To help customers maintain healthy bladder function, you can suggest the following:

• Vary fluid intake – drinking too much or too little fluid can affect bladder function and cutting down on fluids does not reduce the likelihood of urine leaks. Drinking six to eight glasses per day is advised
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol – caffeine can irritate the bladder, while alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it increases the amount of urine the body produces
• Eat a healthy diet – adequate fibre intake from fruit, vegetables, cereals and grains helps to reduce the risk of constipation, which can weaken the pelvic floor muscles
• Avoid spicy and acidic foods – this can irritate the bladder
• Maintain a healthy weight – excess body fat can put pressure on the bladder and lead to stress incontinence
• Exercise appropriately – some high impact, strenuous forms of exercise, such as jogging and weight training, may increase the risk of stress incontinence. Stretching and strengthening exercises that help to tone core muscles (e.g. Pilates, yoga) may be a better choice
• Quit smoking – a smoker’s cough can put a strain on the pelvic floor muscles.