The bladder is a hollow organ in the pelvis that expands to fill with the urine delivered by the kidneys. When the bladder is full, the bladder muscle contract, causing the urge to urinate and enabling urine to be expelled out of the body through the urethra. In some cases, the bladder muscle spasms involuntarily, which can cause bladder leakage. Caffeine is one substance that can trigger these muscle spasms.
Caffeine as an Irritant
Caffeine acts as an irritant to the wall of the bladder and can make it inflamed. The irritated and inflamed tissue of the bladder wall makes spasms of the bladder muscle more likely. The spasms put intense pressure on the bladder and cause an urgent need to urinate or even leakage of urine from the bladder.
Caffeine as a Diuretic
Caffeine is also a diuretic, meaning that it promotes the movement of fluid from tissues throughout the body to the bladder. Drinking caffeinated beverages causes the bladder to fill more quickly than after drinking noncaffeinated drinks. A full bladder causes the bladder muscle to contract and, in combination with the irritating effect of caffeine, can promote bladder leakage. Full bladders can also trigger bladder spasms, and caffeine can cause the bladder to fill too rapidly to allow you to visit the bathroom when it is only partially full.
Interstitial Cystitis and Caffeine
In some people, bladder spasms occur for a period of time and then go away. However, some suffer chronic bladder problems due to a condition called interstitial cystitis. Although doctors are not certain about the cause of this chronic condition, it is clear that inflammation can cause frequent bladder spasms long-term, especially if not medically treated. Caffeine can aggravate the inflammation already present in people with interstitial cystitis, and FamilyDoctor.org advises people with this condition to refrain from consuming any caffeine.
Treatment
If you regularly consume caffeine, Kaiser Permanente advises you to not stop "cold turkey." Slowly reducing the amount of caffeine you consume over time will help prevent headaches that can occur with sudden caffeine withdrawal. Other factors that help lessen bladder muscle spasms include refraining from smoking; making frequent, regular trips to the bathroom; and exercise the pelvic floor muscle to improve its ability to hold urine in the bladder.
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