Does it seem when Old Man Winter is around, so is Mother Nature… in the form of more frequent bathroom visits? There’s a good chance it’s not a coincidence. Many women with bladder control problems report a greater sense of urgency whenever they’re exposed to frigid temperatures.

Several explanations surround the cold weather-bladder leakage connection. One is that people simply don’t sweat as much and rid themselves of body fluids in colder temps. As a result, our bodies eliminate fluid by producing more urine. Another study suggests cold weather irritates bladder muscles creating over-activity.

Whatever the reason, there are some ways to stay prepared and confident, even during the cooler months of winter. Start with these hot tips for cool temps:

•Monitor your fluid intake. You may need to pass up that cup of hot cocoa since it contains caffeine, which can also be a bathroom trigger.

•Keep moving. Activity is a great way to keep your bladder from over-activity. Exercise, even a short, brisk walk will help raise your body temps when it’s cold outside and prevent icy temps from affecting your bladder function.

•The right protection. Get that added feeling of confidence by wearing protective underwear like Depend® for Women Underwear.

Don’t let the colder temps put a chill on doing what you love. Enjoy all the season has to offer with total bladder confidence!

Source: 2005 study by researchers at Whittinghouse Hospital in London. After assessing bladder behavior in nearly 2,000 men and women, they found that cold weather made urgency and incontinence issues worse.