The Role of Water in Your Kidney and Bladder Health
Drinking enough water each day is one of the best ways to keep your body healthy. It might seem too simple — and of course, we need food and nutrients as well — but our bodies are made up of 60% water, which means staying hydrated is essential. There are many ways that drinking water can benefit our bodies, but two organs that especially need it are the bladder and the kidneys.
The Role of the Urinary Tract
Though many people simply think of the bladder when they hear someone talking about the urinary tract, it is actually made up of more than that. The urinary tract includes our kidneys, our bladder, ureter, and urethra. Together, these parts of the urinary tract work as a drainage system to dispel waste from our bodies in the form of urine. When we drink enough water, it promotes proper urinary tract function by flushing the system and clearing toxins from the body.
Why Your Bladder and Kidneys Need Water
As mentioned above, water helps to flush out the urinary tract, keeping everything in working order. If we don’t drink enough fluids, we become dehydrated, which results in concentrated urine and reduced urine output. When we don’t produce enough urine, our body is not able to properly filter and expel waste, which can lead to a dysfunctional urinary tract.
Water and Your Kidneys
Water is essential for healthy kidney function. The kidneys are located just below the ribcage and are the organs responsible for producing urine. About 1 liter of blood passes through the kidneys every minute. Toxins and waste in the blood are then filtered out in the form of urine. Drinking water helps keep our blood vessels dilated, which then nourishes our kidneys and keeps them functioning.
Water and Your Bladder
Our bladders are the balloon-shaped organ in our pelvis that functions like a reservoir to hold the urine that is produced by our kidneys. After the kidneys filter our blood to expel waste in the form of urine, it is sent to the bladder, where it sits until we empty it. When we drink more often, the bladder fills more quickly, which typically urges us to empty our bladders more frequently. Though it can feel like a nuisance to use the restroom often, it is essential to keep the bladder flushed and healthy.
Tips to Keep Hydrated for a Healthy Urinary Tract
Though keeping yourself hydrated might seem fairly simple, it’s easy to get distracted throughout the day and forget to drink water. The following are a few useful tips to help you stay hydrated to keep your bladder and kidneys working properly:
Set a goal based on your body's needs: While you will typically find most experts telling you to drink about 8 glasses of water a day, this statement is not entirely accurate. It is certainly a good place to start, but each body has different needs. Men on average need about 3.7 liters a day, and women need about 2.7 liters. This can also fluctuate if you are someone who exercises more or less.
Keep a water bottle with you and set reminders: It’s easy to forget to drink water when there isn’t any on hand. Make it a habit to carry a water bottle with you wherever you go and set reminders on your phone to take a few sips every 30 minutes or to finish and refill the bottle every hour or two.
Cut out other fluids and replace them with water: If you are someone who enjoys soda, sports drinks, and other sugary drinks throughout the day, it might be a good idea to start replacing them with water instead. These types of drinks are full of added sugars, which can be harmful to your health. Replacing them with water will not only help your body function properly, but it will also help you cut calories as well.
Drink a glass before and after each meal: If you don’t like the idea of carrying a water bottle around wherever you go, at least make it a goal to drink one to two full glasses with each meal. Most individuals eat about three meals a day, with the occasional snack in between. If you drink one glass of water before and after every meal and snack, it should get you close to 8 glasses a day.
Eat more foods that are high in water content: There are lots of fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of water. By introducing more of these foods to your diet, you can easily up your water intake throughout the day. Some examples include celery, lettuce, watermelon, and cantaloupe, but there are lots of other options out there.
What Happens if You Get Dehydrated?
As water is essential for the health of our urinary tract, it’s important to follow the tips above to stay hydrated. If you don’t drink enough fluids, there are many ways your body can be affected, including:
Developing a Urinary Tract Infection: When we don’t drink enough water, our urine becomes concentrated and often sits for long periods in the bladder before we feel the need to empty it. This can irritate the lining of the bladder and result in unwanted bacteria taking hold.
Kidney Stones and Infection: Inadequate water consumption results in concentrated urine, which can lead to a buildup of crystallized minerals in the urinary tract. When this happens, an infection can develop, which can lead to further complications such as kidney stones. If a kidney infection and stones are left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure.
If you are suffering from symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), it’s important to seek medical treatment right away to prevent further complications with your kidneys. Simple UTIs can often be treated by a general practitioner; however, if the situation becomes worse or chronic, you may need a referral to a urologist.
At Norman Urology Associates, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care for all of our patients. Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help you feel better and get your urinary tract healthy and functioning properly again!