With Bladder Issues, Watch Those Caffeinated Beverages
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“Mild urinary leakage affects most women at some time in our lives.”
That quote -- which reassures me as my morning cup of Darjeeling prompts yet another bathroom break -- comes from Dr. Mary Rosser of Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, as quoted in a Health.com slideshow on “10 Things That Can Make Incontinence Worse.” Rosser also explained that leakage is more common in women than in men and more common in older women than younger ones.
Among many helpful suggestions and reminders, the slide show zeroed in on fluid intake and warned that women may be headed for trouble with constipation, dehydration and kidney stones if they cut down on beverages to solve the problem. Better to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day.
Water is the go-to beverage because, as many women know, coffee and tea are diuretics. Caffeine consumption is probably the first thing health care practitioners will ask about when women seek advice about an overactive bladder. If you are not willing to do total caffeine withdrawal, then it’s at least worth experimenting with fewer cups a day.
And then there are those alluring cans and bottles of soda pop. But between the carbonation as well as the caffeine that these products often contain, they too might contribute to the need to go. By the way, alcohol is also a diuretic, the slide show pointed out.
What about juices? Probably a good choice once or twice a day. But the slide show cautioned against cranberry juice, which has a high acidic pH that sometimes irritates the bladder. Cranberry juice still has a good rep, though, as far as controlling urinary tract infections.
Interestingly, the slide show also discussed spicy foods, citrus fruits and chocolate as possible no-no’s if urinary leakage is getting to be a problem.
Medically speaking, if you are 30 or older and have concerns about bladder control, it might be either stress urinary incontinence or urge urinary continence. The first type is often linked to childbirth, a hysterectomy or menopause and refers to urine leakage during exercising, sneezing and other “stress”-like movements.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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I rarely leave comments on articles, but your article encouraged me to compliment your writings. Thanks for the read, I will tweet your post and come back occasionally.
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July 12, 2011 - 2:43amwho owns phone
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Truly we can never deny that not being able to manage your bladder issues is embarrassing and uncomfortable. This condition usually occurs in women however no matter what may cause of the problem, it is advisable to make certain remedies and seek medical treatment since there are actually ways to deal with the condition.
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