Tips for maintaining better bladder health
The bladder is a sac-like organ located in the lower abdomen. It stores urine until it’s time to expel it from the body. People are often embarrassed or hesitant to discuss issues related to their bladders. But, bladder health is important to overall health and quality of life. Our North Austin bladder specialists provide important tips for a healthy bladder, point out bladder symptoms of which to be aware, and explain common problems.
There are similarities and differences between men’s and women’s bladder health, but everyone needs to be proactive and take steps to keep their bladder healthy.
How to boost your bladder health
You can make lifestyle changes to improve your health, prevent future problems, and decrease current symptoms.
- Stay hydrated. Drink enough fluids to urinate every few hours and until your urine is clear or light yellow. Water is best.
- Don’t hold it. Go when you need to. Holding urine too long can weaken the muscles permanently. It’s important to fully empty your bladder.
- Exercise. Regular exercise can prevent bladder problems and constipation, and can relieve bladder symptoms.
- Quit smoking. This unhealthy habit increases the risk of bladder problems, including bladder cancer.
- Know your medications. Some medications can create or worsen bladder symptoms.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol. They can exacerbate symptoms of existing bladder problems.
- Avoid constipation. Long-term constipation can put extra pressure on the bladder.
- Strengthen your pelvic floor. Men and women can do Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and help hold urine in the bladder.
Signs of a problem
Contact your doctor at the first signs of a problem, to better manage and treat bladder disorders. There are several symptoms to watch for that may indicate you have a problem maintaining a healthy bladder.
- Leaking urine
- Urgent or frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Weak urine stream or trouble starting urination
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine
- Waking to urinate more than once a night
- Recurrent bladder or urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Common disorders and diseases
Our North Austin bladder specialists treat a wide range of disorders of the bladder, but these are some of the most common conditions we see.
- Urinary incontinence – leaking urine
- Overactive bladder – strong, sudden urges to urinate
- Nocturia – waking with the need to urinate more than once a night
- Urinary retention – difficulty emptying the bladder
- Bladder infection/urinary tract infection (UTI) – caused by bacteria in the bladder due to drinking too little water or incomplete emptying of the bladder
- Bladder stones – similar to kidney stones, formed when minerals in the urine crystalize into stones in the bladder
Reach out to us for help maintaining a healthy bladder
Contact our North Austin bladder specialists for an appointment if you are experiencing any bladder symptoms mentioned here, or if you have questions about your bladder health.