MoliCare incontinence nurses pointed out four drinks to “avoid” if you have the common condition.
The first drink to limit is alcohol, the experts noted; another is citrus juice.
Additional beverages to avoid include carbonated drinks and caffeine.
“It may sound counterintuitive but drinking plenty of water can be a big help if you have incontinence,” the experts penned.
“In fact, it is a myth that drinking less will help incontinence. It can have the opposite effect making symptoms worse.”
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Stress incontinence
The NHS explains: “Stress incontinence is when you leak urine when your bladder is put under sudden extra pressure.”
Activities that could cause urine to leak include:
- Sneezing
- Laughing
- Heavy lifting
- Exercise.
Urge incontinence, on the other hand, is the “sudden and very intense need to pass urine”.
The health body adds: “There are often only a few seconds between the need to urinate and the release of urine.”
Such an urge could be triggered by:
- A sudden change of position
- The sound of running water
- During sex.
MoliCare nurses said: “Unfortunately, drinking less water can lead to more concentrated urine that may cause irritation to the bladder and reduce its overall capacity over time.
“Plus, when we don’t drink enough water, our body will be less equipped to carry out our normal functions and we may begin to experience symptoms of dehydration.”
Signs of dehydration:
- Severe headaches
- Lack of energy
- Muscle cramps
- Joint pain
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Weight gain
- Irritated bladder while peeing.
The key is to drink water in moderation, which is between six to eight cups daily.
Any more than this can lead to “overhydration”, which can result in needing more frequent bathroom trips, nausea, and vomiting.
People are advised to add an “effervescent tablet to water” or to make their own fruit-infused water – but avoid citrus fruits.
MoliCare is a global incontinence brand, which is celebrating 40 years of supporting people with bladder weakness and incontinence.
