Do Changing Seasons Affect Bladder Problems?

1. Do Changing Seasons Affect Bladder Problems?

2. Just as one reacts differently to different seasons—with glee to spring, with some irritation (and perspiration) to a hot summer day, or by frying hot pakoras on a rainy day—our bodies react differently to changes in temperature and humidity. One of these changes is seen in our patterns of urination, especially visible in patients of various types of urinary incontinence. Most common in the elderly, and also often in postoperative patients and sufferers of certain medical conditions, various types of incontinence can occur when the bladder loses its ability to store and regulate the release of urine. Affordable and easy to use, adult diapers improve patients’ lives and help them bring back a semblance of normalcy to their schedules. What’s important for us, is to now understand is how this status quo can be impacted by changes in seasons.

3. Summer: Less is more According to some studies, cases of urinary tract infections spike every summer. This is mostly due to dehydration thanks to sweating, or because people aren’t drinking enough water. When people are dehydrated, they produce less urine to flush out their urinary tract. As a result the bacteria that settle in the tract remain there longer and consequently cause infections. In a second study, researchers also found that cities with more-or-less the same year-round weather, are likely to show up to 6% more cases of UTI. TL;DR: Drink loads of fluids during summer and keep your nether regions clean either using water or wet wipes like these. Thanks to higher temperatures, the human body is able to release excess water by sweating. This relieves the bladder of a considerable amount of stress, but opens up the pathway for other issues.

4. Winter: Cold Mess Winters, conversely are those times of the year when the body is unable to rid any excess water due to sweating. While the urge to urinate is much higher in winters, getting out of one’s warm clothes and comfy bed to use the washroom, or change a diaper, sounds like a horror story. One of the reasons this happens is thanks to a psychological reaction called “cold-induced diuresis”. Sounds complicated? Allow us to explain. Commonly, our bodies are habituated to a temperature of 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When the weather gets cold, our body begins to shiver, forcing blood vessels to contract. This contraction rushes blood flow to vital organs such as the kidney and raises blood pressure.

5. What happens next is a little like when you buy too many vegetables in a week’s market haul and are thus forced to cook more than usual to make sure the veggies don’t get bad! Similarly, the kidneys that are now getting more blood are pushed into doing more, filtering more, compelling you to urinate more often. Having a full bladder for an extended amount of time also results in the body losing heat. Thus, urinating frequently is a good option to prevent its internal insulation TL;DR: Beware—the urge to urinate in winters is much higher, all thanks to a fancy process called  cold-induced diuresis.

6. Managing Seasonal Changes       1. Staying hydrated Summer or winter, it’s best to remain hydrated—during summers, as water remains scarce in the body; and during winters, to prevent dehydration. Dehydration, as explained before, can cause the thickening of urine, which irritates the bladder. A well hydrated body eases out the flow of urine While controlling the weather may be something possible in only sci-fi so far, we can, to a certain extent control our own reaction to changes. This includes everything from tuning into our own bodies to staying in temperature regulated rooms. A few more tips include:

7. 2. Stay Warm Cold temperatures, as we explained earlier, stress the kidney. The bladder is now more likely to dispel urine suddenly and without warning. It is recommended thus, that incontinence patients bundle up, and stay warm. By staying warm the body’s normal temperature is maintained and muscles can stay relaxed. 3. Empty Your Bladder Before Leaving the House Always make sure to use the restroom before leaving the house. This will make sure that if you’re away from the restroom, stuck in a meeting or a traffic jam, you don’t get into a sticky situation. It may also be a good idea to wear an adult diaper for an enhanced sense of security.

8. 4. Opt for Alternatives to Coffee The caffeine in coffee can make your bladder worse. Hence replace your cappuccino with herbal tea or hot chocolate to keep yourself warm. Remember, limiting your liquid intake can also trigger bladder issues, so make sure you stay properly hydrated to maintain bladder health. 5. Keep a spare adult diaper An adult diaper is not just an affordable solution, it’s also very easy to use, with directions on how to wear an adult diaper almost always mentioned on packs. Keeping a spare elderly diaper handy may also be a good idea. During changing seasons it is a good idea to secure a long-lasting overnight diaper which can pave the way to a few hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep. At Friends, elderly diapers are equipped with highly advanced Super Absorbent Polymer which allows the adult diaper to remain dry for several hours making sure bacterial and fungal infections from wetness remain at bay. While changing environments may sometimes be difficult to adapt to, a little care and support can do wonders!

9. Thank You Image Source: everydayhealth.com, medium.com, arkansasurology.com, medicalnewstoday.com