Caffeine is a stimulant chemical found in foods like coffee and chocolate, cold medicine and weight loss products. Consuming caffeine, according to the University of Illinois, can relieve fatigue, increase alertness and increase endurance. Unfortunately, caffeine can also have effects that aren't necessarily beneficial. The stimulant effect of caffeine can also reach your urinary system and can cause problems for individuals who already have conditions of the urinary tract. Check with your doctor if you are experiencing unusual symptoms in your urinary tract.
Increased Urinary Urgency
An overactive bladder describes a type of urinary incontinence characterized by hyper-reactivity of the muscles of the bladder. When these muscles contract, explains UCLA Urology, they send a message neurologically that you need to urinate. Because the contraction is sudden and intense, the message is also intense and many people find themselves unable to make it to the bathroom in time. Caffeine, a mild stimulant, can make this urgency worse by stimulating the muscles of the bladder. A 2010 study published in the "International Journal of Urological Nursing" found that women who consumed large amounts of caffeine had higher incidences of an overactive bladder.
Increased Urinary Frequency
Urinary frequency or urinating more often than you normally do, can be a sign of significant illnesses including diabetes. This condition can also be caused by the regular consumption of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is a more likely cause particularly if you drink caffeine within a few hours of going to bed. If you are urinating more often than usual, see your doctor because you may also have a urinary tract infection causing inflammation. This inflammation can be made worse by drinking caffeinated beverages.
Decreased Urinary Capacity in People With Overactive Bladder
In addition to increased urgency that is experienced with an overactive bladder, you may also urinate more often because your bladder's capacity has been reduced. A 2010 study published in "Urology Annals" found that individuals with overactive bladders who consumed caffeine received the neurological message to urinate sooner than those who did not consume caffeine. The urine capacity of the caffeine-consumers was measured to be smaller at the time of urination, suggesting that caffeine chemically reduced the capacity needed for incontinence.
Bladder Irritation
Your bladder can become irritated by acute or chronic infection, the use of certain hygiene products and caffeinated beverages. Medline Plus explains that this irritation is known as cystitis and tends to be most commonly experienced by premenopausal women. Initially, a urinalysis is usually necessary to rule out active infection, which requires antibiotics. If cystitis is non-infectious, reducing or eliminating caffeinated foods and beverages can help decrease irritation. Additionally, prescription medications for symptoms of cystitis may also be necessary.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Urinary Incontinence; Causes
- Medline Plus: Cystitis - Noninfectious
- "Urology Annals"; Effect of Caffeine on Bladder Function in Patients With Overactive Bladder Symptoms; Supatra Lohsiriwat, et al.; 2011
- University of Illinois McKinley Health Center: Caffeine
- UCLA Health System: Overactive Bladder
- "International Journal of Urological Nursing"; Overactive Bladder and Caffeine: Comparing Women With and Without Mental Health Diagnoses; Vidyah Chakravarthy, et al.; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Frequent or Urgent Urination - Overview
