Summer makes for a perfect time to take a vacation. Unfortunately, fun summertime activities like road trips or beach days can become problematic for those with overactive bladder. Not knowing where or when the next available bathroom is can be a source of stress for the nearly 33 million Americans who suffer from this bladder control issue. For those living with bladder disorders, we want to help ensure you live your best quality of life, and this means not missing out on summertime trips and memories. This is why we are sharing some overactive bladder tips that can help you this summer as well as the rest of the year.
What is Overactive Bladder?
Overactive bladder is not a disease but rather a set of urinary symptoms, including increased urinary urgency, frequency, incontinence, and needing to urinate two or more times overnight. These symptoms occur when involuntary bladder contractions create the urgent need to urinate even if the bladder is not full. While overactive bladder tends to occur more frequently in women, it still affects an estimated 30 percent of men, in addition to affecting 40 percent of women in the United States alone. Despite its prevalence, many people live without talking to their healthcare provider about their symptoms and accept overactive bladder as a part of their life. This complacency can impact the quality of life and may even lead to missing out on certain experiences. To ensure you can make the most of your summer and your life, check out the following overactive bladder tips:
Summertime Overactive Bladder Tips
Stay hydrated
In hot weather, staying hydrated is key, but did you know this summertime thirst is also helpful for overactive bladder? Drinking water throughout the day is one of the best actions you can take to benefit your OAB symptoms. The trick is to take sips throughout the day instead of gulping down a bunch of water at once. Also, make sure you’re primarily drinking water, as some fruit drinks, carbonated beverages, caffeine, and alcohol can all potentially irritate your bladder.
Map out your route and your rest areas
When planning out your route for a road trip, pinpoint specific bathroom breaks along the way. Having planned stops every two hours or so will help alleviate the stress associated with overactive bladder.
Plan your plane travel wisely
With restrictive times to move about the cabin, air travel can be especially stressful for those with overactive bladder. Because cabin air pressure and airplane seatbelts can put added stress on your bladder, make sure you’re careful about what you drink up to two hours before your flight. Selecting an aisle seat can also allow for easy access to the restroom throughout the flight.
Focus on your foods
The summertime is full of fresh, seasonal, healthy foods that can nourish your body and help with overactive bladder. Constipation can be an underlying trigger for incontinence, so by consuming the proper amount of fiber, you can help prevent constipation and incontinence issues.
Lose excess weight
If getting in shape was a summer goal, you may be able to notice that your overactive bladder symptoms improve in addition to your overall health. Studies have shown that women who lose about two percent of their body weight were able to improve overactive bladder incontinence symptoms by 28 percent. Considering two percent of the body equates to about three pounds on average for the women in the study, even modest weight loss can be highly beneficial for overactive bladder symptoms.
Make an Appointment
To diagnose and treat any common problem related to the bladder or genitourinary system, schedule an appointment with one of our providers. Our team has years of experience treating issues pertaining to the urinary tract and bladder. Alliance Urology Specialists are here for you at any stage of life. For questions and inquiries, please call our office in Greensboro at (336) 274-1114.
