Summertime Hydration and How it Helps Urinary Urgency

Summer is officially here!  For many this means long days at the pool, road trips, music festivals, or flights for family vacations.  But, if you have urinary urgency, this can also mean strategic dehydration to enjoy more time with friends and less trips to the bathroom.  The only problem is, that strategy doesn’t work.

The bladder is not a bucket that just empties when it’s full.  It’s a complex feedback loop.  When we don’t stay hydrated, urine will become more concentrated and acidic.  This acidity causes irritation to the sensitive lining in the bladder creating a sense of urgency to empty the irritating contents.  Over time, this remaps how the bladder processes signals and leads to reduced storage capacity.

Other bladder irritants include caffeine, carbonated beverages, and alcohol.  These items are also known to cause dehydration making symptoms of urgency worse.  So, before you park yourself at the pool with iced coffee and hard sparkling seltzers, let’s focus on some strategies to keep you enjoying your plans.

Don’t Chug - Chugging is for college students; we’re past that phase of life.  Instead focus on daily hydration-especially on days when you’re not out in the sun.  Small sips throughout the day will be more effective and better tolerated than drinking large amounts at one time to overload the bladder.  

Dilute Before You Pollute - I’m not saying you can’t have alcohol, carbonation, or caffeine but we need to make sure that we balance those things out.  Drink some water before your first coffee (or adult beverage) and afterwards.  This will allow better dilution of urine and also avoid dehydration.  

Time Your Intake - If you know you’re going to be away from a bathroom, such as being on a road trip or standing in a mosh pit, hydrate early.  Make sure to have adequate hydration the day before and gradually taper your intake before your activity rather than completely avoid water consumption.    

Check Your Color - Urine output is a great way to understand your hydration.  Clear urine may be an indication of overhydration.  Orange to brown is a sign of dehydration.  The goal is to have a pale yellow color which indicates optimal hydration.  

I hope these tips help you stay cool but also allow you to join in the fun.  If you continue to experience urinary urgency or other pelvic concerns, contact us to schedule your free discovery call to discuss your symptoms and learn how we may be able to help!  Happy Hydrating!