Most are aware of alcohol’s impact on the liver, but they might not know the long-term effects of alcohol on the bladder specifically.
In this article, we discuss the various long term effects that alcohol can have on your bladder, cover why alcohol disrupts your sleep and address questions people wonder about on this topic.
What Is the Function of the Bladder?
The bladder is a key organ in the human body and plays a vital role in our urinary system. Its primary job is to hold onto – or rather store – urine until the body is ready to get rid of it. Knowing how the bladder works is pretty important if we want to keep our urinary function in top shape, and overall health too. It’s important to keep the bladder healthy through hydration and maintaining a balanced diet.
The central nervous system controls the bladder function. Nerve centres for the control of urination are in the spinal cord, brain stem and cerebral cortex. The bladder helps regulate the amount of urine it holds, and the frequency of urination based on signals from the brain and the stretching of the bladder walls. The bladder, along with the urethra, is essential in maintaining urinary continence, ensuring that urine is held in the bladder until a suitable time for voiding.
How Alcohol Affects the Bladder
Alcohol consumption interrupts the production of a hormone called vasopressin, which plays a large role in the regulation of water excretion.
Alcohol can irritate the lining of the urinary tract, including the bladder. This irritation can cause inflammation and lead to symptoms such as urgency, frequency, and discomfort or pain during urination.
Many of us will know that alcohol can cause dehydration. It inhibits the production of a hormone, which would otherwise help the body reabsorb water. Dehydration can concentrate the urine. When urine is stronger and more concentrated, it can be irritating to the bladder. Dehydration can become serious and lead to confusion and seizures; serious dehydration requires urgent medical attention.
Why Drinking Keeps You Waking Up at Night for Bathroom Trips (Nocturia)
Nocturia is when you wake up in the middle of the night one or more times to go to the toilet.
This is very similar to what happens when you drink, as alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes you pee more. And it keeps on working on you even after you’ve gone to sleep.
Normally your body cuts back on urine production at night, but when you’ve been drinking, that doesn’t happen. Nocturia is disruptive to the quality of your sleep, which has impacts on your concentration, your mood and your long-term health.
So what can you do to stop this happening?
- Dont drink alcohol in the last few hours before bed. That way you give your body a chance to get back to normal.
- If you do get up to go to the toilet, keep the room quiet and dark and try not to check your phone.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Bladder
Long-term and excessive alcohol consumption can have significant effects on bladder health. Alcohol misuse can lead to inflammation of the bladder (which is cystitis), as it can irritate the bladder lining, causing inflammation.
As alcohol weakens the immune system, it can make you even more susceptible to infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) which can affect the bladder and other parts of the urinary system.
Can Alcohol Cause Bladder Cancer?
A lot of people assume that alcohol is a risk factor for bladder cancer, given its links to mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer. But the situation is different when it comes to bladder cancer.
- A big study looking at over 11,000 bladder cancer cases found no real difference in risk between people who had a drink or two and those who were teetotallers.
- The IARC looked at all the research and decided that there isn’t enough evidence to say that drinking directly causes bladder cancer.
- Some smaller recent studies have suggested that maybe spirits are a bit more of a risk factor for bladder cancer, rather than beer or wine, especially in men – but the studies can’t agree on this and the evidence isn’t as strong as some of the other cancer risks associated with drinking.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that drinking has no impact on bladder health, because it’s definitely been linked to bladder irritation, bladder inflammation, UTIs and disrupted sleep through nocturia.
If you smoke as well as drink, it’s worth keeping in mind that smoking is a much bigger risk factor for bladder cancer than drinking, and the two together increase your risk of a number of other cancers above what either would be on its own.
Tips for Managing Bladder Health
It’s best to limit your alcohol consumption if you want to improve your bladder health, but if you choose to consume alcohol, you can take certain steps to minimise its potential negative impact on your bladder.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after drinking alcohol, as it’s dehydrating. Drinking water will help dilute the effects of alcohol on the bladder and reduce the risk of irritation.
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Practising pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) can help you strengthen the muscles that support your bladder.
- Balanced Diet: Maintain a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals to support overall urinary and bladder health.
- Bathroom Breaks: Be mindful of bathroom availability when drinking alcohol, especially if you’re in a social setting. Plan for regular bathroom breaks to prevent overfilling the bladder and reduce discomfort.
When to Go See Your Doctor
Even if you don’t drink alcohol excessively, get in touch with your GP if you are experiencing any of the below, especially if they don’t clear up after a couple of days:
- Pain or burning when you pee
- Blood in your wee
- Sudden, painful pressure to pee
- A fever along with these symptoms mentioned (it’s a possible sign of a kidney or bladder infection)
- Symptoms that don’t get any better when you cut back on drinking
These can point to a UTI, bladder infection or some other condition that needs treating.
Find Help For Alcohol Addiction Today
It’s important to be mindful of how much alcohol you consume and the long-term effects of alcohol on the bladder. But if you’ve found yourself struggling to control your drinking, it may be time to consider seeking help.
At Rehab Clinics Group, we’re dedicated to helping people find the best and most suitable addiction treatment options. If you would like to find out more about how we can help, please contact us today.
