Urinary retention refers to any number of conditions that cause difficulty in emptying the bladder. Urinary retention symptoms can include a constant urge to urinate but an inability to release urine, frequent urination that only partly empties the bladder or a complete urine blockage. Different foods may aggravate urinary retention, depending on the specific cause of the condition.
Infection and Inflammation
A urinary tract infection or a chronic inflammation called interstitial cystitis can cause urinary urgency and pain on urination. Foods rich in potassium, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee and chocolate, are frequently reported as contributing to interstitial cystitis and aggravating urinary retention symptoms, according to the Columbia University Center for Holistic Urology. Alcohol, carbonated beverages and spicy foods also aggravate symptoms in some patients. Keep a food diary and track which foods aggravate urinary track problems as the dietary causes vary from person to person. Consult your physician promptly if you are experiencing pain on urination, see blood in your urine or experience a fever along with urinary difficulties, as medication may be required.
BPH and Overactive Bladder
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called BPH or enlarged prostate, is a common cause of urinary retention in older men, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Alcohol and caffeine both aggravate urinary retention symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. An overactive bladder resulting from pregnancy, childbirth or weak pelvic muscles also causes urinary retention symptoms in many women. Alcohol and caffeine, as well as fruit juice, can contribute to a constant urge to urinate and irritation of the bladder and urethra in women. Avoiding caffeinated beverages and alcohol while drinking plenty of water may help alleviate these symptoms.
Urinary Tract Stones
Stones that form in the kidneys out of crystals formed in the urine can pass into other areas of the urinary tract and cause blockage, pain and urinary retention. Foods high in sodium as well as an excess of protein in the diet can contribute to urinary tract stone formation. Consumption of food high in calcium should be minimized in people who have a tendency to form urinary tract stones. Caffeinated foods like coffee, cola and chocolate, as well as foods that contain oxalic acid such as beets, rhubarb, spinach and strawberries, may also encourage urinary tract stone formation that can cause urinary retention.
Constipation
Constipation can cause urinary retention as an accumulation of hard stool in the rectum will push against the urethra and may pinch it shut, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. High-fat foods like fatty meats, eggs and full-fat dairy products like cheese and ice cream contribute to constipation, according to the University of New Hampshire Health Services. A diet rich in processed and refined foods that are low in fiber and high in sodium and sugar can also cause constipation. The constipation that results from eating these foods can cause or aggravate urinary retention. Drinking more fluids and eating a high-fiber diet emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains will relieve urinary retention symptoms caused by constipation.
References
- Facing Our Moments Together: Treatment Options for Overactive Bladder
- University of New Hampshire Health Services: Constipation
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Retention
- Aga Khan University Hospital; Stones in the Urinary Tract; Farhat Abbas MD
- Columbia University Medical Center, The Center for Holistic Urology: Bladder--Interstitial Cystitis
