply dismissed as part of growing older. The health of their bladder may be something most people take for granted until it becomes a problem. But the good news is there are lots of ways you can take action and keep your bladder healthy.
Here are some of the ways you can take care of your bladder health:
1. Don’t Ignore Issues
Firstly, it’s important to note that if you are experiencing issues with your bladder, you need to get these checked. Bladder issues can manifest themselves in many different ways. From frequent UTIs to struggles with urinary incontinence, there are many possible bladder problems. These bladder issues have many different causes, so a professional diagnosis is vital to establish what you do next to treat the problem.
Booking a consultation with a urologist, such as Dr. Jonathan Henderson, will help you get a clear diagnosis and understand what next steps you need to take.
2. Stay Active
Being physically active does more than simply keep your physique toned and healthy, it is also beneficial for your bladder. Issues such as urinary incontinence are often worse in people carrying excess weight. Being physically active helps to keep your weight at a healthy level and can reduce the likelihood of bladder problems developing.
As well as exercising to maintain your general health, it’s also helpful to reduce the likelihood of continence issues by performing kegel exercises each day. Kegel exercises, aka pelvic floor exercises, can be helpful in a couple of ways. Firstly, you will be strengthening the muscles that you use to help hold urine inside your bladder, meaning you decrease your risk of developing bladder weakness. Secondly, strengthening the bladder muscles helps them to empty urine more effectively. Effective emptying of the bladder helps to minimize the chances of contracting a urinary infection.
3. Make the Right Food and Drink Choices
Eating a healthy diet will obviously help to manage your weight and make it easier to exercise. However, making the right food and drink choices for a healthy bladder goes beyond this and involves noticing if specific foods and drinks make your bladder issues worse. Common foods and drinks that may irritate the bladder include:
- Spicy foods
- Artificial sweeteners
- Sodas
- Tomato-based foods
Final Thoughts
Many people feel that bladder issues are just a normal part of the aging process. But there’s no need to accept bladder issues, especially when they impact your enjoyment of life. Dealing with your bladder issues swiftly is key to getting them under control. Booking a consultation with a urologist will help you get a diagnosis and quickly begin treatment.
Seeking treatment for bladder issues is a must. However, taking action to protect your bladder health before issues develop is also important to prevent future problems from developing.
