Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk Keeping your bladder healthy

The bladder can change with age. Follow these 13 tips to keep your bladder healthy.

Drink enough fluids, especially water. Most healthy people should try to drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses of fluid each day. Water is the best fluid for bladder health. Ask your healthcare provider how much fluid is healthy for you.

Limit alcohol and caffeine. Cutting down on alcohol and caffeinated foods and drinks — such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and sodas will help.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, take steps to quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.

Avoid constipation by eating plenty of high-fiber foods (like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits), drinking enough water, and being physically active.

Keep a healthy weight. 

Choose healthy foods.

Exercise regularly- Physical activity can help prevent bladder problems, as well as constipation. It can also help you keep a healthy weight.

Do pelvic floor muscle exercises — kegel daily exercises can strengthen muscles and help keep urine from leaking when you sneeze, cough, lift, laugh, or have a sudden urge to urinate.

Use the bathroom often and when needed. Try to urinate at least every 3 to 4 hours. Holding urine in your bladder for too long can weaken your bladder muscles and make a bladder infection more likely.

Take enough time to fully empty the bladder when urinating. Rushing when you urinate may not allow you to fully empty the bladder. If urine stays in the bladder too long, it can make a bladder infection more likely.

Be in a relaxed position while urinating to make it easier to empty the bladder.

Wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Women should wipe from front to back to keep bacteria from getting into the urethra. This step is most important after a bowel movement.

Urinate after sex. Both women and men should urinate shortly after sex to flush away bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex.

Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes. Wearing loose, cotton clothing will allow air to keep the area around the urethra dry. Tight-fitting jeans and nylon underwear can trap moisture and help bacteria grow.

While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents in fifty facilities for seniors. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs. http://www.JewishPavilion.org

The Orlando Senior Help Desk at the Jewish Pavilion (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues. http://www.OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org