10 Ways To Keep Your Bladder Healthy

Most people take bladder control for granted -- until it's gone. But for about a third of people ages 30 to 70, incontinence is a big issue.

"Urinary incontinence is embarrassing and isolating," says Shanna Atnip, a nurse practitioner at Parkland Health and Hospital System, in Dallas, and leader of the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates Continence Special Interest Group. "People may stop participating in activities they like to do, which can even lead to obesity."

But there are steps you can take to keep your bladder healthy and minimize trouble if you do have incontinence.

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"The heavier you are, the more weight presses on the bladder," says Jill Maura Rabin, M.D., head of urogynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New Hyde Park, NY, and coauthor with Gail Stein of "Mind Over Bladder." Getting adequate exercise and eating a moderate diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent incontinence. "Everything that you do to maintain normal health is also important for bladder health," says Atnip. More from Health.com: 10 Things That Make Incontinence Worse 12 Natural Remedies For Incontinence 3 Ways To Manage Bladder Problems

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"The heavier you are, the more weight presses on the bladder," says Jill Maura Rabin, M.D., head of urogynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New Hyde Park, NY, and coauthor with Gail Stein of "Mind Over Bladder."

Getting adequate exercise and eating a moderate diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent incontinence. "Everything that you do to maintain normal health is also important for bladder health," says Atnip.

More from Health.com:

10 Things That Make Incontinence Worse

12 Natural Remedies For Incontinence

3 Ways To Manage Bladder Problems

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Comments

[Sherry Sanders113]

08:24 PM on 05/15/2011

This article was a complete waste of time. I was turned off by the weight nag as the first suggestion. No wonder we have such poor health care in this country when all doctors can do is harp on weight. I have known heavy people who have never had ANY bladder problems whatsoever. Then of course there was this little plug for treatment. This sounds like one of those articles that have hidden agendas. They appear on the surface to inform, but they are really to put suggestions in the back of the public's mind - more treatment, more diet products. The doctors here give mediocre advice at any rate!

[TheBodySacred]

05:06 PM on 05/15/2011

I find the above advice in the article to be almost worthless. Most people do not drink enough fluids to begin with so drinking too much is not a factor in bladder weakness. Certainly, holding your urine is a factor, which weakens bladder muscles, and can lead to urinary incontinence from force of habit. Habitual holding in of urine, if it does not lead to incontinence, can lead to urinary retention as well. Bladder muscles are like any other muscle in the body which weakens with lack of exercise. Drinking adequate water or fluids and going at the call of nature is a good way to flush the kidneys, and rid the body of waste products which are stored in the bladder.:-)

[DavidMG]

02:21 PM on 05/15/2011

In thsi context : What is overweight?

[Sherry Sanders113]

08:25 PM on 05/15/2011

Any weight that will send you running to buy a weight loss product!

[the grange gorman]

10:21 AM on 05/15/2011

Use tumeric in cooking

and do not try to drink half your bodyweight in fluids , that must be a mistake

[ncorwyn]

09:17 AM on 05/15/2011

Hello? I'm supposed to consume over 70 pounds of liquid a day?? Maybe the author meant the number that is half of your body weight in ounces?

[Nyckname]

06:12 PM on 05/24/2011

That got me, too. Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. Ten gallons over two days is enough to flush the sodium out of your body and you'll end up in the emergency room with hyponatremia.

[Seepaz]

04:28 AM on 05/15/2011

"A good rule of thumb is to consume about half your body weight in liquids each day. All liquids -- including soups and juice drinks -- count, Dr. Rabin notes. "

Is this a TYPO?

[James Shellhammer]

01:54 AM on 05/15/2011

Seems like I try all the above suggestions, and yet I still have the problem. One main point that this article left out for bladder and urinary problems, can be caused by chronic diseases.

[mikebiff2325]

08:36 PM on 05/14/2011

Don't hold your pee- it can lead to uromysitisis poisoning.

[avg american]

07:05 PM on 05/14/2011

Long ago, cinnamon was prized more than gold and silver for a reason.
Cinnamon has natural anti-fungal qualities, is a natural preservative and before big pharma, was used to treat UTI's.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/356674-cinnamon-for-urinary-tract-infections/

Don't count on your medical doctor to know this information.

[Jack Daniels Esq]

03:49 PM on 05/14/2011

Drink plenty of quality, potable water - urine must be clear, no odor