Consuming caffeine can irritate your bladder, increasing your need to urinate. Although irritation may occur in anyone who eats or drinks foods or beverages containing high amounts of caffeine, people who have underlying bladder issues may be particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Limiting or eliminating caffeine can help relieve irritation and symptoms.
Identification
Caffeine is a substance that acts as a central nervous system stimulant and occurs naturally in coffee beans, cocoa beans, kola nuts and the leaves of tea plants. Some manufacturers also use synthetic forms of caffeine in their products. Caffeine is present in a variety of beverages and foods, including colas and other soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate. Pain or cold medications may contain caffeine because the stimulant makes pain relievers 40 percent more effective and promotes quick absorption of the medication, the Cleveland Clinic reports.
Effects on the Bladder
The bladder is a sac that stores urine produced by the kidneys. When the bladder is full, it sends a signal through the nervous system to your brain. The brain then sends its own signal back to the bladder, which you experience as the urge to urinate. Caffeine consumption can dull the nerves, cause rapid bladder filling and may cause bladder leakage, according to the Cleveland Clinic. You may be more sensitive to the irritating effects of caffeine if you suffer from a disease or condition that affects the bladder, such as overactive bladder, increased nighttime urination or interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is a condition that causes bladder and pelvic pain, pressure and frequent urination.
Considerations
Consuming high amounts of caffeine increases your risk of developing urinary irritation or problems. Researchers who followed more than 65,000 women for four years discovered that women who consumed more than 450 milligrams of caffeine daily were at increased risk of incontinence. They also noted that a quarter of the cases of incontinence among women who consumed high amounts of caffeine would improve with the elimination of caffeine consumption. The study appeared in the May 2011 issue of "The Journal of Urology."
Reducing Irritation
Reducing the amount of caffeine you consume may relieve the irritating effects of caffeine on your bladder. Choosing decaffeinated beverages may decrease irritation as well, although many decaffeinated beverages do contain small amounts of caffeine. Avoid other substances that can irritate the bladder, such as alcohol, citrus foods, artificial sweeteners and water pills, if your bladder is sensitive.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Rebound Headaches
- "The Journal of Urology"; Caffeine Intake, and the Risk of Stress, Urgency and Mixed Urinary Incontinence; Ying H. Jura et al; May 2011
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; How Does the Bladder Work?; August 2007
- Cleveland Clinic: Overactive Bladder
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