Does Coffee Cause Bladder Infections

Watch The Lattes: Too Much Caffeine May Lead To Bladder Problems

July 21, 2000 — Do you live for latte? Crave cola? If you’re a woman, take heed: Researchers say drinking too much caffeine may put some women at risk for a difficult and embarrassing bladder control problem as they age.

In a study of more than 250 women who were being evaluated for urinary incontinence, researchers from Rhode Island found that those who downed more than four cups of coffee per day were 2.5 times more likely than those who consumed little or no caffeine to have an unstable bladder condition called detrusor instability. Those who drank two to four cups of coffee per day were about 1.5 times more likely to have the condition.

Up to 40% of women over 65 may have the unstable bladder problem, as may nearly 30% of younger women. So, what is it exactly?

” simply means that the bladder contracts involuntarily,” explains urologist Jerry Blaivas, MD. The bladder is made of smooth muscle fibers, which can stretch as it fills and contract to empty it. Blaivas describes the bladder as being like a balloon with a knot tied at the bottom: The knot, or sphincter, opens and closes as needed to let urine out. “When you urinate, the bladder contracts, and the sphincter opens. In detrusor instability, the bladder contracts without your wanting it to — sporadically during the day.” Stress incontinence, another type of bladder control problem, involves a weakening of the sphincter.

Top 5 Foods That Can Trigger Leakage

For women with incontinence, life’s banquet can include a few food fights. That’s because what you eat and drink can worsen your symptoms.

Doctors often advise those with incontinence to avoid certain foods and beverages. Not everyone reacts the same way to all foods, but these five food and beverage categories are most associated with bladder leakage.

1. Coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate . Caffeine consumption can be a significant bladder irritant. Because it’s a diuretic, it can cause you to produce more urine. It also causes the bladder to contract, contributing to both stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa beans. But it’s also found in soft drinks, energy drinks, and foods and candies that contain milk chocolate or cocoa.

Consider eliminating caffeine or switch to caffeine-free beverages and foods. If you are a big fan of coffee or soda and find it hard to quit altogether, try drinking no more than two cups of caffeinated drinks per day.

2. Carbonated beverages. Even when soft drinks are non-caffeinated, those bubbles can still spell trouble. Carbon dioxide in those fizzy drinks can irritate the bladder in many women. Avoid all carbonated beverages including sparkling water, seltzer water and club soda.

Alcohol also impairs the signal between the bladder and the brain, interfering with bladder control and increasing the likelihood of accidents. Try limiting your alcohol intake or avoid it altogether.

Eating Your Way To A Healthier Bladder And Bowel

The NHS estimates that there are around 14 million people who have bladder control problems and around 6.5 million people who suffer from poor bowel control and these are people of all ages incontinence in not an issue just for the elderly.

Did you know that for many people, incontinence issues can be vastly improved just by adjusting what we eat and drink. In this blog, we explore how what we eat and drink can affect our bladder and/or bowel.

Foods and drinks to avoid

If you suffer from and overactive bladder or urge incontinence, there are certain foods that can aggravate your condition and leave the bladder feeling irritated and sore. These include

Cranberry juice good or bad?

It has long been thought that cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections but in fact leading urologists say that there isnt any evidence to suggest that cranberry juice does have properties that stop bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. Cranberry juice is also naturally very acidic, which could lead to bladder irritation.

Increase your fibre

Drink less or drink more?

Achieve a healthy weight

Being at healthy BMI will help to reduce the pressure on your pelvic floor muscles and provide better support to your bladder and bowel and improve your ability to better control the sphincter muscles.

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Do Spicy Foods Irritate A Bladder Infection

Whether you top your nachos with jalapeños, sprinkle your pizza with red pepper flakes, or love your curry chicken extra hot, you’ve got to skip the spice when you have a UTI. Spicy foods are known to irritate the bladder and worsen UTI symptoms, so cool down your meals and opt for blander choices to treat a urinary tract infection.

Follow These Tips To Protect Yourself When Using A Spa Or Hot Tub:

• Avoid using a hot tub when you have diarrhea. If bacteria was the cause of your diarrhea, wait at least two weeks before using the spa or hot tub
• Check the tub for any red flags such as green or cloudy water
• Use test strips to check if the water has proper levels of chlorine
• Never swallow or let the tub water get in your mouth
• Bacteria can enter your body through cracks or cuts in the skin. Avoid using a hot tub with an open wound

References :

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Fact Or Myth: Utis Can Be Treated With Essential Oils

Essential oils can be used to both support healing and make you feel better when you have a UTI. You dont want to use them in place of a drug, Chesla says. But essential oils are uniquely helpful because chemical constituents within the aromatic oils create physiological responses in the body, and because theres a direct connection with the sense of smell and the limbic system in the brain, where your emotions arise, she says.

