The following is an Editorial Resource from YourTotalHealth.
Beverage Do's & Don'ts
Reviewed by: David O. Sussman, D.O., FACOS
If you’re thinking about your bladder all the time, you might already be thinking about what you are drinking.The amount and kinds of fluids, and even when and how you drink can affect your bladder problems. In general water is the best choice. You should drink enough to stay hydrated, especially in warm weather or when active, though not so much that you lose control.
How much is okay?
Many people make the mistake of trying to manage their condition by drinking too little. Not getting enough fluid can concentrate the urine and irritate the bladder, which may lead to more frequent and urgent urination.
So how much water do you need? Your best approach to determine how much is right for you is to drink when thirsty. If your urine is dark or you are constantly thirsty, you need to drink more. On the other hand, drinking too much can add pressure on the bladder.
Additional tips for managing fluids include:
- Drink regularly throughout the day rather than large amounts at once.
- Adjust for your environment or activity. You will need to drink more during exercise or in hot/humid weather to avoid dehydration.
- Improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep by limiting drinks before bedtime.
- Talk to your doctor about your beverage choices and habits as part of your overactive bladder treatment. Every person’s needs are different and your doctor can help determine what is best for you.
Beverages to limit
Drinking the right amounts of water at the right times isn’t the only way your beverage choices can affect OAB. It may also help to avoid these drinks:
- Alcohol In addition to irritating the bladder, alcohol is a diuretic—meaning it stimulates the production of urine and can lead to dehydration. That will make you want to drink more fluids, a further challenge to bladder control.
- Caffeinated drinks Like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic, so you’ll wind up drinking more. Caffeine also stimulates the bladder muscles, which can aggravate overactive bladder.
- Diet drinks Artificial sweeteners may be an irritant for some people with overactive bladder.
- Sugary drinks High levels of sugar can increase thirst, which leads to overdrinking and additional strain on the bladder.
- Carbonated drinks The carbonation itself can irritate the bladder. Add in the caffeine and sugar or artificial sweeteners in many sodas and it’s a recipe for worsening overactive bladder symptoms.
- Citrus juice The acid in citrus fruits may worsen symptoms in some OAB sufferers. They might need to avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice and other citrus products.
- Salty fluids Broths, tomato juice, vegetable juice and the like can have a lot of thirst-inducing sodium. Try low-salt versions, or stick to water.
By drinking the right amounts of water at the right times and avoiding problem beverages, you can improve urinary symptoms. You may also need other interventions for overactive bladder, but making smart beverage choices will help you gain some control over your condition.
What's Next: The Right Treatment
Review date: 07-31-2009
