Drinking little is typical for many people with bladder weakness. Sufficient fluid intake is important for a healthy bladder. Which drinks you can drink without hesitation.
It often happens in the most unfavorable situations: you're out and about, in a meeting or carrying heavy shopping home and suddenly you have to urgently. It is not uncommon for those affected to make it to the toilet just in time or it is already too late. Bladder weakness or incontinence is now considered a widespread disease, but many of those affected do not dare to talk about it openly. The
German Continence Society e. V.
assumes that there are over nine million people with incontinence in Germany, which affects around 25 percent of women and eleven percent of men - the number of unreported cases is probably higher.
Despite the unpleasant symptoms, drinking is important to strengthen the bladder. While there are some foods to avoid if you have a weak bladder, you can safely have three drinks without probably having to rush to the bathroom.
Strengthen your bladder: Which three drinks help with incontinence
Just as there are different reasons for bladder weakness, for example high blood pressure, there are also different forms. According to
the Robert Koch Institute (RKI),
we speak of so-called urge incontinence when there is suddenly an extremely strong feeling of the need to urinate, which particularly affects men. On the other hand, stress or stress incontinence occurs when bladder weakness is caused by coughing, sneezing or heavy lifting - this form is particularly pronounced in women. So-called secondary incontinence, on the other hand, is often the result of a chronic illness or paraplegia. And finally, there are also mixed forms of incontinence.
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No matter which form of bladder weakness someone is affected by, there is one thing that almost everyone has in common: the fear of drinking. Those affected should definitely drink, despite fear of bladder weakness. Drinking less and consuming less fluid also trains the bladder muscles less. In addition, when there is a lack of fluid, the kidneys produce very highly concentrated urine, which irritates the bladder and even increases the urge to urinate. The risk of infection such as cystitis increases if the kidneys and bladder are not flushed regularly. This makes it easier for bacteria to settle and multiply. People who drink too little are more likely to develop bladder and pyelonephritis.
Prevent cystitis: Drink enough if you have incontinence - three drinks have less of a diuretic effect
Adults are usually recommended to drink 1.5 to 2.5 liters per day - most likely water, tea or unsweetened, low-sugar spritzers. In addition to the amount of fluid, it is important for people with bladder weakness or incontinence to drink properly, that is, to choose drinks that do not increase the urge to urinate. Juice with fruits such as oranges, limes and grapefruits, coffee and alcohol, for example, are said to stimulate the bladder.
Water for incontinence: If you suffer from bladder weakness, drink still water. Carbonic acid is considered a diuretic.
Milk despite bladder weakness: Partially skimmed or whole milk is said to alleviate the symptoms of bladder weakness, as the incontinence
online portal
says.
Tea despite the urge to urinate: Many teas are considered to stimulate the bladder. Caffeine-free rooibos or rooibos tea is said to be harmless. It calms the bladder and therefore has a less diuretic effect.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.