Because caffeine is a stimulant, caffeinated soda may give you a jolt of energy and improve your concentration. It will also make you go to the bathroom more. Caffeine is a diuretic, a substance that rids the body of fluids and increases urination, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. There are ways to reduce your frequent trips to the bathroom, however.
Urination
The kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream and excrete it in urine. They also help maintain your body’s proper water and chemical balance, notes the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center. According to a Vanderbilt University paper by Jack Hartley, caffeine increases blood flow in the kidneys and inhibits the reabsorption of water and sodium. The paper also notes that caffeine has been known to weaken bladder muscles, provoking the need to urinate. Most people can sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate, reports Medline Plus. Drinking too much caffeine before bedtime can cause you to wake often due to the need to urinate.
Caffeine
Caffeine is absorbed by your body and passes quickly into your brain. It does not collect in the bloodstream, as alcohol does, or get stored in the body, reports Medline Plus. It leaves the body in your urine. Caffeine is naturally found in more than 60 plants and is also added to foods, including sodas. According to MayoClinic.com, most caffeinated colas have about 35 milligrams of caffeine, compared to 100 to 200 milligrams in coffee. Medline Plus lists urinating more often as a side effect of caffeine, along with a fast heart rate, difficulty sleeping, restlessness and anxiety.
Tips
To reduce your trips to the bathroom, consider switching to decaf soda or alternate caffeinated soda and decaf. Sodas without caffeine look and taste the same as their caffeinated counterparts. Medline Plus recommends avoiding excessive fluids, particularly caffeinated drinks, close to bedtime to prevent frequent urination at night. This will also help prevent insomnia due to caffeine’s stimulant effect. If you’ve been drinking numerous caffeinated sodas every day, cut back your caffeine gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. MayoClinic.com recommends drinking one fewer soda at first to help your body adjust to lower levels of caffeine and lessen withdrawal symptoms.
Caution
Frequent urination can be a sign of a medical condition or serious disease. Frequent and urgent urination rogether are classic signs of a urinary tract infection. According to Medline Plus, overactive bladder syndrome, prostate problems, diabetes, interstitial cystitis, stroke, and a tumor in the pelvis can also cause frequent urination. Bladder cancer is a less common cause. If cutting back on caffeine doesn’t reduce urination, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor right away. In most cases, simply cutting back on caffeine and fluid intake will reduce your trips to the bathroom.
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