A cup of coffee starts the morning for many people. While it's generally harmless, coffee does have the potential of causing unpleasant side effects like jitters and headaches. It can even cause bladder issues and possibly damage if you're predisposed to certain conditions.
Caffeine
The ingredient in coffee that could potentially cause bladder irritation is caffeine. This natural stimulant makes you feel more awake and alert. However, if you consume too much or are sensitive to it, you could develop side effects such as jitters, anxiety, headaches and muscle spasms, including muscle spasms of the bladder, according to MayoClinic.com. Likewise, since caffeine is a diuretic, you may see an increase in the need to urinate, which can cause irritation to the bladder lining.
Cystitis
Cystitis is a chronic infection of the bladder and urinary tract. Drinking coffee can cause a cystitis flare-up and worsen symptoms, according to the Interstitial Cystitis Network. Such chronic irritation and infection of the bladder lining could cause damage, and you may need to eliminate coffee from your diet if you suffer from this condition.
Urinary Incontinence
The caffeine in coffee can aggravate bladder incontinence or even cause it, says New York University. Urinary incontinence is characterized by the urgent need to urinate without the ability to control bladder function. Eliminating coffee and other caffeinated beverages from your diet may stop these feelings of urgency.
Possible Benefits
Though coffee can worsen certain bladder conditions and may even cause damage over time, it may actually help some conditions. For instance, coffee consumption may reduce symptoms of an overactive bladder or incontinence due to multiple system atrophy, a neurological disorder that reduces the functionality of your body's autonomic processes. Common symptoms of this disorder mimic Parkinson's disease, and include slow movement, muscle rigidity and impaired digestive and bladder function. Coffee can increase your blood pressure just enough to lessen the condition's effects.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Urinary Incontinence; May 2011
- Interstitial Cystitis Network; Understanding Diet and IC; Jill Osborne; July 2006
- Harvard Medical School; Coffee Health Benefits: Coffee May Protect Against Disease; February 2006
- New York University; Langone Medical Center: Urinary Incontinence-Female; September 2010
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