Tea comes in numerous varieties and can provide you with several health benefits. Drinking tea, however, can cause some unpleasant effects, especially if you drink too much. These effects include developing jitters, headache and anxiety. Bladder irritation is another possibility, which could lead to a bladder infection, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Bladder and Urinary Tract Infections
The term bladder infection is often used as a catch-all for any kind of urinary tract infection, or UTI. These infections can affect any portion of the urinary tract from the bladder to the urethra. They occur when bacteria enters the body and causes inflammation and irritation in the urinary tract. Women are more likely to get these infections than men, as are those who are sexually active or who have a history of UTIs, says MayoClinic.com. The most typical form of treatment is antibiotics.
UTI Symptoms
Bladder infections and UTIs typically present with apparent symptoms including increased urinary frequency and urgency, burning or pain upon urinating, feeling like you need to urinate even though you pass very little, cloudy urine, pelvic pressure and pain, nausea, and blood in the urine. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away. Drinking tea may exacerbate symptoms as it contains caffeine.
Caffeine
Though tea cannot cause a bladder infection, it can make your symptoms worse or irritate your bladder enough to create an environment more susceptible to infection. This is due to the caffeine content in tea. Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which can cause dehydration. Not drinking enough water can cause UTIs. Caffeine can also irritate the bladder lining.
The Role of Fluids
While treating a bladder infection, it's important to drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated and to limit bladder irritation. It's vital, however, that you don't consume anything that can irritate your bladder, including tea. By abstaining from tea during this time and drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day, you create an environment for healing in your bladder, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
