Is Your Diet Causing Your Incontinence?

 

Incontinence is the loss of bladder or bowel control. The condition can be relatively minor and only cause occasional issues. It can also be severe, resulting in a total lack of control. If you are struggling with incontinence, you are not alone. Millions of people are affected in the United States alone. 

 

Is Your Diet Causing Your Incontinence?

If you have any level of incontinence, then it is important to speak with your urogynecologist in Houston. Incontinence is not the norm, even if you have given birth recently, and your doctor can help make sure you have access to the resources you need to recover. 

In the meantime, making small changes to your diet may be able to help reduce the symptoms of incontinence. Diet alone is rarely responsible, but reducing constipation and reducing your consumption of common bladder irritants may provide much-needed relief while you undergo treatment. Here are some changes you can consider according to the National Association for Continence.

Avoid Coffee and Other Caffeinated Beverages

Studies show that coffee (yes, even decaf) and other caffeinated beverages do irritate your bladder. As a result, drinking these beverages may exacerbate your existing incontinence.

Avoid Carbonation

Those bubbles don’t just fizzle around your mouth. They can also irritate your bladder, which may cause you to struggle more with your incontinence than if you didn’t drink them. 

Avoid Artificial Sweeteners and Corn Syrup

The regular consumption of artificial sweeteners and corn syrup has been linked to reduced bladder function. Avoiding these products may not solve your incontinence entirely, but it may make your symptoms more manageable. 

Avoid Alcohol

Consuming alcohol may be a social norm in the United States, but it’s certainly not the healthiest choice. Alcohol consumption is associated with a number of health concerns, including increased bladder stimulation. If you’re already struggling with incontinence, then alcohol is very likely to worsen your symptoms. 

Avoid Dairy Products

Milk and other dairy products can increase incontinence symptoms in some people. It may be that your body is struggling to process the lactose, and it is causing irritation. 

Avoid Tomato-based Products

Tomatoes are more acidic than many fruits and vegetables. The increased acid alone may irritate your bladder, making it more likely that you will lose some level of bladder control. 

Avoid Citrus

Citrus is also high in acid. As a result, citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit may also increase incontinence symptoms. This is limited to whole fresh fruit. Juice and frozen fruits in smoothies may also increase your symptoms. 

Avoid Spicy Foods

Capsicum is what gives spicy foods their kick. Unfortunately, that same spice is going to irritate your bladder and your bowel. Spicy foods may be one to skip, especially if you’re struggling with more than urinary incontinence. 

Treating Incontinence

No one should have to live with incontinence when it’s often treatable. Cutting one or more of these product categories out of your diet may or may not cause a significant change in your symptoms, but many people that diet does make a difference. 

In order to improve your diet and provide your body with the support it needs, consider increasing your fiber content and monitoring your liquid intake. If you’re still struggling with even minor urinary incontinence in Houston, then you need to talk to your doctor. 

There is almost always a physical explanation, and incontinence is often easily treated. Many people only require specialized physical therapy. Others may require surgical intervention, but these procedures are safe and effective. 

Don’t subject yourself to the discomfort and potential embarrassment associated with incontinence. You deserve to be comfortable in your own body, and there’s a good chance that your urogynecologist can help.