Caffeine and Your Bladder: A Delicate Dance
Caffeine is the world’s most popular drug. It occurs naturally in 60 plant species, including coffee beans, cocoa beans, kola nuts and tea leaves. It’s also added to many popular soft drinks, and is found in a number of prescription preparations and over-the-counter medicines like analgesics, diet aids, and cold and flu remedies.
It also irritates your bladder, and for those with urinary incontinence, caffeine should be avoided or used with caution.
Many studies have proved the correlation between caffeine and incontinence. Women who consume high levels (400 mg or more) are 70% more likely to have urinary incontinence. The same is true for men – those who drink about two cups of coffee a day are significantly more likely to experience leaks than those who drink less or none.
How Does Caffeine Affect the Bladder?
Caffeine raises blood pressure, which is the reason for that alert feeling you get when you drink a cup of coffee, have a cola or eat a chocolate bar. This increased blood pressure makes your bladder overactive, and caffeine consumption can contribute to including increased urination, bladder infections and urinary incontinence. It’s also thought to have a direct effect on the bladder’s smooth muscle.
The Diuretic Effect
Caffeine has a diuretic effect on the bladder, and the more caffeine consumed, the greater the desire to urinate. Caffeine increases the blood flow to the kidneys and reduces the absorption of water and sodium.
This increases your body's urgency to pass liquid, and this diuretic effect contributes to dehydration. You might drink more coffee or a soft drink to quench your thirst, but they are actually making you more thirsty.
Urinary Tract Infections
Caffeine use can contribute to urinary tract infections in the bladder because they are often spread due to hydration or inadequate bladder emptying. Caffeine dehydrates your body by interfering with fluid retention, forcing your body to eliminate liquids before they can be adequately absorbed.
Urinary Incontinence
Caffeine consumption contributes to incontinence. If you’re suffering from bladder weakness, consider cutting down on things like coffee, tea and soda. Caffeine is so many things today, you probably aren’t aware of how much you are actually consuming.
How Much Caffeine Am I Consuming?
You might use coffee or tea to help you wake up, stay energized or you might simply love the taste. You might have a cup of tea mid-morning or a soda with your lunch. Maybe you consume an energy drink in the afternoon and then have a chocolate dessert after dinner.
Do you know how much caffeine you are actually consuming? Let’s look at the amounts in common food and drink:
Source Caffeine (mg)
Espresso (1-½ oz cup) 150 – 200 mg
Brewed coffee (8 oz) 150 - 200 mg
Energy drink (8 oz can) 80 – 100 mg
Instant coffee (1 teaspoon) 60 – 80 mg
Dark chocolate (1.7 oz bar) 60 mg
Black tea (8 oz cup) 50 mg
Cola (12 oz can) 50 mg
Milk chocolate (1.7oz bar) 10 mg
How much are you currently drinking?
How Much Caffeine Can I Have?
For women with urinary incontinence or other bladder problems, the ideal amount of caffeine is zero, and certainly less than eight ounces of coffee if you have to drink it. For women without bladder problems, up to two cups a day is generally fine, with the first cup no larger than 12 ounces, and preferably the second cup should be decaf.
How Can I Cut Down On Caffeine?
Some people get headaches, feel tired or have mood changes when they completely cut out caffeine, so it’s best to reduce your intake gradually, using a technique called Caffeine Fading:
Cut your intake at a rate of ½ cup per day (4 oz) of whatever you drink over a one or two week period.
Replace caffeinated beverages with fruit juice, vegetable juice, water, milk or other decaffeinated drinks, especially with meals.
When it comes to cola, choose caffeine free.
Drink more water to maintain proper hydration
If you need caffeine to stay awake, you should probably examine your lifestyle and find time for more sleep!
Keep Your Bladder Healthy With Norman Urology
There are many things that can affect bladder health. There’s no need to suffer needlessly, either physically or mentally. Whether you’re suffering from incontinence or just want more advice to keep your bladder healthy, Norman Urology has the answers and the most current treatments. You can count on superior, specialized care from experienced, compassionate professionals.
Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to meet you!
Sources:
https://www.tena.us/eating-right-for-the-unexpected-leak/caffeine,en_US,pg.html
https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/news/20100930/caffeine-and-bladder-problems-linked
