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Dietary Irritants

There are some specific foods and liquids that can irritate the bladder causing the urge to urinate, urinary frequency, and in some cases, bladder pain. These include:

• Alcoholic beverages: liquor, wine, beer.
• Caffeine: coffee, tea, dark sodas, darker herb teas, chocolate.
• Very acidic fruit or fruit juices: oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mangos, pineapples.
• Tomatoes: tomato juice, red spaghetti sauce, pizza, barbecue sauce, chili.
• Spicy foods: Mexican, Thai, Indian, Cajun.
• Milk products: milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream.
• Sugar: corn sweeteners, honey, fructose, sucrose, lactose.
• Artificial sweeteners: Equal, NutraSweet, etc.

Not every item listed will bother every person. If you drink or eat a lot of one particular thing and feel that it may make your symptoms worse, leave it out of your diet for a week to see if it makes a difference.

Constipation

The failure to empty the bowel can cause an impaction of stool (constipation). This may make it difficult for the bladder to empty. A diet rich in fiber and the right amount of fluids should produce a soft, well lubricated stool that is easy to pass. If you are eating fiber and drinking fluids but are still having difficulty with hard, dry stools, consult your physician for help. Some medications, foods, and certain fluids can contribute to constipation. Caffeine acts as a diuretic, so even though you may be drinking plenty of fluids, if most are caffeinated, the stool may become dry and hard.

Other Factors

Clothing actually plays a role in good toileting habits. Make sure your clothes are easy to manage when trying to get to the toilet in a hurry. If you have difficulty using your fingers for buttoning or zippering, try pants with an elastic waist or Velcro closures. Tight clothing may be irritating and hard to manage as well.

Some women like to wear layers of clothing such as panties, pantyhose, and girdles under their clothing. The bladder just might not be able to hold on for all these layers to be removed. Try to think about your daily activities and wear appropriate clothing.

Environment can also affect continence. Always have a bathroom within a reasonable distance of your living and work area. Some bladder problems can be corrected with the simple solution of accessibility to a toilet.

Good bladder habits can be developed at any time. Old habits may be hard to break, especially when we try to change too many things at once. Start slowly, changing one thing at a time until you become comfortable with your new “healthy habits”.

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Abrams Center for Women • 3131 S. Tamiami Trail • Suite 202 • Sarasota, FL 34239 • 941-953-5340