A Healthy Bladder
A healthy bladder is important to all of us - it lets us get on with our lives.
How the bladder works
Urine is collected and stored in the bladder. The bladder is a muscle, shaped like a balloon. In between visits to the loo the bladder relaxes and fills up. When you go to the loo the bladder squeezes and urine comes out through a tube called the urethra.
The pelvic floor, this is made of layers of muscles, which support the bladder and bowel and helps to stop leaks from the bladder and bowels.
The urethral sphincter is a circular muscle that goes around the urethra – the tube that urine comes out of. The sphincter muscle normally squeezes as the bladder is filling up – it creates a seal so urine can’t leak out. When you go to the toilet, the sphincter muscle relaxes.
Keeping a healthy bladder - preventing problems
Keep a healthy fluid intake - drink the right amount and the right types.
It is important to drink enough each day.
Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid each day. If you drink less than this, then increase the amount you drink gradually.
Some people find that drinks containing caffeine or fizzy drinks seem to make their problem worse - cutting these down may be helpful.
Alcoholic drinks can irritate the bladder too.
Drink plain water, fruit juice, fruit or herbal tea and cordials. If you pay attention to what you drink you will notice which drinks cause problems.
Drinking one or two glasses of cranberry juice every day can help people who often get urine infections - although diabetics and anyone taking Warfarin medication should check with their doctor first.
The acid in fruit juices can make problems worse for some people - check with your doctor or specialist nurse if you are unsure.
Do not cut down the amount you drink - this makes your urine even more concentrated and can make bladder problems worse.
Avoid getting constipated - eat a healthy diet.
When the bowel does not empty it expands and pushes on the bladder.
Practice pelvic floor exercises every day.
These can help prevent all sorts of bladder problems.
Try to keep your weight down.
Being overweight can put extra pressure on the bladder
How the bladder works
Urine is collected and stored in the bladder. The bladder is a muscle, shaped like a balloon. In between visits to the loo the bladder relaxes and fills up. When you go to the loo the bladder squeezes and urine comes out through a tube called the urethra.
The pelvic floor, this is made of layers of muscles, which support the bladder and bowel and helps to stop leaks from the bladder and bowels.
The urethral sphincter is a circular muscle that goes around the urethra – the tube that urine comes out of. The sphincter muscle normally squeezes as the bladder is filling up – it creates a seal so urine can’t leak out. When you go to the toilet, the sphincter muscle relaxes.
Keeping a healthy bladder - preventing problems
Keep a healthy fluid intake - drink the right amount and the right types.
It is important to drink enough each day.
Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid each day. If you drink less than this, then increase the amount you drink gradually.
Some people find that drinks containing caffeine or fizzy drinks seem to make their problem worse - cutting these down may be helpful.
Alcoholic drinks can irritate the bladder too.
Drink plain water, fruit juice, fruit or herbal tea and cordials. If you pay attention to what you drink you will notice which drinks cause problems.
Drinking one or two glasses of cranberry juice every day can help people who often get urine infections - although diabetics and anyone taking Warfarin medication should check with their doctor first.
The acid in fruit juices can make problems worse for some people - check with your doctor or specialist nurse if you are unsure.
Do not cut down the amount you drink - this makes your urine even more concentrated and can make bladder problems worse.
Avoid getting constipated - eat a healthy diet.
When the bowel does not empty it expands and pushes on the bladder.
Practice pelvic floor exercises every day.
These can help prevent all sorts of bladder problems.
Try to keep your weight down.
Being overweight can put extra pressure on the bladder
