FitSugar

You Asked: Too Many Trips to the Ladies Room?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:00:20 -0700

Dear Fit,
I drink tons of water, and probably go through four 32-ounce Nalgene bottles within the eight hours I am at the office, so I assume that's the reason. I'm wondering if this is bad for me? I go to the "ladies" at least once an hour to pee, and the guys in my office think it's way too often.
- Fearful of Over Watering

Women have smaller bladders than men, so that's why we tend to visit the ladies room more often. Is it possible to have to go too often? To find out keep reading

Do You Often Have to "Go" in the Middle of the Night?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0800

There are many things that interfere with sleeping through the night. Be it a husband who snores or an overly blue, overly bright digital alarm clock. There is another thing that wakes many of us up at night, and by the photo below, I bet you can guess what I am talking about.

Waking up with that full bladder feeling, knowing you won't be able to fall back asleep unless you stumble to the bathroom to go, is just another annoying thing that interferes with a good night's sleep. Some people just always have to go in the middle of the night, and some don't. When I was pregnant, having to go in the middle of the night plagued my sleep. Enough about me, how about you . . .

Source

You Asked: How Many Times Should I Pee Each Day?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear FitSugar,

I know I'm supposed to stay hydrated and drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day, but if I do, I end up peeing at least once every hour or more. Is this normal? How many times should I be going to the bathroom?

- Powder Room Patty

Yup, totally normal - I also go to the restroom a lot during the day. There is no real set number of times that you should be running to the loo, because it totally depends on your fluid intake. You drink water to replenish the water that gets lost through perspiration, excretion, and other bodily functions, and you don't necessarily need to be downing eight glasses of water each day. The amount depends on your lifestyle, whether you exercise a lot, or if you live in a warm climate. Check out Fit's Calculator to figure out how much water you should be drinking each day.

There's another way to find out if you're getting enough water. To find out what it is just read more.

You can also figure out if you're getting enough water by checking the color of your urine. It should be clear or close to it. If it is, then you're doing a great job of keeping yourself hydrated. If it's closer to neon yellow, then add a glass or two of water to your diet. If your pee is clear and you're running to the lady's room more often than you'd like (which it sounds like you are), then cut back on your water consumption by a cup or two.

Source

Household Hot Spots: Where Does the Bacteria Lurk?

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Just when you thought you were safe, WebMD is here to tell you that your house may be germier than you think. Plus all those bacterial hot spots might not be where you would expect them to be.

According to a new study performed by The Hygiene Council, the common household toilet bowl is home to the most bacteria per square inch. Not surprising is the fact that the Hygiene Council is funded by Reckitt Benckiser, the company that makes Lysol. I find that almost as interesting as the fact that the area around the bathtub drain contains more bacteria than the bathroom floor.

Interested in seeing all the rankings? Then read more

1. Toilet bowl: 3.2 million bacteria/square inch
2. Kitchen drain: 567,845 bacteria/square inch
3. Sponge or counter-wiping cloth: 134,630 bacteria/square inch
4. Bathtub, near drain: 119,468 bacteria/square inch
5. Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964 bacteria/square inch
6. Kitchen faucet handle: 13,227 bacteria/square inch
7. Bathroom faucet handle: 6,267 bacteria/square inch
8. Bathroom sink, near drain: 2,733 bacteria/square inch
9. Pet food dish, inside rim: 2,110 bacteria/square inch
10. Kitchen floor, in front of sink: 830 bacteria/square inch
11. Toilet floor, in front of toilet: 764 bacteria/square inch
12. Kitchen counter top: 488 bacteria/square inch
13. Bathroom counter top: 452 bacteria/square inch
14. Garbage bin: 411 bacteria/square inch
15. Dish towel: 408 bacteria/square inch
16. Toy: 345 bacteria/square inch
17. Kitchen tabletop: 344 bacteria/square inch
18. Home office phone or refrigerator door: 319 bacteria/square inch
19. Toilet seat: 295 bacteria/square inch
20. Bathroom light switch: 217 bacteria/square inch
21. Microwave buttons: 214 bacteria/square inch
22. Kitchen chopping board: 194 bacteria/square inch
23. Child-training potty: 191 bacteria/square inch
24. Infant changing mat and infant high chair: 190 bacteria/square inch
25. Kitchen phone: 133 bacteria/square inch
26. Bathroom door's inside handle: 121 bacteria/square inch
27. Toilet's flush handle: 83 bacteria/square inch
28. TV remote control: 70 bacteria/square inch
29. Home office computer keyboard: 64 bacteria/square inch
30. Home office computer mouse: 50 bacteria/square inch

Now that I have turned you into a germ-a-phobe, I just want to remind you that the CDC recommends washing hand thoroughly for 15 seconds with soap.