Essential oils have not been scientifically studied for UTIs. However, some small studies have shown they can help battle other types of bacterial infections. For example, a review published in December 2019 in Complementary Therapies in Medicine on topical aromatherapy for the skin infection MRSA found significantly lower level of new MRSA emergence compared to routine care.

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Uti Causes In Children

• Prematurity Being born prematurely may make infants more likely to experience UTIs. Premature babies have immune systems that arent fully formed, so theyre not as good at fighting off infections as babies born at full term.
• Being Uncircumcised Uncircumcised boys have slightly more UTIs than those who have been circumcised, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, though proper foreskin hygiene can cut the risk.
• Poor Bathroom Hygiene This may be an issue especially for girls, who have a shorter distance for bacteria to travel between the anus and urinary tract. Making sure to wipe front to back and completely wiping away all fecal material can help.
• Urinary Tract Abnormalities About 20 to 30 percent of infants and toddlers with a UTI have a condition called vesicoureteral reflux , which causes urine to flow backward from the bladder to the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Sometimes VUR will get better and go away on its own. Other times, surgery may be needed to correct the abnormality.
• Sitting Around in a Wet Swimming Suit Warm, moist areas can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Sexual Trauma

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You Dont Drink Enough Water

Guzzling H2O will make you go pretty often. And thats a good thing. When you do this, the bacteria gets flushed out before they have a chance to grab hold, Minkin says.

Consider that your cue to make a giant water bottle your BFF. Hooton TM, et al. . Effect of increased daily water intake in premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections: A randomized clinical trial. DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204

What Therapies Does Dr Weil Recommend For Bladder Infections

While antibiotics are necessary for treatment of bladder infection symptoms, the following measures can help prevent and treat bladder infections:

• Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants. Also, wear cotton-crotch underwear and pantyhose.
• Use mild detergents when washing undergarments.
• Dont hold your urine. Be sure to urinate frequently and when you have the urge.
• Drink the right fluids. Increase your intake of fluids so that you urinate more frequently. Lots of plain water is best. It is also important to avoid alcohol and coffee.
• Good hygiene before and after sex. Keep the genital and anal areas clean, and urinate before and after intercourse to cleanse the urethra of bacteria. Always wipe front to back after a bowel movement.
• Try an estrogen vaginal cream. This may be best for post-menopausal women, who have lower levels of estrogen.
• Drink unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate diluted with water. As an alternative, take powdered cranberry extract in capsules. Cranberries and cranberry juice contain a tannin that helps prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls. Research findings have been contradictory but many of my patients have experienced benefit.
• Avoid feminine hygiene sprays, powders or douches. These can irritate the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.

Colgan R, Williams M. Diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated cystitis. Am Fam Phys 2011 84:771-776.

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Typical Symptoms Of A Uti Include:

• Bladder infections. These are marked by a frequent, urgent need to urinate, or a painful or burning sensation during urination. Frequent urination may also occur during the night. Urine is typically cloudy.
• Urethritis . Marked by painful urination and a frequent need to urinate.
• Kidney infection. A bladder infection with pain spreading to the lower back or flanks may indicate that the infection is moving to the upper tract. Fever is common and blood in the urine may be visible as a pink tinge. Medical help should be sought immediately if this occurs.

Medicines And Medical Conditions

• Medicines such as diuretics for high blood pressure cause you to get rid of fluid that your body is keeping.
• If you take a diuretic, it will make your bladder fill up quickly and then you will need to pee more often.
• For some women, after taking the medicine, they stay close to a bathroom and pee more often to lower leakage.
• Do not take this type of medicine at bedtime. You will need to get up often during the night to pee.

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Uti Symptoms And Causes

The urinary system helps to eliminate waste products and maintain proper water and salt balance in the body. The waste products are filtered from circulating blood by the kidneys, which are attached to the bladder by thin tubes called the ureters. The bladder is responsible for storing urine, which then flows out of the body through another tube called the urethra.

Normally, the bladder is sterile completely free of bacteria and other infectious organisms. When an infection occurs, it is typically found in either the lower urinary tract affecting the bladder and urethra or the upper urinary tract, which affects the kidneys and ureters. When an organism invades the urinary tract, it enters by one of two routes: the lower end of the urinary tract or through the bloodstream.

