November Is Bladder Health Awareness Month
Bladder health is a concern for millions of Americans, and right now may be the best time to put this issue in the spotlight because November is National Bladder Health Awareness Month.
Supported by medical professionals and organizations nationwide (including the American Urological Association), National Bladder Health Awareness Month is dedicated to highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy bladder while providing support for those living with various bladder and urinary issues.
With that in mind, this resource shares more about:
- 5 Bladder Issues That Affect Millions
- How to Maintain Bladder Health: 5 Tips
- How to Manage Urinary Incontinence: 4 Tips
- How to Get Incontinence Products with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID
This guide to bladder health can open up a deeper understanding of what it takes to manage various bladder (and urinary) issues while connecting you with resources that can provide more support.
Whenever you need expert guidance getting incontinence supplies with Medicaid in WA, OR, or ID, simply contact MyMedSupplies.
Known for providing extraordinary customer care and the highest-quality incontinence supplies, MyMedSupplies continues to be a medical supply provider of choice throughout the Northwest U.S.
5 Bladder Issues That Affect Millions
Illness, accidents, and lifestyle choices can all play a role in bladder health, possibly contributing to complications like those that several million Americans live with day to day and seek medical treatment for.
Unfortunately, some of these bladder issues may be more common than you think.
Whether you or a loved one is living one of these bladder problems, knowing that you’re not alone can be comforting — and understanding how to manage it can make a world of difference.
1. Urinary Incontinence (UI)
UI involves the involuntary leakage of urine. This is a widespread condition, affecting millions of Americans, with some experiencing temporary urinary incontinence while others have permanent UI.
Urinary Incontinence Statistics
- Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men over the age of 65 experience urinary incontinence, making it a common issue among older adults.
- Impact on Daily Life: Studies show that 50% of people with UI avoid certain activities, like social outings, due to fear of leakage, significantly impacting their quality of life.
Tips for Managing Urinary Incontinence
- Try Pelvic Floor Exercises: Practicing Kegel exercises regularly can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can help manage and reduce UI symptoms over time.
- Time Restroom Visits: Setting a schedule for bathroom breaks, such as every two to four hours, can help prevent unexpected leaks, as you’ll be emptying your bladder before any urgency arises.
2. Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate, OAB can lead to frequent urination and, in some cases, incontinence. As a chronic bladder condition, overactive bladder can progress overtime without proper treatment.
Overactive Bladder Statistics
- Prevalence: Overactive bladder affects approximately 30% of men and 40% of women in the U.S., impacting millions of adults’ daily lives.
- Urgency Frequency: People with OAB often experience urinary urgency 8 or more times per day, with some reporting nighttime waking (nocturia) at least twice per night, which can disrupt sleep quality.
Tips for Managing Overactive Bladder
- Try Bladder Training: Gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits (starting with small intervals) can help retrain the bladder to hold more urine while reducing the sense of urgency.
- Limit Bladder Irritants: Avoiding foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and acidic fruits, may reduce the frequency and urgency associated with OAB.
3. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, leading to symptoms like burning during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and cloudy urine. Both men and women can develop UTIs, though they are more common in women.
UTI Statistics
- Incidence: UTIs are one of the most common infections, affecting over 50% of women at least once in their lifetime (and with many experiencing recurrent infections).
- Healthcare Visits: UTIs account for over 8 million doctor visits per year in the U.S.
Tips for Managing UTIs
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract, which may reduce the risk of infection. It can also aid in faster recovery if a UTI occurs.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Wiping from front to back, especially for women, and urinating after sexual activity can also lower the chances that bacteria will enter the urinary tract, lowering the likelihood of UTIs.
4. Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS)
IC/BPS is a chronic bladder condition associated with bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain.
IC & BPS Statistics
- Prevalence: Bladder pain syndrome affects approximately 3 to 8 million women and 1 to 4 million men in the U.S.
- Delay in Diagnosis: People with BPS often face a delay in diagnosis of about 4 to 7 years due to this condition’s complex symptoms, which are commonly mistaken for other bladder and urinary conditions, like UTIs.
