What’s the Deal with My Bladder?

November is best known for Thanksgiving and sometimes an extra month of winter holiday celebrations, but it is also Bladder Awareness Month! Most of us I’m sure are aware we have bladders, but most of us probably don’t know how to spot true dysfunction and how to fix dysfunction when you see it. Many people we speak with will describe their symptoms as “normal leakage” or just “some heaviness” when these things are not normal and should be treated immediately! Here are some common myths about bladder function that we are going to officially BUST:

 Leaking due to aging or childbirth is normal.

Bladder leakage is common, but that doesn't mean that it is normal! That's right, bladder leakage is NOT normal after having a baby or advancing in years. When people receive proper care and therapy early on, this prevents the onset of a lot of these symptoms and it is important to seek intervention as early as possible. Many people experience this even without childbirth or aging being a factor, which indicates that this is not the root of the problem, although it can definitely be a trigger. Don’t settle for pads or adult diapers, your pelvic floor muscles can heal from PT as any other muscle would!

 Drinking fewer liquids is a solution for frequent urination or leakage.

It is recommended that adults drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. This number increases when you consume caffeine and alcohol, so needless to say, our bodies NEED a lot of water. Limiting fluids causes a concentration of urine in smaller amounts. This irritates the bladder, causing an urgency to empty more often. The opposite occurs when drinking enough fluids. And water is the most recommended. That being said, limiting liquids does not help, but actually hurts!

 It’s good to pee “just in case.”

When you stop to empty your bladder at every opportunity, it trains the nervous system to be prepared to signal the urge to empty the bladder more often. This in turn results in a smaller bladder capacity. Your body lets you know when it has to pee for a reason, listen to it!

 Kegels are the best solution for leakage

Kegel exercises - or squeezing the pelvic floor muscles are one form of treatment for bladder leakage. However, these exercises are not for everyone. Some people have pelvic floor muscles that are too tight. So, more exercise will not solve the problem.

Now that we have myth-busted a lot of common misconceptions about bladder health, let’s talk about what normal bladder function does look like. Signs of healthy bladder and pelvic floor muscle function looks like:

• Peeing 6-8 times within 24 hours
• No leakage at all!
• The feeling of needing to pee is not intense
• Starting the urine stream is easy and quick
• There is no straining, pain, or burning during urination
• Bladder urgency goes away after peeing and you feel like you have fully emptied

If this is not your current experience, do not hesitate to seek help from a pelvic floor specialist. Their job is to help people who deal with pelvic floor dysfunction to get them back to living their best life! No more needing to be near bathroom anxiety, wearing pads to workout, or waking up in the middle of the night to pee! These things can really have an impact on your quality of life and can be easily treated with the right help.