Have you ever had a problem going to the bathroom? If so, you may have urinary retention. Urinary retention is when you have difficulty passing urine or emptying your bladder completely. It can be a very uncomfortable condition, but luckily, there are ways to help manage it.
What is Urinary Retention?
Urinary retention is a condition in which the bladder does not empty completely. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as an obstruction in the urinary tract, an infection, or a neurological disorder. When the bladder does not empty completely, it can cause a feeling of discomfort and fullness.
Symptoms of Urinary Retention?
The most common symptom of urinary retention is difficulty in passing urine. Other symptoms may include:
- Feeling of fullness in the bladder, even after you have just gone to the bathroom
- Frequent urges to urinate
- Pain or burning sensation when you urinate
- Leaking of urine
- Inability to empty the bladder completely
What are dietary and lifestyle causes?
There are many dietary and lifestyle factors that can cause or contribute to urinary retention. These include:
- Not drinking enough water: Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which can cause the bladder to become overactive and cause difficulty in passing urine.
- Eating too much processed food: Eating too many processed foods can lead to an imbalance in electrolytes, which can cause difficulty in passing urine.
- Smoking: Smoking can irritate the bladder and cause difficulty in passing urine.
- Drinking too much alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can cause dehydration and irritate the bladder, leading to urinary retention.
Which diet and lifestyle changes can help?
Making changes to your diet and lifestyle can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention. These changes include:
- Drinking plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water can help keep your body hydrated, which can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention.
- Eating a balanced diet: Eating a balanced diet can help keep your electrolytes in balance, which can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention.
- Avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol: Avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention.
- Doing pelvic floor exercises: Doing pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen the muscles in the pelvic area, which can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention.
What percentage of the population suffer from Urinary Retention?
Urinary retention is a relatively common condition, affecting up to 10% of the population. It is more common in men than women, and is more likely to occur in older adults. It is also more common in people with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
What are some natural remedies for Urinary Retention
- Cranberry: Cranberry juice is a natural diuretic and can help to reduce urinary retention.
- Dandelion Root: Dandelion root is a natural diuretic that helps to flush out toxins from the body.
- Uva Ursi: Uva Ursi is an herb that is known to help reduce urinary retention.
- Marshmallow Root: Marshmallow root is an herb that helps to reduce inflammation in the urinary tract.
- Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is known to help reduce urinary retention.
- Magnesium: Magnesium is known to help relax the muscles of the bladder and can help reduce urinary retention.
- Parsley: Parsley is a diuretic and can help reduce urinary retention.
Can fasting help Urinary Retention
Fasting helps with urinary retention because it helps reduce the amount of fluid in the body. This reduces the amount of pressure on the bladder, which makes it easier for the bladder to empty. Additionally, fasting helps to reduce inflammation in the bladder, which can help reduce the symptoms of urinary retention. Finally, fasting can help to reduce stress, which can also reduce the symptoms of urinary retention.