Tips for Managing Bladder Pain Syndrome
- Identify Trigger Foods: Many people with BPS find that certain foods—such as caffeine, alcohol, acidic fruits, and spicy foods—can worsen their symptoms. So, try to keep a food diary that can help you identify any “trigger foods” you may be able to avoid to help reduce flare-ups.
- Practice Stress Management: Stress can intensify BPS symptoms, so consider incorporating relaxation techniques into a daily habit or routine. This could include deep breathing, meditation, or gentle yoga.
5. Nocturia
Defined as waking up multiple times during the night to urinate, nocturia affects about 50% of adults over the age of 50.
Nocturia Statistics
- Prevalence: Nocturia affects about 1 in 3 adults over the age of 30, with the prevalence of this condition increasing significantly with age. Over 50% of people age 65+ report waking up at least once per night to urinate.
- Sleep Disruption: Studies show that nighttime urination can reduce sleep quality, with people who experience nocturia at least twice per night being at a higher risk for daytime fatigue and related issues, like mood disturbances and reduced cognitive function.
Tips for Managing Nocturia
- Limit Evening Fluid Intake: Reduce the amount of fluid you drink in the evening. Avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol at night.
- Elevate the Legs in the Evening: If you experience fluid buildup in your legs, elevating your legs for an hour or two before bed can help the body reabsorb excess fluid, potentially reducing the need to urinate at night.
How to Maintain Bladder Health: 5 Tips
Pulling together some of the tips from above, here are some simple, yet highly effective, ways that people of all ages and health makeups can be proactive about promoting optimal bladder health (even if they are managing a bladder condition or health complication):
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water can flush out toxins and bacteria from the urinary tract while supporting your overall health.
- Avoid Bladder Irritants: Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and acidic foods, all of which can irritate the bladder lining and exacerbate the symptoms of common conditions, like urinary incontinence and UTIs.
- Exercise (if possible): Strengthening pelvic floor muscles through exercises like Kegels can improve bladder control and reduce incontinence symptoms.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can put pressure on the bladder, leading to incontinence. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can alleviate this pressure.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for bladder cancer. It can also exacerbate other bladder issues, as nicotine can stimulate bladder muscles, causing more contractions that make bladder control increasingly difficult.
How to Manage Urinary Incontinence: 4 Tips
If you or a loved one is experiencing urinary incontinence, here are options for managing the condition, so it doesn’t manage to disrupt your life:
- Consider Bladder Training: If you have some bladder control and urgency or frequency is more of the issue, try gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to train your bladder to hold urine longer. Take it slow and use this along with the next tips for best results.
- Scheduled Toilet Trips: Establish a regular schedule for bathroom visits to prevent accidental leakage. If you’re going somewhere new, map out where the restrooms are ahead of time. For longer road trips, map out bathroom breaks at rest stops along your route, so you’re not scrambling to find last-minute options.
- Use Absorbent Products: Adult diapers can provide essential leak protection and more confidence to those with various types of bladder and urinary conditions. So can other incontinence products, like pant liners, underguards, and more. Having the incontinence supplies you need can go a long way toward headache-free management of urinary and bladder health issues while supporting your best quality of life.
- Consult a Healthcare Provider: Seek professional advice to explore treatment options, which may include medications, physical therapy, or surgical interventions. Whatever treatments are best for you, your doctor can provide prescriptions and help with the next steps.
How to Get Incontinence Products with Medicaid in WA, OR & ID
Through November and beyond, MyMedSupplies is committed to promoting bladder health and doing our part by helping people just like you get free adult diapers and incontinence supplies through Medicaid in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
We have 40+ years’ experience in the medical supply and Medicaid space, and we’re accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) to provide Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory Services, and Medical Supplies.
We also put our customers’ needs first, helping them understand eligibility, navigate the Medicaid process, and get the free incontinence supplies they need as efficiently (and discretely) as possible.
Those are just a few reasons why MyMedSupplies is one of the most trusted and well-reviewed medical supply stores in the Pacific Northwest.
To find out more — or get expert help getting free incontinence supplies through Medicaid — simply talk to a professional coordinator at MyMedSupplies. We are ready to help you now.