November helps serve as a helpful reminder to
keep your bladder healthy before a problem occurs. Your bladder looks like a
deflated balloon that expands as it fills with urine. The bladder can hold
about 400-600 milliliters of urine depending on age. When it is full, the
bladder is the size and shape of a pear.
Here are some tips to
keep your bladder healthy:
- 4-8 trips to the bathroom daily are normal. Any more than this could point to a problem that should be addressed with a doctor.
- Drink 6 to 8 cups of water daily
- Coffee, tea, alcohol, and soda lead to increased bladder activity. Reduce consumption of these when possible.
- Drink cranberry juice instead! Ingredients in the juice can keep bacteria from living in the urinary tract, preventing UTIs.
- Make sure to take the time to completely empty your bladder when using the bathroom. If you don’t, this can lead to an infection.
- Don’t smoke! Smoking increases the chance of bladder cancer among other cancers and conditions.
Bladder cancer is the 4th most common cancer with 76,960 new cases estimated in 2016. The most common symptom of bladder
cancer is blood in the urine. This usually leads to an early diagnosis and
easier treatment.
If you have any concern regarding the health of
your bladder seek the help of a professional. Dr. Justin H. McCarthy
specializes in gastroenterology and other internal medicine. Mr. McCarthy is an
affiliate of Covenant Medical Center and University of Medical Center. His
office is located at 2424 50th Street in Lubbock,
Texas. The office is open from 8 am – 5 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am –
noon on Fridays. We are currently closed on weekends. To find out more about
Dr. McCarthy’s services or to schedule an appointment call (806) 761-0722.
