Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder that typically leads to urgent and painful urination, problems urinating, pelvic pain and abnormal urine color and odor. Commonly caused by bacteria entering the bladder through the urinary tract, cystitis is associated with a number of additional dietary, medical and age-related risk factors among both men and women.
Radiation and Chemotherapy
People undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer are more likely to develop cystitis. For example, processed components of chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide can inflame the bladder as they exit the body through urine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Radiation therapy, involving the use of ionizing radiation energy to target and destroy cancer cells, can also cause cystitis, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Inpatient Medical Care
According to the Mayo Clinic, receiving inpatient care in a hospital, nursing home or other healthcare setting can increase a person's risk for developing cystitis, often as a result of extended use of urinary catheters for patients who are bedridden. Catheters can damage bladder tissue and introduce bacteria into the bladder through the urethra, in turn promoting infection. Even brief catheterization before surgery or during a medical test can cause cystitis.
Age and Age-related Illness
According to the National Institutes of Health, older people are at increased risk of developing cystitis. Men, in particular, are susceptible to developing problems with structures surrounding the bladder, including the prostate and urethra. For example, many men develop urethral stricture--a narrowing of the urethra caused by inflammation, a tumor, injury or scar tissue from surgery. As the urethra swells and constricts, it interferes with the passage of urine and can cause noninfectious cystitis.
The Mayo Clinic also notes that men older than 55 are at increased of developing community-acquired cystitis--a bladder infection that develops among those who have not recently been in a healthcare setting--as a complication of prostate enlargement. Extremely common among aging men, an enlarged prostate can impede normal urine flow and lead to infection. Bladder stones--small, crystallized mineral formations that are common among men with enlarged prostates--also can block urine flow and increase the risk of cystitis.
Risk Factors in Women
Sexual activity is a known risk factor and cause of cystitis in women. According to the Mayo Clinic, bacteria can enter the urethra during intercourse, increasing the likelihood of acute and recurring infections. Certain birth control methods, such as spermicidal jellies and diaphragms, also increase the risk of cystitis in women.
According to the National Institutes of Health, women who take bubble baths, use feminine hygiene sprays or wear sanitary napkins while menstruating are at increased risk of developing cystitis. Women who are pregnant are more likely to develop cystitis as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women also may develop cystitis as a secondary infection caused by other diseases such as gynecologic cancers, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Compromised Immune System
People with compromised immune systems are more likely to develop cystitis. For example, those with human immunodeficiency virus and diabetes are more susceptible to bacterial and viral bladder infections because their immune systems are less equipped to fight off disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Crohn's disease--characterized by attacks on healthy body tissue by a faulty immune system--can lead to inflammation throughout the body and also increase the risk of infections such as cystitis.
Dietary Risk Factors
Consumption of certain types of food can increase the risk of developing cystitis because they can irritate and inflame the bladder. According to the National Institutes of Health, some of these foods include tomatoes, citrus fruits and other high-acid fruits and vegetables, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
