While we mentioned above some beverages that irritate your bladder, there are also some things you can drink to try to help soothe your bladders, such as plain water, milk, and no-sugar-added cranberry juice. They're also foods you can eat to soothe your bladder and keep it at its healthiest.
Water. Water is almost always the best drink to reach for. Drinking water can bring so many benefits to the body, including: Flushing the bladder of bacteria.
Each time the urge to urinate occurs, the person should try to delay urination for 5 minutes if possible. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, may help. People should gradually increase the holding time until there are 3 to 4 hour gaps between bathroom visits.
Medications that relax the bladder can be helpful for relieving symptoms of overactive bladder and reducing episodes of urge incontinence. These drugs include: Tolterodine (Detrol) Oxybutynin, which can be taken as a pill (Ditropan XL) or used as a skin patch (Oxytrol) or gel (Gelnique)
The evidence suggesting that people with OAB should avoid caffeine is varied and mainly anecdotal. However, some people may find it helpful to avoid or limit caffeinated drinks and opt for water, diluted juice, and herbal teas instead. This may improve symptoms of urgency and frequency but not incontinence.
To lessen the effects of OAB, cut down on caffeinated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus, and spicy foods. But don't cut back on your fluids. That could make your urine concentrated, which can irritate your bladder. To prevent constipation, which can also make OAB worse, eat a high-fiber diet.
Cystitis signs and symptoms may include: A strong, persistent urge to urinate. Pain or a burning feeling when urinating. Passing frequent, small amounts of urine.
Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
In 2011, the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute collaborated with Japanese researchers to assess the effects of green tea in Japanese women aged between 40 and 75. Those who drank four or more cups (equivalent of about 600-700mL) per day were less likely to have bladder leakage.
These include drinks that contain caffeine and fizzy drinks – especially those labeled “Lite” or “Diet” which have artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame or Saccharine. Alcoholic drinks, particularly spirits, can also irritate the bladder and for some, the acid in various fruit juices can make problems worse.
Causes and Risk Factors for Overactive Bladder
Nerve damage caused by abdominal trauma, pelvic trauma or surgery. Bladder stones. Drug side effects. Neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke or spinal cord lesions.
Overactive bladder symptoms may also be associated with: Medications that cause your body to make a lot of urine or require that you take them with lots of fluids. Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol.
Red-flag symptoms/signs
Suspected/known neurological disease. Urethral/bladder pain. Recurrent urinary tract infection. Difficulty with bladder emptying.
Treatment for Overactive Bladder
Our urologists treat patients with OAB with combinations of behavioral therapy, medication, and in severe cases, a therapy called Interstim, to treat overactive bladder. Another option is the injection of Botox into the bladder to relax and paralyze the overactive muscle.
It helps to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and enhances control of muscles involved in passing urine. Magnesium helps maintain normal blood pressure, reduces muscles spasms, and allows the bladder to empty fully.
So if that's the case, it's best to ditch the lemons and focus on drinking plain water in adequate amounts each day to best serve bladder health and function. "Lemon water can irritate the bladder in some patients, causing the sensation where you feel like you need to urinate more often than usual,” says Dr. Houman.
The Bottom Line on Supplements for Nocturia
Among women, melatonin, cranberry, D-mannose and a specific product called AZO Bladder Control with Go Less, might improve nocturia caused by conditions such as overactive bladder or UTIs. Supplementing with vitamin D or probiotics is not known to help.
Bananas and other high-fiber foods can be good for urinary tract health and preventing urinary tract infections by encouraging regular bowel movements and relieving pressure on urine flow.
However, many people don't realize that eating yogurt can also play a positive role in your bladder's health too. Yogurt has active bacteria known as probiotics that your body needs. Studies show that eating yogurt may even reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer by keeping the cells of your bladder healthy.