6 Things That can Make Incontinence Worse

October 1, 2014

Urinary incontinence can happen to men or women at any time, and there are many everyday habits than can make this already unpleasant experience worse. By knowing what incontinence symptoms might be affecting your bladder, you can make positive lifestyle changes to help. Together with incontinence underwear or incontinence panties, the tips here can aid you in living a healthy and active life.

 

6 Things That Make Incontinence Worse

There are many daily habits that may be making your incontinence more severe. If these 6 things resonate with you, changes may lead to a decrease in urination frequency.

1. Drinking too much – There’s an obvious correlation between fluid intake and your bladder’s output. While fluids are necessary for your health, you may find relief from incontinence if you space your fluid intake throughout the day. If you experience nighttime urinary leaks, cutting back on evening fluid intake can help you make it through the night without leakage.
2. Drinking the wrong things – Coffee, sodas, and tea contain caffeine, a known diuretic. So does alcohol. Cutting back on the amount of soda, coffee, tea, and alcohol you consume can help to diminish urinary leaks.
3. Snacking on sugary foods – Sure, sugary foods can give you a quick energy boost that gets you through a mid-afternoon slump. However, they can also make incontinence worse. New studies suggest that both sugary foods and foods containing artificial sweeteners may irritate the bladder. If you look to sugar for your afternoon snack, cut back on sweets consumption to soothe your bladder.
4. Eating spicy foods – Spicy foods can be tasty, but they may be making you need to urinate more often. Women, in particular, may notice that spicy foods increase the need to go. Avoid spicy foods for 1-2 weeks, and see if you notice a correlating decrease in your need to go. If so, they may be a trigger for your incontinence.
5. Consuming acidic foods – Acidic foods, including cranberry juice, citrus, and tomatoes, can also aggravate your bladder. Acidic foods can intensify the urge to go, which can be uncomfortable for men and women with incontinence.
6. Medication – Some medications can increase the urge to go. If you take regular prescription medication, talk to your doctor about whether it could interfere with your bladder.

Tools to Help Alleviate Incontinence Symptoms

Along with addressing these 6 triggers of incontinence, make sure that you have the right tools and coping strategies to live life to the fullest.

Washable incontinence underwear protects you from leakage, acting as a safe and dependable barrier. Find seamless briefs and panties that offer protection without bulk.

Bladder training techniques can help you to increase the amount of time in-between bathroom trips. Over time, this can train your bladder to hold more urine, and reduce the frequency of urination.

These tips can help you to cope with incontinence while continuing to pursue the activities you love. Making lifestyle changes and using the right tools may help you feel more in control of your bladder.