One Major Side Effect Coffee Has on Your Bladder, Says Science
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. People use it as fuel for their mornings or mid-afternoon slumps, they enjoy sipping on it with a group of friends at a cafe, and they may even enjoy a cup after dinner. And while coffee is delicious and full of many health benefits, it may sometimes affect different parts of our bodies in a negative way.
For example, caffeinated coffee has been known to impact some people's bladder. In fact, one of the side effects that coffee has on your bladder is that it may increase how often you urinate. This is because caffeine can alter your bladder activity, which can affect how often you urinate and also the volume of your urine.
Continue reading to learn more about how this works, and for more healthy coffee tips check out The #1 Worst Coffee for High Cholesterol.
Higher levels of caffeine have been known to increase your bladder activity, so it may be a good idea to monitor how much coffee you drink on a daily basis, especially if you're someone who already experiences any sort of bladder discomfort or related issues.
According to a study published in The Journal of Urology Annals, drinking just 4.5 grams of caffeine can promote "early urgency" of urination, as well as increase the frequency in which you have to urinate. The study tested participants between the ages of 18 to 40 who reported symptoms of Overactive Bladder Syndrome.
The participants also reported that they consumed coffee on a regular basis, which was anything more than three cups per week. They first gave the group eight milliliters of water on their own, and then in another session gave them eight milliliters of water with caffeine.
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Another study, which was published in the International Urogynecology Journal, found that there was an association between drinking more than 204 milligrams of caffeine per day and urinary incontinence.
These research results show that caffeine can in fact increase the activity of your bladder and affect how often you urinate, which is why it's known as a diuretic. Other examples of common diuretics are green tea, black tea, and alcohol.
If you're someone who struggles with bladder issues, or finds yourself urinating more frequently than what you think is normal, you may want to talk with your doctor about the potential causes. Lowering your intake of caffeine, especially caffeinated coffee, may help you control your urination.
