Drink up ladies, water can help reduce bladder leaks!

Yes, you heard it right! Water can help reduce bladder leaks!

It may sound like a paradox but staying hydrated is even more important for women that suffer bladder leaks.

There is nothing purer than water and your body craves it to flush out excess bacteria and acids. If you are dehydrated, urine can become concentrated and irritate your bladder. Furthermore, having an insufficient level of fluid can impact your bowel too.

Think of water as an essential nutrient your body needs to replace the fluids you lose each day. If your water intake doesn’t equal your output, you risk becoming dehydrated.

It can be helpful for sufferers of urinary incontinence to drink at certain times of the day with increased intake at the beginning of the day and drinking less towards bedtime. A bladder diary can be helpful in this case.

Here are a few brilliant reasons to drink more and stay hydrated:

Water keeps your bodily fluids in check.

Your body is composed of 60-70% water. These fluids are responsible for facilitating digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, maintenance of body temperature, and transportation of nutrients. You should avoid getting to the point that you are thirsty.

Water can help with weight loss.

Aqua is a non-calorific fluid that should replace high-calorie drinks such as soda and juices. It’s also more filling, so you can easily cut down your calorie intake without having to think about it too much.

Water keeps your muscles supple.

When muscles lose their balance of fluids and electrolytes, they contract, which may result in muscle fatigue. It’s recommended that you drink about half a litre of fluid about two hours before you exercise to ensure your muscles stay hydrated and function properly.

Water helps your skin glow.

It’s no surprise that water is essential to keeping your complexion peachy. Expensive anti-ageing creams cannot compete with a healthy water intake.

 
If you suffer bladder weakness, one of the worst things you can do is avoid fluids in the hope of reducing leakage. If you don’t replenish the fluids in your body, your urine will be dark, cloudy, and maybe have a strong odour to it.

Concentrated urine may result in pain or burning while urinating. An irritated bladder also increases urgency - which is bad news for women suffering from incontinence. Another unpleasant side effect of not drinking enough is an increased risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), which will leave you feeling miserable and possibly needing an antibiotic that upsets your intestinal flora.

However, there is a fine balance. While not drinking enough water can lead to hydration, drinking too much can cause excessive leaks. The recommended amount for women to drink is about 1.5-2 litres.

However, avoid drinking water 2-4 hours before bed to reduce the chance of nighttime trips to the toilet. You should aim to drink enough water that your urine is pale and odourless. When you are sufficiently hydrated, your kidneys are very effective in cleansing your body of nasty toxins and bacteria. Speaking of toxins, keep your caffeine and alcohol intake in check as both can exacerbate any existing symptoms of frequency and urgency.

Tips to drink more water during the day:

 Drink fluids with every meal and snack.

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables - some contain 90% water!
• Always have a bottle of water close at hand.
• Make water more interesting - add mint leaves or squeeze in a splash of lemon or lime.
• Drink some water after each toilet trip to replenish your fluid level.
• Buy a reusable water bottle and filtration system.
• Track your water intake.

The bottom line is that water can’t solve your leakage problems completely but drinking enough can keep your bladder from getting irritated. You will also enjoy glowing skin and a fresh, agile mind. What’s not to love about that?

While drinking water is so important for your overall health as well as managing bladder leakage, the Secret Whispers 6-Step Kegel Kit will help you strengthen your pelvic floor, which in turn will vastly improve your bladder leaks.

Drink up ladies!

Julie xx