If you feel urinary frequency, urgency, and hesitancy, then you may have a medical condition called overactive bladder. And, a medical provider can help to treat the issue. You also have the option of taking certain steps on your own to reduce the discomfort of your urinary problems. Keep reading to learn about a few of these things.

Eat More Fiber

Overactive bladder and frequency issues can be exacerbated by constipation. When you are constipated, stool builds up in the intestinal tract and it can then place pressure on the bladder. This can give you the feeling that you need to urinate more often, and you may be unable to make it to the bathroom on time without having an accident. 

Increased fiber in the diet can help to reduce the incidence of constipation. Fiber bulks up your stool and also makes it softer. This helps the stool move more quickly and easily through the digestive tract. 

Ideally, you want to have a bowel movement once every one to two days. And, some good sources of fiber include whole grains, beans, popcorn, whole fruits, and vegetables. Add at least one to two servings of fiber to each meal. You can also add a dietary fiber supplement to your diet in either pill or drink form.

You also should think about staying away from foods that can cause constipation. These foods include red meats, fried foods, cheese, and processed bread.

Modify Your Urinary Routine

In some cases, an overactive bladder can be trained in a way that frequency and urgency are reduced. Before you start your training, consider cutting certain beverages from your diet. You want to eliminate or reduce anything that contains alcohol or caffeine. Both of these substances irritate the bladder and naturally increase your need to urinate. Think about drinking mostly plain water instead.

Also, you want to try urinating at regular intervals during the day. Typically, it is healthy to urinate about once every two to three hours. And, when you do feel the need to urinate, try holding it for up to five minutes. This can help to reduce the urgency that you feel over time.

When you use the bathroom, you want to try urinating twice. This can help to void your bladder more completely so you do not have to urinate as often. Urinate once on the toilet, and when you are done, wait five minutes. At this time, you want to try to push more urine out of your bladder.

If you want to know more about having an overactive bladder and the types of things you can do to treat it, speak with a medical professional. 

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