Modern medicine explains the wisdom of the Donguibogam through more specific mechanisms. The caffeine and alcohol we consume casually exert direct effects on the urinary bladder in several ways.
First, both substances cause strong diuresis. Caffeine increases renal blood flow volume and blocks adenosine receptors, thereby inhibiting the reabsorption of water and sodium in the kidneys. In simple terms, it makes the kidneys produce more urine than usual. Alcohol acts even more directly by strongly suppressing the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin) released by the posterior pituitary gland. ADH is the hormone that instructs the kidneys to conserve water in the body, but when this hormone is not secreted, the kidneys discharge water freely, as if the floodgates of a dam were thrown wide open. That is why drinking alcohol leaves you thirstier and sends you to the bathroom more often.
Second, caffeine and alcohol directly irritate the urinary bladder itself. Caffeine contracts the detrusor urinae muscle, reducing the storage capacity of the urinary bladder and sensitizing nerves in the bladder wall, giving you the sensation of an urgent need to urinate even with only a small amount of urine collected. Metabolites of alcohol can also irritate the inner lining of the urinary bladder, known as urothelial cells, and induce an inflammatory response. For those already suffering from conditions such as overactive bladder (OAB) or interstitial cystitis, these irritations can worsen symptoms considerably.
Third, chronic intake can lower the sensory threshold of the urinary bladder. This causes a strong urge to urinate even with a small amount of urine before the urinary bladder fills to its normal capacity. As it is repeatedly exposed to irritation, the urinary bladder becomes hypersensitive, as if crying out under strain. Ultimately, these combined effects become the primary culprits behind frequent daytime trips to the bathroom and nocturia that disrupts deep sleep at night. Our urinary bladder is a far more delicate organ than we might think, so please pay a little more attention to what you consume daily.
