Do you find yourself making a trip to the bathroom every two hours or more frequently to urinate? It’s more than normal.
Your body can store urine until it is convenient to go to the toilet, from 4 to 8 times per day.
Frequent urination happens when your body is not able to accurately control the activity of urination and due to an overactive bladder, you can’t hold your urine and need to pee more often.
An overactive bladder is not unusual. Its common causes include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Nerve damage
- Old age
- Obesity
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Too much water intake
- Menopause
- Cystitis
- Bladder cancer
- Diseases like prostatitis, prostate fibrosis, and urethral stenosis
- Aggregated crystals called gravel in the urinary tract
- Anxiety and medications that cause a rapid increase in urine production or require that you take them with lots of fluids
- Excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol
Frequent urination is not a very serious problem, but it can cause a lot of discomforts as you have to urinate several times a day, even at night. Luckily, you can treat this annoying problem with some effective home remedies.
Apple Cider Vinegar
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of apple cider vinegar help in fighting any infection that may lead to frequent urination. Plus, it also reduces the pain associated with infections in the digestive system and helps restore the body’s natural pH balance.
Apple cider vinegar is a rich source of potassium, enzymes, and other useful minerals.
Add 1 tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of raw honey to a glass of warm water. Drink it twice daily.
You can also use a heating pad to get relief from the pain.
Indian Gooseberry
Also known as amla, Indian gooseberry is good for your overall urinary health. It increases your urine acidity, thus killing infection-causing bacteria. One of the key causes of an overactive bladder is the potential problems of urinary tract infections.
Indian gooseberry is also a great source of vitamin C, which is good for your immunity.
Extract the juice of an amla, add 1 teaspoon of honey to it and stir well. Consume this mixture along with a banana 2 to 4 times a day.
Yogurt
It is important to keep your bladder healthy to prevent an overactive bladder. Including yogurt in your diet is a simple but effective option for bladder health. Greek yogurt is a probiotic food that can boost the growth of good bacteria in the urinary tract and promote a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut.
It helps treat urinary tract infections, improve the health of your kidney and digestion.
For best result, eat 1 or 2 bowls of plain yogurt. Remember not to consume flavored yogurt, since they contain sweeteners and artificial agents.
Warm Compresses
Nothing can be better than a soothing warm compress when it comes to easing the pain associated with overactive bladder. The heat minimizes the bladder pressure and relaxes your muscles, thus reducing the pain.
Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel. Then, lie down and place it over your lower bladder. Leave it there as long as possible. Repeat as needed.
Biofeedback
This alternative treatment can also provide relief from overactive bladder and uncontrolled urination.
In this procedure, you are connected to electrical sensors that help make subtle changes in your body, such as strengthening your pelvic muscles. This way when you have feelings of urgency, you can suppress them. You need to consult an expert for biofeedback
Kegel Exercises
By doing a regular Kegel exercise, you can deal with frequent urination. This exercise is also known as pelvic floor exercise. It consists of repeatedly contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to make them stronger. These exercises support the bladder by strengthening the muscles of your urethra and pelvis.
Sit or lie down in a quiet place and locate your Kegel muscles. These are the muscles that you use to stop the flow of urine when urinating. Contract these muscles for 5 seconds, while at the same time breathing normally. Your stomach, sides, back, and thigh muscles should not tighten when you do this. Relax for 5 seconds and repeat again. Repeat 10 to 20 times per session. Do this at least 3 times a day.
Acupuncture
When it comes to controlling overactive bladder syndrome, acupuncture is an effective remedy. Acupuncture practitioner treats problems by inserting extremely thin, disposable needles into certain acupuncture points.
Always have acupuncture done by a professional expert only. Never try acupuncture on your own if you have not been trained in it.
Avoid Constipation
It is important to have regular bowel movements and prevent constipation, which can worsen the symptoms of an overactive bladder.
Hard stools can press against the urinary tract and block the flow of urine, allowing bacteria to grow and increase the risk of a urinary tract infection, which can result in an overactive bladder.
Prevent constipation by including high-fiber foods in your diet. It will soften your stools by drawing water into them, making them bulkier and easier to pass.
Some of the high-fiber foods are brown rice, beans, whole-grain cereals and bread, lentils, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Avoid Dietary Triggers
There are certain foods and drinks that can contribute to overactive bladder. As much as possible, it is best to avoid these dietary triggers which include citrus juices and fruits, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, spicy food, soda and other carbonated beverages, milk and milk products, sugar and high-sugar foods, and artificial sweeteners.
Also, limit your alcohol intake, as drinking too much alcohol can also lead to frequent urination.
Don’t Restrict Fluids Too Much
You should not limit your fluid intake. Drink enough fluid to keep your body hydrated, yet avoid excess intake at any cost. Ask your doctor how much fluid you need daily.
Your urine becomes concentrated if you don’t drink enough fluid, thus irritating the lining of your bladder and increases the urge to urinate. Dehydration may even exacerbate some conditions, specifically headache intensity and chronic constipation.
To manage your fluid intake:
- To drink water, use smaller cups and sip your water slowly.
- Spread out fluid intake throughout the day, sipping water between meals.
- Avoid carrying a large water bottle with you, unless you are exercising.
Avoid drinking too many liquids right before bed as you may have to empty your bladder more often during the night and this will only affect your sleep.
