Celebrating Women’s Health Month in May!
This month, the Urology Care Foundation focuses on awareness of early detection and treatment of disease and techniques to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Women are encouraged to focus on self-care within these four topics:
- Week 1: Go to the Bathroom. Holding your urine for too long can weaken the bladder muscles over time. This can lead to problems like incontinence and the inability to empty your bladder fully. Try to urinate every 3-4 hours during the day.
- Week 2: Hydrate. Becoming dehydrated can lead to concentrated urine, which can irritate your bladder. Adults should drink 6-8 oz. of water daily for a healthy bladder.
- Week 3: Go for a walk. Physical activity can help prevent bladder problems and helps maintain a healthy weight. Aim for 30 minutes of walking a day.
- Week 4: Relax. Some research suggests that mindful meditation can reduce the frequency and urgency of overactive bladder episodes. Meditation can help calm the body and mind.
- What Else Should Black (BIPOC) Women Keep on Their Health Checklist? For women, urology includes the urinary tract, the parts of your body that process your urine. Did you know specific healthy living tips can impact your urologic health? Some urologic tips include: Drink water daily to prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Go often by passing urine every 3-4 hours and having daily soft bowel movements to help with UTIs, leaks, and pain. Keep clean by wiping from front to back to avoid UTIs. Eat healthy by limiting food/drinks that irritate the bladder and those that may cause kidney stones. Breathe clean because smoking can impact urologic cancers, kidney stones, pain, and urine leaks. Get checked if you leak urine or see blood in your urine so you can get help. Monitor your body and love yourself unconditionally!