What Steps Can You Take to Improve Your Bladder Health? | Tennessee Valley Urology Center
If you are affected by some type of bladder issue, you are not alone. Most Americans face at least some level of bladder irritation at some point in their lives.
Fortunately, our team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center is here to help you in regaining control of your bladder so that you can improve your quality of life.
Your Diet & Your Bladder
One of the first steps in preventing bladder issues is knowing what’s causing them. Did you know that the foods you eat and drink can contribute to bladder irritation? These foods are known irritants:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Carbonated drinks
- Alcohol
- Acidic fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes
- Fruit juices
- Spicy foods
- Tomato-based products
- Chocolate
So, if you’re feeling the need to urinate frequently or facing other bladder health issues, you may want to consider limiting your consumption of those foods.
Finding the Right Fluid Balance
While it is certainly important that you stay hydrated throughout the day not only for your bladder health but your overall health, you may need to be more thoughtful about when you drink and what you drink.
If you find yourself frequently being awakened with the need to urinate, you may want to consider:
- Consuming more fluids during the day than at night
- Skipping caffeine close to bedtime
- Being aware of the foods you consume that contain high levels of water, like fruits and veggies
Control Your Bladder
Fortunately, there are certain steps you can take in order to reduce and/or prevent bladder issues from occurring now and in the future.
For instance, you want to make sure you are managing medications that might make it difficult to use the restroom. Certain medications can increase your need to urinate or cause bladder irritation, so talk with your doctor if you begin developing urinary symptoms after starting a new medication.
You also want to make sure you are maintaining a healthy weight, as being overweight can put too much pressure on your bladder, which can increase your risk of leakage.
Are you suffering from bladder irritation or other bladder health issues? Our team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center is here to help! Give us a call today.