As vital organs go, it's not much to write home about. Your bladder isn't much more than a hollow muscular reservoir for your urine, on its way to your kidneys. It is situated near your pelvic floor. In men it's in front of the rectum and in women it lies in front of the urethra. But no matter what your gender, it's not something you want any trouble with, because bladder problems will shut you down as fast as any other ailment you can name. Here are a few pointers to keep it in tip-top condition.

Drink a lot of fluids, especially water. Consumption of too much caffeine and alcohol will make it more difficult for your bladder to hold a lot of urine.

Don't “hold it in.” Urinate whenever you feel the urge, polite convention notwithstanding. Holding urine in your bladder for too long weakens your bladder muscles, and can create conditions for a bladder infection.

Don't rush it. Take the time to completely empty your bladder when you urinate. Again, if you leave some urine inside it there is a good chance of bladder infection.

Two of the “generic good health” mainstays, keeping a trim weight and abstaining from smoking, are particularly important for good bladder health.

Women should relax when urinating. Relax the muscles around your bladder so that it is easier for you to void. That means, sit on the toilet seat, don't hover above it.

Avoid becoming constipated. This means eating plenty of fiber (foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains), drinking enough water with every meal and getting enough exercise.

Exercise your pelvic floor muscles. These are the muscles that help hold urine in the bladder. By performing daily exercises you can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and keep them strong. The stronger your pelvic floor muscles, the less likely you are to leak urine when you sneeze, cough, lift, laugh, or have a sudden urge to urinate.

To exercise your pelvic floor muscles, begin by tightening that muscle you use to prevent gas from escaping. Continue tightening the muscles going to the front of the pelvic area. Hold this for 5 to 10 seconds, then release. Repeat this 5 to 10 times. Repeat the whole exercise sequence 3 times daily.