‘Gotta go all the time!’ This is the technical name for the problem we are going to discuss now. Frequent urination has become a silent struggle for many, few times it becomes embarrassing too. Approximately, 24 million people in the world are affected by this problem. It is a bothersome issue especially for women and people over 45 years old.
Having the problem of frequent urination means your bladder has problems storing urine normally, i.e. you have an overactive bladder. The major symptoms of frequent urination are:
1) Urge to use bathroom more often than usual
2) Unable to hold your urine
3) Experiencing leakage when you cough or sneeze loudly
4) Getting up several times at night for urination
With time, these symptoms start interfering with your day to day routine. You need to think twice before planning a trip, causes unintentional disruption during work, and this even affects your sleep quality. But, the good news is that it can be managed or even eliminated with time by some simple lifestyle changes or treatments.
According to Dr Raman Tanwar, Urologist, Jyoti Hospital, “Overactive bladder is a manageable problem that requires a multipronged approach including taking fluid in a calculated manner, reducing stress and keeping yourself occupied to avoid giving too much importance to the urination signals being sent by the bladder. A simple voiding diary can be very helpful but occasionally there may be a need of Urodynamics to understand the condition better.”
Here we bring forward few home remedies for frequent urination that can help you cope it.
Pelvic floor exercises:
Pelvic floor exercises are helpful for women with mild symptoms of frequent urination. These exercises are simple to do and can be done anywhere and everywhere. Start by squeezing your pelvic floor muscles for a count of five, then release. Repeat this ten times a day.
Take your time when you are in the loo:
Don’t be in a hurry when you are in the loo. After you have finished urinating, relax and try to urinate again. This practice is called double voiding, which helps to really empty the bladder. Apart from this, make sure that you go to the toilets regularly, but don’t overdo it.
Monitor your fluid intake:
The body needs fluids, so it is very important to keep it hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. If you don’t drink enough water, then the urine gets more concentrated which can make the matter even worse.
Lower your caffeine intake:
Coffee, tea, cola etc. are products which are high in caffeine and caffeine is a diuretic, i.e. it increases the urge to urinate. So, if you are dealing with the issue of frequent urination then it is better to avoid the products with caffeine.
Pay attention to your diet:
Avoid foods and drinks that contain alcohol, artificial sweetener, chocolate, caffeinated drinks, citrus fruits, spicy food, tomato-based food etc. as they can irritate the bladder. Try to observe your eating habits and list out the foods that trigger the bladder activity and remove it from your diet.
If your body is not responding to these lifestyle changes, then no need to worry as there are other options like drug botox injections which cause the bladder to relax and increases its storage capacity and several surgeries are also available which involves least invasive methods. All these home remedies for frequent urination will make your life simple and easier.