Can Coffee Irritate Your Bladder? Uncovering The Truth

We all love a good cup of coffee in the morning, right? But sometimes, your cup of joe can betray you - and your bladder - and cause some really uncomfortable irritation.

The sad truth is that coffee can be a potential cause of your bladder problems. And, as much as you may need a coffee kick to jumpstart your day, you may need to look for alternatives or solutions to regain bladder control.

Now, we're not saying to empty your cappuccino down the kitchen sink. Instead, it's important to be mindful of how and why your morning brew impacts your bladder so you can avoid that nagging discomfort and irritation.

Why Does Coffee Irritate The Bladder?

Coffee irritates your bladder because of the high caffeine content and some other chemical components that are present. A typical cup of coffee can contain anything from 70 to 140 milligrams of caffeine. The exact amount depends on factors like the brewing method you use and the type of coffee beans or granules.

It also contains various acids, oils, and compounds that give it its (admittedly delicious) flavour and aroma. These include chlorogenic acids, tannins, and catechols, which can influence your coffee's acidity. In turn, it has the potential to irritate your bladder and urinary tract.

What Happens When Coffee Causes Overactive Bladder?

Caffeine is a natural diuretic. This means that when you drink it, it sends messages to your kidneys to produce more urine.

As a result, your bladder fills with pee faster, and you may find yourself needing to run to the loo more often or more urgently. Alternatively, you may begin to struggle with urinary incontinence (which means involuntary leaks).

Caffeine acts as a bladder irritant by causing the detrusor muscle (the muscle that contracts and helps you to pee) to contract more forcefully and frequently. So, when you drink coffee too often, you can essentially make your bladder more reactive over time. In some cases, even the smallest amount of caffeine can trigger bladder irritation.

In a nutshell: You may begin to struggle with bladder control as a result of a more overactive bladder.

Leaks don't have to feel like a jail sentence, though. There are plenty of ways to manage the symptoms of urinary incontinence if your bladder is irritated.

For instance, using incontinence pads can help prevent accidents when you're out and about. They're also great for night time use if you find that your urge incontinence is more common when you're asleep, which is known as nocturia.

How Can You Stop Coffee From Irritating Your Bladder?

So, if you don't want to give up your morning cup of joe, but you don't want to deal with uncomfortable bladder problems either. Well, the good news is that you don't necessarily have to give coffee up to lessen the chances of bladder irritation. Instead, you can try these easy methods:

Regain control with supplements: In some cases, the best thing to do is to work on strengthening the muscles that control your flow to regain better bladder control. To do this, you can combine  pelvic floor exercises  with bladder supplements to make the process even easier.

Decrease your coffee consumption: Try to reduce the amount of coffee you're consuming. By gradually cutting down on the number of cups you have, you can lessen the impact it has on your bladder.

Dilute your coffee: Drink your coffee with milk or extra water to try to lessen its concentration. This helps to reduce the amount of caffeine you're actually taking in without giving it up completely.

Opt for dark roasts: Darker roasts have less acidity than lighter roasts - and less acidity means less chance of irritation! This is also true for cold brew coffee.

Stay hydrated: Remember to keep an eye on your  water intake throughout the day. Drinking too little fluid can make the irritation worse, so you're going to want to stay hydrated and drink enough fluid. Plus, drinking things like water can help dilute the effects coffee has on your bladder. But remember moderation is key - drinking too much fluid can also make things worse. 

Switch to decaf: Since decaf (or decaffeinated) coffee has less caffeine, it is likely going to irritate your bladder less.  Remember there are other irritants like artificial sweeteners that can be lurking in your drinks.

Practise bladder training: If you already struggle with an overactive bladder, you should try to avoid coffee as much as possible. But that may feel impossible - especially in the mornings. So, instead, you could practise bladder training to help strengthen your bladder and lessen the symptoms of irritation. You can also use pelvic floor exercises to help achieve the same goal. Remember, both bladder training and pelvic floor exercises are best done under medical supervision as every person is different and supervision means you get a personalised plan.

Keep a bladder diary: If you keep a log of things that you're drinking and eating, you may be able to pinpoint exactly what is causing your bladder troubles. You may even find that it's caused by a combination of coffee and other foods or drinks that are causing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

FAQs

What can I drink to soothe an irritated bladder?

To soothe an irritated bladder, you can try drinking things like:

• Water

• Decaf herbal teas

• Coconut water

• Vegetable juice

• Broth

Just remember: When you're trying to soothe your bladder, you're going to want to avoid drinks like carbonated beverages and caffeine.

What are the other worst bladder irritants?

Did you know that certain foods can also trigger OAB symptoms and cause major bladder irritation? Yes - your favourite foods may be behind your bladder woes.

The worst irritants include:

• Acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomato products

• Spicy foods

• Highly processed foods

And that's just food. Things like alcohol, fizzy drinks, and fruit juices can be just as problematic if you already have a sensitive bladder.

How long does it take for an irritated bladder to heal?

How long it takes to heal an irritated (overactive) bladder depends on how severe it is and the underlying cause. In some cases, it can resolve itself after a few days. But other times, it may last longer than a week. Regardless, you should speak to a healthcare professional if you have any new bladder symptoms They can run tests, examine you and prescribe medications to help you manage your symptoms and find some relief from the discomfort.

Final Thoughts

Although it may seem unfair that your coffee could betray you by causing bladder discomfort and irritation, you can easily try to avoid the effect. All you need to do is be mindful of how much coffee you're drinking and make different choices (like diluting your coffee or switching to decaf).

So, don't cry over spilt coffee. Rather, enjoy your morning brew and care for your bladder health. 

References

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/in-depth/bladder-control-problem/art-20046597

• https://www.healthline.com/health/11-foods-to-avoid-if-you-have-oab#track-your-food

• https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/how-drinks-affect-your-bladder-and-bowel

• https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/food-drink

• https://health.clevelandclinic.org/foods-that-irritate-the-bladder

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