According to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, overactive bladder -- also called OAB -- affects one in 11 people in the U.S. Women may be affected as early as their mid-40s, but the condition is more common in people over the age of 65. However, overactive bladder is not the result of aging and may be related to caffeine intake.
About Caffeine
Drugs.com says that caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and a diuretic. Moderate intake of caffeine is up to three cups of coffee a day -- about 250 mg of caffeine. Caffeine is also found in tea, chocolate and soft drinks, all of which contain varying amounts. According to MayoClinic.com, generic brewed coffee ranges from 95 to 200 mg of caffeine per cup; 8 oz. of black tea ranges from 40 to 120 mg and a 12 oz. serving of the soft drink Mountain Dew has 54 mg of caffeine. If you drink the equivalent of 10 cups of coffee a day -- over 830 mg of caffeine -- Drugs.com says your intake is excessive.
Overactive Bladder
The symptoms of overactive bladder include frequent urination, urgency -- a strong need to urinate -- waking at least twice during the night to urinate and leaking urine. There are two types of OAB. Overactive bladder wet includes urine leakage. Overactive bladder dry does not include urine leakage and is more common; it affects two-thirds of those with OAB. Although some of the the symptoms of OAB can be similar to those of a urinary tract infection, OAB is not an infection. In one study reported by Judy Charnow for "Renal and Urology News," researchers found that OAB was significantly higher for black men when compared with Hispanic and white men, although race did not affect the prevalence of the condition in women.
Research on OAB
The January-April 2011 "Annals of Urology" carried the results of a study on OAB and caffeine. Researchers studied both men and women with overactive bladder. Study participants received water and about 200 to 250 mg of caffeine. The caffeine increased the sensation of urgency and frequency of urination. This study confirmed the results of a study of older rural women who lived at home; a decrease in caffeine intake resulted in fewer episodes of urinary leakage. The latter study was reported in the "International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction" in 1999.
Final Considerations
Overactive bladder may be improved by decreasing caffeine intake. If you suffer from this syndrome, talk to a health-care professional about the connection between caffeine and your symptoms.
References
- "International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction"; Dietary Caffeine, Fluid Intake and Urinary Incontinence in Older Rural Women; B.U. Tomlinson, et al.; 1999
- Drugs.com; Caffeine in the Diet; David C. Dugdale III, M.D., David Zieve, M.D., M.H.A.; May 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Healthy Eating; Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More; October 2009
- "Urology Annals"; Effect of Caffeine on Bladder Function in Patients With Overactive Bladder Symptoms; S. Lohsiriwat, et al.; January-April 2011
- RenalandUrologyNews.com; Overactive Bladder Highly Prevalent, Study Finds; Judy Charnow; May 2011
- Cedars-Sinai.edu; Overactive Bladder; 2011
