5 Lifestyle Changes That Aid Overactive Bladder
An overactive bladder is not necessarily a disease but more of a symptom. When affected by this condition, an individual experiences an uncontrollable urge to urinate rather frequently. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but the symptoms can be treated in various ways. Here’s a list of lifestyle tips for managing overactive bladder effectively:
Eliminate caffeine from the diet
If one wants to manage the symptoms naturally, it’s best to eliminate caffeinated foods and beverages from the diet. Caffeine increases blood flow to the urinary organs, particularly in males. Eliminating caffeine from one’s diet is one of the most beneficial lifestyle tips for managing overactive bladder effectively.
Avoid consuming fluids late in the evenings
People with this condition might find it difficult to get sound sleep at night due to frequent urge to urinate. No matter how tired or exhausted one is, they simply cannot control the urge to urinate and might wake up multiple times at night. This can be irritating and lead to disturbed sleep, causing tiredness and exhaustion the next day. So, a helpful lifestyle tip for managing overactive bladder is to avoid the intake of water or other fluids in the late evenings and close to bedtime. This doesn’t mean one has to go thirsty. Instead, one can limit the consumption of fluids to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Maintain a healthy weight
This is another helpful lifestyle tip for people with overactive bladder. Being obese or overweight has a lot of risks when it comes to urinary incontinence. Adults who are overweight and suffer from an overactive bladder are encouraged to lose weight through exercise and following a healthy diet. One should include more vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins instead of foods high in carbohydrates and sugars to maintain a healthy weight and manage the symptoms of overactive bladder.
Exercise regularly
Exercising can help people with an overactive bladder to a great extent. One should specifically engage in the exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which are located next to the bladder, providing strength and support. Exercising regularly, in general, can decrease the risk of developing urge incontinence, but it’s also important to not overexert oneself and let a trained guide help them in the process.
Stop smoking
Smoking aggravates an overactive bladder as well as several other symptoms, apart from increasing the risk of numerous health conditions. This habit can raise the risk of cancer among people who are already prone to urinary problems, so quitting smoking is an extremely important lifestyle tip for people with an overactive bladder to lead a healthier life.
These lifestyle tips for managing an overactive bladder can help reduce anxiousness and troubles associated with the condition.