Living & Managing
Q
How can I prevent and manage accidents?
A
A weakened or overactive bladder doesn't have to keep you from living your life. There are steps you can take to prevent accidents or to manage them discreetly when they do happen.
Make simple changes
Keep the path to the bathroom clear and well lit at night.
Wear easy-to-open clothes.
Empty your bladder before bed, a big meeting or a trip.
Use the right incontinent product. DependŽ Brand offers many styles and products designed to fit your needs and lifestyle. We have a comprehensive range of sizes and absorbency levels. Use our product finder to find the most appropriate products for your needs.
Minimize odors Though you can't prevent odor completely, you can curb it. First, stay hydrated. The more concentrated your urine is, the stronger it smells. Next, consider taking urine-deodorizing tablets, such as vitamin C, or supplements made for this purpose. You can also help reduce urine odor by drinking apple, pear, cherry or other non-citrus juices.
Stay sensibly hydrated Drink at least six to seven 8-oz. glasses of water a day to keep your bladder healthy. When you drink less water, your urine is more concentrated and may irritate the lining of the urethra and bladder.
Pay attention to your diet A lot of things?including caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods (like tomatoes and citrus fruits) and drinks, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, hot spices and carbonated drinks?can irritate your bladder. Take time to learn what foods and drinks trigger your leakage and then remove them from your diet.
Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles You can do Kegels anywhere, without anyone noticing. With a little practice, Kegels can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles?and that can help reduce feelings of urgency, the need to frequently urinate and accidents.