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November 21, 2008

Incontinence

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Bladder

Ethicon - Incontinence

Drink adequately: 6-8 cups of fluid per day is recommended (more when it's hot or when exercising.)

Avoid drinks or food with caffeine (i.e., coffee, non-herbal teas, carbonated sodas, artificially sweetened beverages, and chocolate) Try herbal teas, Kava, or Postum instead.

Avoid acidic foods (tomato, orange, pinneapple and grapefruit and juices that can irritate the bladder.)

Avoid alcohol.

Try to pass urine at intervals of every 2-3 hours during waking hours. Getting up once at night is not abnormal, but being awakened more than twice is abnormal.

Relax. Don't strain to empty the bladder or bowel. Have a private and relaxed environment during toilet use. Women with a prolapsed or dropped bladder should wait 3-5 seconds after urine flow has initially stopped and then try to empty more urine by pretending to blow through a straw.

Keep bowel movements regular. Don't ignore the feeling when the bowel needs emptying. If constipation is a problem, drinking a warm beverage in the morning can help gets bowels moving. Walk as much as possible, as exercise helps keep the muscles strong and bowels regular.

Be aware that leakage of urine can occur simply in shifting position. Squeeze the pelvic muscle to prevent leakage when changing positions even in the simplest or most routine ways.

Maintain your ideal weight. Lose excess weight.

Don't wait too long to empty the bladder. Set a timer to help remember to use the toilet on a regular basis. Keep a checklist in the bathroom to note the time when you emptied your bladder and moved your bowels.

Stop smoking. Chronic smoker's cough can place pressure on the bladder and increase the risk of bladder cancer. Nicotine can irritate the bladder wall.

Corporate Underwriter

Table of Contents
	Introduction
	Recognizing the different kinds of incontinence
	What causes sudden urine loss
	What you can do
	Treating sudden urine loss
	Tips to maintaining a healthy bladder
	Resources
	Glossary
	GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence
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