3 Unusual Reasons For Bladder Spasms
Posted on: 31 August 2016
Spasms in your bladder can cause severe pelvic pain, leg and back pain, urinary incontinence, chills, and nausea. While bladder spasms are commonly caused by urinary tract infections, they can be related to other health conditions or even certain medications.
People who experience bladder spasms often seek the expertise of urologists, physicians specializing in the diagnosis and medical management of urinary tract disorders. Here are three unusual reasons for painful bladder spasms and what you can do about them.
Allergy Medication
If you take allergy medications such as antihistamines for your allergic symptoms of watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and an itchy throat, you are probably familiar with the side effects they can produce.
Common side effects from antihistamines include dry mouth, drowsiness, and dizziness, but they can also wreak havoc with your urinary tract. Antihistamines can lead to urinary retention, which refers to the retention of often large amounts of urine in your bladder.
When the bladder becomes too full as a result of urinary retention, it can go into spasms. To reduce the risk for antihistamine-related bladder spasms, drink plenty of water to promote urination and talk to your doctor about changing your allergy medication to one that is less likely to cause bladder problems.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is very irritating to the bladder walls. Because of this, it can cause the smooth muscle inside your bladder to contract, leading to powerful bladder spasms. While dietary sources of vitamin C are seldom responsible for bladder irritation, ascorbic acid supplements may cause pelvic pain and burning sensations upon urination.
If you take vitamin C supplements to help enhance your immune system or because of a nutritional deficiency, be sure to drink plenty of water to help cut down on urinary acidity. If this fails to bring relief, talk to your doctor about other ways to help raise your vitamin C levels, such as eating green leafy vegetables and consuming citrus fruits.
Also, if you are deficient in vitamin C, avoid smoking because it can rob your body of vital nutrients, and limit your intake of caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is a diuretic which causes frequent urination, and since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it may be lost through urination.
Caffeine
Like vitamin C, caffeine can irritate your bladder and ureters, raising the risk for bladder spasms. If you enjoy your morning cup of coffee, consider switching to decaf, which may be easier on your urinary tract.
If this is ineffective, try drinking water after you consume coffee to help flush out irritating caffeine from your bladder. In addition to caffeine, other foods that can lead to bladder irritation include tomatoes, aged cheeses, yogurt, and rye bread, according to Medline Plus.
Urinary tract problems related to coffee may also depend upon the type of coffee you drink. For example, you may notice an increase in bladder spasms when you drink dark roasted coffee but not have any problems at all when consuming a milder "breakfast blend," or blonde coffee.
If you develop bladder spasms, make an appointment with a urologist for and evaluation and treatment. When your physician determines the source of your bladder spasms, an effective treatment can then be implemented to help relieve your symptoms and promote healing.
For more information, contact Advanced Urology Associates or a similar organization.
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