Natural Ways to Deal with an Overactive Bladder
A condition where the urinary bladder is unable to restore urine or hold urine in the normal way is known as an overactive bladder. According to The Urology Care Foundation, an estimated 33 million people in the country have been diagnosed with overactive bladder. With the knowledge of a few natural cures for an overactive bladder, you can very well manage the condition.
Causes and symptoms of overactive bladder
An overactive bladder may be created by an already ingrown disorder such as diabetes or kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis.
You need to know a few factors to detect an active bladder syndrome. The signs of overactive bladder differ in every individual. However, some of the common signs include:
Frequency : Majority of people with this bladder problem tend to urinate more often than usual. An average person, with all conditions being normal, urinates 6 to 8 times a day, and once or twice at night. Those with overactive bladder issue tend to urinate more than eight times a day, and twice or more at night.
Urgency : Affected individuals often have a sudden and vigorous urgency to urinate. During this time, the person feels as if he is unable to hold the urine any longer or delay it. This symptom is a defining indication of an overactive bladder.
Incontinence : This phenomenon is explained as the loss of bladder control which is, of course, an involuntary action driving to leakage.
Importance of early diagnosis
The overactive bladder doesn’t influence the lifespan of a person. However, it may affect the quality of life such as relationships, work, and sleep. Thus, diagnosing the symptoms can help you avail natural cures for overactive bladder quick enough. With natural cures for overactive bladder, you can have a safe solution to your problem.First-line treatment for overactive bladder is behavioral and lifestyle changes.
Natural cures for overactive bladder
Chocolate and red wine may make the symptoms of overactive bladder even worse. One of the most-sincere methods in its treatment involves making changes in the dietary plan on a consistent level. This includes skipping out every known food irritants from the diet and taking fluids in a limited amount.
Food items to skip and strictly avoid
Some of the following food is proven to cause serious harm to your bladder, reduce its retentive capacity as well as they serve as some of the primary causes of the bladder being overactive.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar, honey, and chocolate corn syrup.
- Reduce the daily sugar intake of any form considerably.
- Avoid consuming citrus fruits and juices, especially cranberry lemon or aerated drinks such as soda water or fizzy drinks. Alcohol can also cause the symptoms to increase.
- Vinegar, spicy foods and caffeine have similar effects on the syndrome.
- Located in the fleshy part of Chile peppers, Capsaicin is effective in treating this problem. It’s used in the treatment of pelvic pain syndrome, which is often a symptom of overactive bladder. According to studies, our ultimate bladder capacity increased from 106 milliliters to 302 milliliters, and capsaicin helps to increase the retentive property.
- Pumpkin seeds are one of the key sources of the natural cure for an overactive bladder. These contain anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids. Pumpkin seed oil reduces symptoms of OAB while repairing abnormal urinary function as well.Pumpkin seeds and soybean seed extract also reduce incontinence considerably.
Other natural cures for overactive bladder syndrome include:
- Intake of plain water or barley water is best. Also, soy milk as an alternative to dairy milk like goat’s or cow’s milk.
- Fruit juices which are less acidic, such as apple or pear is advisable.
- Caffeine-free teas like fruit teas and diluted squash are preferable.
- Exercise is one of the natural cure for overactive bladder
- It is a fact that body weight increases the pressure on the bladder and causes incontinence. Eating healthy can help you lose excess weight, but regular exercise like strength training can help with long-term benefits.You can also do Kegel or pelvic floor exercises, in addition to regular exercise. Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles to minimize involuntary contractions.
- Manage fluid consumption. Water is one of the effective natural cures for overactive bladder syndrome.Scanty water intake may give rise to concentrated urine, which can irritate the inner lining of the bladder, thereby increasing urgency. Drinking enough water is essential for health. In a paper, published in 2016 in Research and Reports in Urology, it is suggested that restricting fluid intake and not drinking water two hours before bedtime has been effective as natural cures for overactive bladder.
Thus, with the above tips, one can surely manage this problem of overactive bladder. A healthy lifestyle and consistency in good practice can sort many problems.