10 Tips for Managing Alcohol Incontinence: How to Stay Dry and Enjoy Your Night Out

Have you ever wet the bed after increased alcohol consumption? Or perhaps you've experienced a bladder leak when laughing during a night out on the town?

While the symptoms of alcohol incontinence can be embarrassing, they can be quite common.

But why does it happen? Alcohol stimulates the bladder, causing it to create more pee than normal. Other potential contributors to alcohol-related incontinence include the depressant nature of alcohol, which can impair the communication between the brain and the bladder, and the sugars in alcoholic drinks, which may also irritate the bladder.

Here at Jude, we are proud to break the stigmas surrounding the topic of incontinence. In this article, we'll give you 10 helpful management tips to ensure you stay dry and feel confident during your night out. Please bear in mind these are general tips and everyone should seek advice from their doctor before making any lifestyle changes as they can give you personalised advice and also do relevant tests to ensure you are diagnosed accurately.

1. Avoid Caffeine Leading Up to Your Night Out

Just like how alcohol irritates the bladder, caffeine can have a very similar effect. Excessive consumption of caffeine can result in bladder control issues as well as diarrhoea (in some people).

Before your night out, try to limit your caffeine intake as much as possible. Instead, plan a healthy meal as food slows down the rate of alcohol absorption.

2. Hydrate With Water Ahead of Time

If you know you'll be spending the night drinking alcohol, make sure you drink plenty of water that day. Upping your water intake can help dilute the alcohol in your system and minimise its irritation on your bladder. Just keep in mind that you may need to pee more than usual after increased water intake, so be sure to take regular bathroom breaks.

3. Drink Smaller Quantities

Drinking large quantities of alcohol can lead to excess pee production. If you want to avoid leaks, try to order smaller drinks. For example, it may be better to sip on a shot of whisky over ice than it would be to down a pint of beer.

You can also try limiting the quantity of alcohol you consume on a night out. By drinking fewer alcoholic drinks in total you're less likely to experience leaks.

4. Use the Bathroom Before Going to Bed

Because drinking alcohol can stimulate the bladder, possibly inducing unintentional leaks while you sleep, it's always a good idea to use the bathroom before you go to bed.

Also, make sure you pee as needed during your night out. Holding it in can increase pressure on the bladder and lead to reduced muscle coordination which can exacerbate alcohol incontinence. Holding in your urine can also lead to weakened bladder muscles over time or a urinary tract infection.

5. Wear Pads and Leak-Proof Underwear

Wearing pads or leak-proof underwear on a night out is a great idea if you know you have problems with alcohol incontinence. They will provide you with a sense of confidence and make sure that any potential leaks don't ruin your evening.

In fact, Jude's leak-proof pants have been designed to absorb up to 8 teaspoons of urine, ensuring you stay dry and confident all night long. We also have a range of comfortable and absorbent bamboo pads that are perfect for those who experience medium leakage.

6. Set an Alarm in the Middle of the Night

If you've wet the bed regularly in the past, even after remembering to pee just before you went to sleep, it might be a good idea to set an alarm to go off in the middle of the night. When the alarm sounds, you should go to the bathroom and empty your bladder before going back to bed.

While it can be annoying to wake up in the middle of the night, dealing with a pee-soaked sheet and mattress cover can be even more annoying. If this does become a recurring problem, you may want to invest in a waterproof mattress cover.

Night-time incontinence can happen even if you don't drink alcohol. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to manage this condition, including behavioural and lifestyle changes.

7. Try Bladder Support Supplements

Bladder support supplements are designed to help those with overactive bladders prevent leaks. The relief offered by these supplements has been life-changing for thousands of people.

Jude's clinically tested bladder support supplements aim to help you regain control over your bladder in just 12 weeks. Made from pumpkin seeds and soy phytoestrogen, our natural formula has yielded impressive results. As with all supplements, it is important to check with your doctor before taking them, as supplements should only be taken if they are deemed suitable for your unique health needs.

8. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Whether or not you want to drink alcohol is a personal choice. However, you can still enjoy a fun night out without any alcohol consumption. These days, there are plenty of delicious alcohol-free options available and you can enjoy tasty beverages without the negative side effects.

More and more people are becoming 'sober curious' by experimenting with reducing their alcohol intake. Why not try a mocktail next time you go out and see how you feel?

9. Opt for Drinks with Less Sugar

Sugar is another substance that can act as a bladder stimulant. Sugary alcoholic beverages are more likely to cause an over-stimulated bladder, so try to opt for drinks with minimal sugar content like dry wines, light beers, and spirits served with water. Remember that artificial sweeteners can also be a bladder irritant, so replacing sugary drinks with diet versions is unlikely to be effective in preventing overactive bladder symptoms.

10. Look into Treatment Options for Long-Term Management

While alcohol may act as a trigger for your incontinence, you could also have weakened pelvic floor muscles if you experience regular leaks. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options available, including:

• Pelvic floor exercises

• Biofeedback

• Surgical procedures

If you struggle with any type of incontinence, it is best to book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to learn the most effective ways to manage your condition. There are also options for urge incontinence such as bladder retraining and some medication.

FAQs

What other foods and drinks can trigger urinary incontinence?

Some of the other foods and drinks that are known to trigger bladder leaks include:

• Citrus fruits

• Coffee

• Tea

• Chocolate

• Sugar/ artificial sweetener

• Spicy foods

If you suffer from bladder leaks and recurring urinary tract infections, try your best to eat wholesome, food and drink plenty of water.

What causes alcohol incontinence?

Drinking alcohol affects the bladder by suppressing a hormone in your brain and as a result, causing increased urine production. However, some people are more susceptible to incontinence because of a variety of underlying factors.

Some of the most commonly cited causes of alcohol incontinence include:

• Overactive bladder

• Stress and anxiety

• Chronic constipation

• Weakened pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy, childbirth and/or menopause

• Damaged pelvic floor muscles due to injury

Does alcohol affect women and men in different ways?

Yes. Women's bodies typically contain less water than men's, which means that alcohol takes longer to dilute. Women also usually have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down alcohol. This is why we are more likely to suffer from alcohol-related incontinence. However, recent guidance recommends that both men and women should not consume more than 14 units of alcohol a week because the long-term health effects of alcohol are similar across genders and there are many other factors which can also affect alcohol metabolism aside from biological sex.

What are some of the other negative effects of alcohol?

Alcohol affects the body in many different ways. Individuals who drink heavily are at higher risk for kidney infections, liver cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver cancer and breast cancer and a wide variety of other conditions. There is also a suspected connection between alcohol consumption and other gastrointestinal disorders including pancreatitis. Furthermore, alcohol use can contribute to several mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Final Thoughts

Bladder leaks can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but they don't mean that you have to necessarily give up drinking alcohol altogether. You may still be able to c enjoy a few drinks with friends on a night out so long as you take the time to find ways to manage your condition.

Each person is different and it may take a while to work out the best solution for you. If you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms always visit your GP for their professional advice and diagnosis.

Here at Jude, we are proud to break the stigmas surrounding this topic by providing helpful resources, bladder control supplements, and leak-proof pants. Our products are designed to help those with incontinence lead happy, normal lives.

Jude’s clinically proven supplements give you better bladder and pelvic floor control, helping you sleep through the night and regain the freedom to live life on your own terms. With just one capsule morning and night, you'll have relief from need-to-go urgency in just 12 weeks.