Don't Let Incontinence Worries Spoil Your Holiday Season
Don't Let Incontinence Worries Spoil Your Holiday Season
Long shopping trips, friendly get-togethers, dressy parties and elaborate outings are all part of the holidays... but can you enjoy the festive season to the fullest even if you have bladder control problems? You bet you can.
With the right perspective, the right products, and a bit of planning you can sail through the holidays with security and confidence. Here are some tips for making the most of the season:
1. Watch your diet. Those beautiful buffets heaped with holiday treats may look irresistible, but avoiding certain foods can go a long way toward keeping incontinence issues at bay. Spicy foods and acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits can irritate the bladder and make control more difficult.
2. Cut the caffeine. Chocolate, coffee, tea, most carbonated sodas, and other foods and beverages containing caffeine can act as diuretics, actually triggering the bladder to produce more urine.
3. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a bad choice for people with incontinence issues, for several reasons. It acts as a diuretic - not something that people with incontinence issues need - and it also interferes with the neurological signals between the brain and the bladder, increasing the chances for accidents.
4. Drink more water. Though it may seem counter-intuitive, it's really important for people with incontinence to drink plenty of water. While drinking too much of any liquid will increase the amount of urine produced, most experts agree that the human body needs about 50 ounces of fluids per day. And though water is undoubtedly the best choice for maintaining adequate hydration, it's usually the first thing that people cut back on when they experience incontinence problems.
Drinking too little water can actually make incontinence management more difficult. Water dilutes the urine, and without it the urine that is produced will be darker, more concentrated and viscous, and will have a stronger smell. That means any leakage that may occur will be more visible and odor control will be more difficult.
In addition, highly concentrated urine can be irritating to the bladder over time and may even encourage the growth of bacteria, which could lead to infections.
5. Set a schedule and stick to it. Many people find that setting a schedule for trips to the bathroom is helpful. Emptying your bladder at regular intervals rather than waiting until you feel an urge can go a long way toward managing mild to moderate stress or urge incontinence.
6. Choose the right products. Modern incontinence products make security and confidence simple, and disposable pads are the first line of defense for most people with mild to moderate stress, urge, or mixed incontinence. Super-absorbency, special anti-odor properties and waterproof backing make them a powerhouse of protection, and their compact size fits easily into purse or pocket, making it easy to carry a spare. Changing is fast and simple, and disposal is tidy and discreet.
7. Keep your problem in perspective. Incontinence is a condition that has a way of making people feel they're isolated and alone, but that couldn't be further from the truth; literally tens of millions of men and women of all ages experience some degree of incontinence, and most quickly learn that it's manageable. It doesn't have to keep you on the sidelines of life. Northern Cyprus Holidays | Cyprus Holidays | Beach Holidays Franchise Opportunities for Anyone? The Five Best Celebrity Noses Stupid Man! Money does not get you into paradise, it leads you straight into hell! Christmas day and gifts exchange What should you look for in the perfect countryside retreat? Why should you choose a life in the countryside over city living? Three things you should experience on your next country holiday The Best Gifts for Christmas 2010: Hot Toys How to Dispose Your Trash after Christmas at an Easy on the Pocket Price Are You Joyful This Christmas? Let's talk today about the upcoming spring The choice of outerwear for spring