If one suffers from an overactive bladder, they don’t have to just live with it. There are a bunch of lifestyle changes along with the right medication that can help a person overcome this problem. So, here, we have compiled a list of lifestyle changes that can help one manage an overactive bladder. These little changes can make a big difference along with assuring better health and certainly a lot of peace of mind.

Kegel exercises
The first and the most important step to build a strong bladder is via physical strengthening. Yes, one can now exercise their overactive bladder, and such exercises are known as Kegel exercises. It is important to understand that these exercises will help one with urinary incontinence, but they may not help with curtailing the urge of urinary incontinence, which is a common symptom of overactive bladder. These exercises though passive are highly targeted. So, a person will set up a urinary urge schedule and then try to adhere to it. It also means that when the urge is strong, but according to the schedule, one may have to wait for a bit. It might be a bit uncomfortable initially, but one will soon get the hang of it.

Dietary changes
Another small lifestyle change that can help overactive bladder is making certain dietary changes in the diet. There are a couple of foods that help improve bladder function. Similarly, there are certain foods that irritate the bladder. Hence, these must be excluded from the diet. Firstly, one can start with the elimination of diuretics, such as alcohol and caffeine. It is so because both of these stimulate the kidney for higher urine production. Furthermore, one can cut out acidic fruits, such as tomatoes and pineapple. Artificial sweeteners should also be excluded. Water, too, is a crucial part of one’s diet. If one consumes too much of it, they might have an urge to urinate more frequently. On the other hand, if one drinks only a limited amount of it, they’ll suffer from concentrated urine and constipation. It can result in irritated bladder and heighten urinary urges. Thus, a balance is necessary.

Healthier bowel habits
The bowel and bladder work jointly. So, naturally, if one isn’t working right, the other would suffer too. Constipation does get uncomfortable because, when the bowel is full, it puts pressure on the bladder. This can lead to an overactive bladder. So, to avoid this, one needs to improve their fiber intake. So, some food options that one can include in their diet are:

• Beans
• Whole grains, such as oatmeal and barley
• Green vegetables
• Fresh fruits
• Dried fruits

These foods go a long way in bringing one’s bowel habits on track. However, if this doesn’t work, one should always consult with a doctor.