Overactive Bladders: Watch What You Drink July 22
People usually associate incontinence with either infancy or old age, two extremes as far as age is concerned. It is, however, a condition that can afflict even those who are in between these two extremes, and some of the reasons for urinary urge incontinence or overactive bladder (OAB) may lie in the stuff that we eat or drink.
For one, it may be a simple case of anything that is done overboard, even when inherently good, can turn out to be bad for you. Someone who already has OAB to begin with may not want overdo hydrating ones’ self. While it may be true that people need to keep themselves hydrated, there is such a thing as being too hydrated. So how much is just right? Two liters of water and/or other fluids is just right on a daily basis. And this does not mean that you have to drink all 2 liters; we are also able to derive necessary hydration from some of the foods that we eat. Drink most of these fluids during the day so that you do not have to get up in the middle of the night.
People who have OAB may also want to rethink their alcohol intake, especially if “drinking sessions” are a regular part of your weekly or monthly schedule. You may want to think about curbing your intake or giving it up altogether, as alcoholic beverages normally result in dehydration by virtue of the fact that it increases the amount of urine. Caffeine is also another substance that can produce more urine.
Citrus fruits and juices, which are acidic, can also cause irritation to the bladder; people suffering from OAB may want to watch their intake of these foods and beverages. Cranberry juice, while helpful in controlling urinary tract infections, can also irritate the bladder.