Bladder Health Month

Bladder Health Month

Bladder Health Month is observed in November. During November, Bladder Health Month focuses efforts on connecting, educating, and empowering individuals across the country to get the facts about important bladder health conditions. These include interstitial cystitis, overactive and under-active bladder, urinary tract infections, bladder cancer, urotrauma, neurogenic bladder and nocturia. Wear a cranberry, yellow, or purple, blue and marigold enamel awareness ribbon pin, fabric ribbon or wristband to raise awareness for Bladder Health Month. Personalized Cause offers both personalized and non-personalized enamel awareness pins to represent this important awareness month.

Wear a Cranberry Awareness Ribbon Pin, Fabric Ribbon or Wristband to Raise Awareness for Bladder Health Month

While many of us are not always thinking about our bladder health, this month serves as a  reminder to get the facts about common bladder health problems and to take an active role in taking care of our health. Wear a pin in either cranberry, yellow, or purple, blue and marigold to call attention to common and uncommon bladder problems.

Two common health problems affecting the bladder are urinary incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB).

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence touches more than 25 million people in the U.S. The severity of urinary incontinence ranges from leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having that strong “gotta go” urge or feeling. For most, simple lifestyle changes or health care treatments can ease your symptoms or stop urinary incontinence.

Overactive Bladder

Our bladder serves two roles:

• Our bladders store urine.
• Our bladders empty urine.

With OAB, these functions are not as effective and can cause strong, sudden urges to go to the bathroom and, for some patients, result in urinary incontinence or leakage. OAB isn’t a disease. Instead, it’s the name given to a group of troubling urinary symptoms. With more than 33 million adults in the U.S. with OAB symptoms, it’s very common.

Bladder Health Tips During Bladder Health Month

While bladder health is not often top of mind, there are ways to keep your bladder healthier year-round. Below are a number of tips to help keep your bladder in good shape.

Drink Plenty of Water

• Strive to drink 6 to 8 cups of water each day.
• Cut down on the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink. These may upset your bladder.
• Limit your intake of coffee, tea or cola as these can heighten bladder activity and lead to leakage.

Use Good Bathroom Habits

• It is normal to go to the bathroom 4 to 8 times a day and no more than twice a night.
• Women should sit to go to the toilet. They should not hover over the toilet seat.
• Take your time when on the toilet so that your bladder can empty. If you rush, and do not empty your bladder fully, over time, you can get a bladder infection.

Stay Away From Foods That Bother the Bladder

• Some foods can worsen incontinence. Skip foods like chocolate (also a source of caffeine), as well as spicy or acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Look After Your Pelvic Floor Muscles During Bladder Health Month

• Keep your pelvic floor muscles strong with pelvic floor muscle training.

Stop Smoking

• It is of great value to stop smoking for your bladder health. Using tobacco is a major cause of bladder cancer.
• Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to have bladder cancer than nonsmokers.

Speak Freely

Tell your healthcare provider about your symptoms. You may feel embarrassed. However, keep in mind that your healthcare provider is used to hearing about all kinds of problems. They are very common and there are a number of treatments available. Many bladder conditions can be handled through simple lifestyle changes, behavior modifications, medication, bladder retraining or surgery. If you feel you may have symptoms of OAB or urinary incontinence, be sure to talk to your doctor about which treatment is right for you.

Did You Know About Bladder Health Month?

In a recent survey of 1,000 American adults, researchers found many of us are not comfortable talking about urination.

The survey also found:

• Americans use code words to discuss urination, most commonly using phrases like “using the bathroom” (62%), “peeing” (55%), “taking a leak” (19%), or “going potty” (17%).
• Even if experiencing signs of an overactive bladder, which can include sudden, unexpected urge to urinate that cannot be controlled and waking up at night to urinate, the survey showed that many Americans would not talk to anyone about these symptoms.