At what point are you peeing too much? It can be hard to tell.
The food and drink you consume can influence how often and how intensely you have to pee. If you wake up every day and take down a bottle of water and a couple of cups of coffee, you may find yourself making multiple trips to the bathroom early in the day.
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Some foods, like coffee, are known bladder irritants. But they may not cause you the same challenge as someone else. For example, if you have to urinate a little more frequently, but it isn’t a strong urge, it could be far more manageable than what others deal with.
There are really no firm rules when it comes to bladder irritation. The things that send your bladder into a frenzy are unlikely to be the same foods that do it for your friends.
Managing an irritated bladder is all about finding the specific food and drink that bothers you and managing intake. Although effective, it can be a long and arduous process.
The way to find out which foods are hitting you with an insatiable urge to go to the bathroom involves keeping a food diary. Documenting everything you eat and your reaction to it is the only way to single out the culprit(s).
When problems foods have been identified, remove them for a few days and see if symptoms improve. When they do, slowly bring them back one at a time in small servings and see what happens. If irritation returns, stop eating them.
Symptoms of bladder irritation include:
- Strong urge to pee
- Need to pee more frequently
- Lower abdominal pain
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A sensitive or irritated bladder does not necessarily mean there is a severe issue to worry about.
Some common foods that may lead to irritation include:
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Acidic foods (citrus, etc.)
- Spicy foods
- Yogurt
All you can do is play with the food and drink you consume each day to see what is bothering you and take the necessary steps.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
