Daily exercises can strengthen these muscles, which can help keep urine from leaking when you sneeze, cough, lift, laugh, or have a sudden urge to urinate. Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, help hold urine in the bladder. Both women and men should urinate shortly after sex to lower the risk of infection. Sexual activity can move bacteria from the bowel or vaginal cavity to the urethral opening. This step is most important after a bowel movement. Women should wipe from front to back to keep gut bacteria from getting into the urethra. Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.If urine stays in the bladder too long, it can make a bladder infection more likely. Rushing when you urinate may not allow you to fully empty the bladder. Take enough time to fully empty the bladder when urinating.For women, hovering over the toilet seat may make it hard to relax, so it is best to sit on the toilet seat. Relaxing the muscles around the bladder will make it easier to empty the bladder. Be in a relaxed position while urinating.Holding urine in your bladder for too long can weaken your bladder muscles and make a bladder infection more likely. Try to urinate at least once every 3 to 4 hours. Use the bathroom often and when needed.While you can’t control everything that affects your bladder, here are 15 steps you can take to keep it as healthy as possible: The bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to empty the bladder fully and causing urine to leak.

A less flexible bladder cannot hold as much urine as before and might make you go to the bathroom more often. The elastic bladder tissue may toughen and become less stretchy. Each day, adults pass about a quart and a half of urine through the bladder and out of the body.Īs people get older, the bladder changes. Urine contains waste and extra fluid left over after the body takes what it needs from what we eat and drink. Located in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ, much like a balloon, that stores urine.

People rarely talk about bladder health, but everyone is affected by it.

Bladder sling