Your bags are packed and you’re ready to go traveling, whether for work or pleasure. But, is your urinary system ready for big changes while you’re away from home and your routine?
Traveling can and should be a fun adventure. However, traveling also places undue stress on your body, affecting your urinary system more significantly than you may realize. Simply being out of your element when on the road, our routine habits change. For example, most of us tend to drink fluids less frequently, walk more and produce more sweat, our eating habits are off schedule, and we’re eating foods we normally don’t. Even our sleep habits can be off schedule due to jet lag, and our exercise routines may go to the wayside when vacationing.
All of these sudden changes in your daily life can result in urinary problems such as urinary incontinence or overactive bladder, you maybe already are experiencing.
Staying healthy when traveling should be a top priority for each of us
And that includes the health of your urinary system. Part of staying healthy is to be prepared. This helps not only to take the stress out of traveling but also will more likely save you the issue of facing a urinary problem while away from home.
Here are three ways to keep your urinary system healthy while traveling:
1. Choose healthy foods
Travel can compromise good eating habits. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be limited or unsafe to eat in certain parts of the world. Even drinking water may be limited to only bottled water if there are insufficient means of keeping water sanitary to consume. Drinking insufficient fluids or eating foods lacking fiber can lead to constipation or more concentrated urine.
People who are poorly hydrated and lack fiber are more prone to developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). That’s why staying well-hydrated and eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans while traveling can help prevent constipation resulting in a lower risk of a UTI when away from home.
2. Keep hydrated
Most adults require about two liters or at least 8 cups of water each day. Other sources of fluids include certain ‘watery’ foods such as fruits and vegetables. When away from your hotel or wherever you are staying, ensure you have a source of water with you. Hot, humid weather can quickly cause dehydration, especially if you are already under-hydrated. Signs of dehydration to be mindful of include feeling thirsty, tired, dizzy, having a dry mouth, lips, or eyes, urinating little or less than 4 times a day, or producing yellow and strong-smelling urine.
If you are well-hydrated, your urine should be a light yellow color. Keeping hydrated helps prevent constipation, UTIs, and kidney stones.
3. Maintain an exercise schedule
Even on vacation, you should include exercise each day. Exercise helps keep you healthy while relieving stress at the same time. It also enhances your immune system keeping it stronger to fight infections like a UTI. Try to incorporate your regular workout into your traveling schedule. If you normally go walking, running, or bicycling each day, find a walking/jogging trail or a trail specifically for bicyclists. Consider other low-impact aerobic exercise such as yoga or swimming, each keeping your urinary system running smoothly. Also, a regular workout routine while away will help you better manage weight gain, get a better night’s sleep, and keep you mentally happier away from home, all good for urinary health.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.
Add comment