Keeping kidneys and bladder healthy
To keep the kidneys and bladder in good health, it is vital to maintain disciplined self-monitoring
procedures.
Always remember:
- Fluid intake – drink enough water to produce 1.5–2 litres of urine daily. Ideally the urine should be a light straw colour.
- Urinary output – keep a record of
- Voiding intervals
- Quantity due to bladder capacity and residual urine
- Appearance: cloudiness, concentration, odour, as a sign of infection
- pH - use test strips (litmus paper) to establish the pH of your urine. The urine should test with an acid value somewhere between pH 5–6. To increase the acidity, there are medications you can take or try the natural products available such as rosehip tea, natural blackcurrant juice, cranberry juice, cranberry juice concentrate tablets and Vitamin C tablets. It should be noted that high concentrations of acidic substances can cause indigestion and even ulcers in extreme cases.
If any irregularities occur, consult your doctor and increase your fluid intake – drink plenty of water to stimulate your urinary flow. Some doctors allow consumers who are willing to take control of their bladder management to have a stock of antibiotics (chosen by the doctor based on theirinfection history). Rather than wait for an appointment to see a doctor or get a specimen of urine analysed, they can then start a course of antibiotics immediately after taking a specimen. It is important to be responsible in the use of antibiotics and always get a specimen analysed to monitor exactly what is going on.
To prevent bladder infection, there is a whole range of medications as well as homeopathic products available. Cranberry juice or cranberry capsules/tablets and vitamin C are reported to help prevent bladder infections as they make the urine more acidic and thus less hospitable for bacteria. Consult your continence specialist for details of such treatments.
Sudden headaches could be a sign of increased bladder pressure or even infection. Do not try and self-diagnose – consult your doctor or urology specialist for advice.