Bacterial infections arising from the lower tract are very common, particularly among women, whose urinary anatomy makes them much more susceptible than men. The bacterium Escherichia coli is responsible for most urinary tract infections. E. Coli is actually harmless in the small intestine where it normally resides, but becomes a problem when it spreads to the urinary tract.

What To Put In Your Tea:

If you tolerate fructose, raw local honey or antimicrobial Manuka honey will help boost your biome and immune system. Manuka honey is used to battle h pylori.

Lemon is a great addition to tea. Lemon juice and rind have alkalinizing, liver supporting, detoxifying and diuretic properties. It will boost the vitamin and antioxidants in each sip.

Collagen is a tasteless, protein powder used to repair gut lining. Adding a tablespoon to green or black tea with a bit of coconut oil will create a gut healing tonic. It will help balance blood sugar and repair gut lining damaged by pathogens, inflammation and coffee consumption.

I love putting home made or store bought nut or seed milk in my green or black tea. For nut sensitivities, coconut milk or Tigernut milk work well.

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I Wont Give Up Coffee But I Find Ways To Meet My Needs For Flavor And Caffeine That My Body Can Toleratemeagan

As ever, we love hearing what youre doing to feel fabulous in your body. Please share with the community, in the comments here or on and .

So What Does Cause A Urinary Tract Infection

If coffee isnt causing those UTIs then what is?

Bacteria causes urinary tract infections normally its E. coli bacteria to be exact.

If drinking coffee is not going to introduce bacteria into your bladder, how does that bacteria enter your urinary tract? Lots of ways. Here are a few of the common causes of UTIs:

These are many of the real causes of a UTI. None of which have anything to do with coffee!

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Bladder Health For Older Adults

Everyone uses their bladder many times each day, but they may not know what to do to keep their bladder healthy.

Located in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ, much like a balloon, that stores urine. It is part of the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. Urine contains wastes and extra fluid left over after the body takes what it needs from what we eat and drink.

As you get older, the bladder changes. The elastic bladder tissue may toughen and become less stretchy. A less stretchy bladder cannot hold as much urine as before and might make you go to the bathroom more often. The bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to empty the bladder fully and causing urine to leak.

Diet Dos And Don’ts If You Have A Uti

Avoid these foods if you have a UTI:

• Coffee. Caffeinated drinks like coffee can irritate your bladder. According to a study, women who increased their consumption of coffee or caffeinated sodas had a higher chance of urinary urgency and UTIs.
• Alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic and can create large amounts of urine rapidly that can irritate the bladder and weaken your pelvic muscles.
• Spicy Food. Avoid spicy foods when suffering from a UTI, as it may cause extra burning during urination. The hot spices can irritate the bladder and worsen your UTI bathroom experience.
• Diet Soda. Diet soda is loaded with caffeine, gas and aspartame and is the worst thing to drink when suffering from a UTI. Aspartame can cause urinary discomfort and bladder pain. It is best to stick to plain water or tea during a UTI.

Consume These Foods Instead:

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The Effects Of Caffeine On The Bladder

Caffeine is among the most commonly consumed drugs in the world. It is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks. The consumption of caffeine has several significant effects on the bladder. Since the drug is a stimulant, caffeine increases metabolic activity throughout the body. This often provokes the bladder to do unwelcome things.

Other Ways To Treat Uti

Apart from drinking clear liquids, there are other ways to get out of this painful situation.

According to the Mayo Clinic, antibiotics are the first line of treatment for UTI. How long the treatment and the specific drugs to take all depend on the severity of the infection.

You could also complement your cranberry intake with probiotics, which are known to help with digestion as well as UTI treatment and prevention. Probiotics also have good bacteria called Lactobacillus, which can replace the bad ones.

Another that works well in both preventing and treating UTI is a simple sugar pretty much like glucose that acts as an antibacterial agent, D-mannose.

According to Livestrong:

The sugars in D-mannose coat the lining of the urinary tract and bladder as they pass through the body. These sugars not only cover mucus membranes but they surround bacterial cells making it impossible for them to stick to the walls of the bladder or urinary tract. The bacteria remain free floating and are passed out of the body in the urine.

D-mannose can significantly lower the number of bacteria in the urinary tract and urine within a day. So if youre suffering from this pesky infection, go ahead and find yourself D-mannose right away!

D-mannose may be found in supplements like VALI D-Mannose UTI Support.

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