Did you know? Caffeine consumption, equivalent to two cups of coffee a day, is associated with urinary incontinence in both men and women according to numerous studies. How does coffee cause incontinence? Uriclip answers!

There is nothing better than a good coffee in the morning... Whether you drink it in the morning, to stay awake during the day or simply for its good taste, caffeine is everywhere around you. In a cup of coffee, in a soft drink (cola, iced tea, etc.), in tea... We caffeine is found everywhere in our favourite drinks. In fact, caffeine is the stimulating substance the most consumed coffee on the planet. It is estimated that 2.2 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide each year. However, many of us are unaware that caffeine is a substance that irritates the bladder. As a result, it is a major contributor to bladder weakness.

People who suffer from urinary incontinence should therefore consider reduce their consumption of caffeinated drinks. Indeed, going without coffee, tea or other beverages, and even reducing alcohol consumption, helps to reduce leakage. In addition, because caffeine is present in many of the foods we consume on a daily basis, it is simply not known how much we ingest in a day. This can therefore be a problem for people who struggle with bladder weakness.

Although waking up with coffee or taking a coffee break in the office is a habit, if you suffer from urinary incontinence, it is best to avoid it! This is because caffeine consumption can create a problems in the urinary system which can lead to and perpetuate incontinence.

In reducing coffee consumptionIn addition, the likelihood of a urine leakage accident is reduced. In addition, researchers have found that caffeine, even in small doses, can cause bladder problems. Doctors and other health professionals therefore strongly advise limiting or even completely eliminating caffeine consumption if you suffer from urinary incontinence. Caffeine is directly associated with inflammation and a bladder irritability.

To better understand, the bladder functions as a kind of balloon. It should dilate to facilitate the evacuation of urinary fluid that we accumulate during the day. However, when the muscles lining the bladder become rigid and weak, it becomes almost impossible to control the urge to urinate.

Caffeine causes bladder irritation. The main reason is its diuretic action. When coffee or one of its derivatives is consumed, the need to urinate is much more frequent. For each cup of liquid ingested containing caffeine, one eliminates more than one cup of urine. This is because caffeine increases blood flow to the kidneys while decreasing the absorption of water and sodium in the body. As a result, there is a more frequent need to pass fluid. For people with urinary incontinence, bladder irritation is a disastrous combination. Not only does caffeine make urge incontinence worse, it can also contribute to dehydration. The latter is an irritant for the bladder and can worsen the symptoms of incontinence.

In addition, caffeine increases the blood pressure. This is why one may feel a certain feverishness after consuming caffeinated drinks. As the blood pressure is higher, it also affects the bladder by making it overactive.

Caffeine is not only harmful to people who suffer from urinary incontinence. In addition to irritating the bladder and causing leakage, caffeine has negative health effects. Other negative health effects of caffeine include

• Drinking coffee causes insomnia. As everyone knows, caffeine is used to increase attention levels. This is why many of us are addicted to coffee in the morning. However, if caffeine is still in our system at bedtime, it can be difficult to fall asleep.
• Caffeine causes headaches. Indeed, over-consumption of coffee can cause headaches and migraines.
• This substance can also cause indigestion. It is common for coffee drinkers to experience stomach upset or indigestion. If one suffers from urinary incontinence, a stomach disorder will only increase the frequency of urges to urinate.
• Caffeine causes a increased anxiety. Coffee consumption has been shown to be associated with anxiety and panic attacks. Indeed, caffeine is the most widely consumed mood-altering substance in the world.