Source

Are You Wiping the Wrong Way?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Okay, so we don't need to spend much time on this, but I feel I need to address this issue. Not every woman knows this important tidbit of information, so I'm going to say it plain and simple to avoid any confusion.

When you go to the bathroom, you need to wipe from front to back. Are we clear on that?

The reason being you want to prevent the spread of intestinal bacteria from the rectum to the urinary tract, and hopefully prevent painful and annoying urinary tract infections. If you think about it, it makes complete sense.

I'm glad we've cleared that up. And I know I don't need to tell you to avoid buying used toilet paper. Good god.

Bashful Bladder?

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:30:00 -0800

We've all got to use public restrooms. Nobody likes it, but it's a fact of being human.

Some people find it difficult or impossible to urinate in the presence of others, in public facilities, or even in their own homes. Some people can't pee if there is pressure about time, if other people are present and might hear them, or if others are waiting for them to go, or if traveling in moving vehicles.

I've heard it called bathroom "stage fright," or shy bladder. But it's actually a social anxiety disorder called paruresis.

7% of the public (about 17 million) people suffer from having a bashful bladder. If you can relate to this - find a support group or therapist. They can offer helpful solutions so the next time you go to the bathroom in public you'll be able to go.

Don't Let Traveling Get You in a Bind

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.

For more helpful tips keep reading.

5 Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:50:35 -0800

We don't always feel 100 percent all the time, and it's normal to feel a little nauseous, tired, or sniffly every once in a while. These are minor symptoms though, and usually go away on their own. But there are a few red flag signals our bodies flash to warn us of serious medical conditions, and they're symptoms you shouldn't pass off as nothing. WebMD spoke to the authors of Your Body's Red Light Warning Signals, and here are some symptoms that require a doctor's visit or emergency care.

Difficulty breathing. Tightness in the chest, wheezing, shallow breathing, or constantly coughing are all symptoms of asthma. If a person has these symptoms or full-on asthma attacks, and they're left untreated, the muscles used for breathing can get tired. That means the amount of oxygen getting into the lungs will decrease, while the levels of carbon dioxide increase. This has a drowsing effect on the brain, and the person may stop breathing, which could result in death.
Blood in your urine. When you go to the bathroom, you shouldn't see blood, and if you do, it could be a sign of kidney stones, bladder infections, or cancer of the kidney, urethra, or bladder. Even if you don't feel pain, call your doctor.

To see the other red flags keep reading

How to Avoid Catching the Swine Flu

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

We're pretty familiar with how to prevent catching a regular cold or the flu, but the swine flu seems like a whole new ball of wax (or phlegm, in this case). Since swine flu seems to be spreading quickly, you want to do whatever you can to keep from catching the H1N1 virus. Here are some precautions you can take.

Wash your hands often with soap and hot water (don't just rinse with water). Lather up for at least 20 seconds, or long enough to sing your ABC's.
Avoid touching common things that others come in contact with such as doorknobs, railings, handles on the subway, elevator buttons, magazines in the doctor's office, public phones, pens at the bank, etc. If you can't help it, refrain from touching your nose, mouth, or eyes until you can get to a bathroom to wash your hands.
When you're at the gym, disinfect all equipment before you use it in case the person before you forgot. Bring your own towel, use your own yoga mat, and wash your hands before leaving the gym.

To see how else you can protect yourself, read more.

Keep hand sanitizers in your purse, car, and at work so you can kill germs when you can't get to a sink.
If swine flu cases have turned up in your area, consider avoiding public places. Those infected with swine flu can be contagious before showing symptoms.
If you're really paranoid, wearing a high quality respiratory mask can offer some protection.
Get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. All these things will strengthen your immune system.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, those who work with children, and those who work in the medical field are at a higher risk for catching swine flu. So if you're in this group, think about getting vaccinated against the swine flu.
If you start feeling flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy nose, chills, or body aches, don't go to work. Stay at home and get better. If your symptoms worsen, call your doctor. If you test positive for swine flu, they can prescribe Tamiflu.

Do You Use Seat Covers on Public Toilets?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0700

I'm kind of obsessed with using those funny little toilet-seat covers provided by the management "for your protection," but I wonder if they actually do anything. (According to this Yahoo Answers post, they're pretty pointless.) Do you use them?

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