Need to visit the loo very often? You may be suffering from frequent urination, also known as ‘polyuria.’ Under normal circumstances, people urinate 4 to 6 times a day.
However, in case you have an urge to urinate for more than eight times a day and even at night, then this may be an indicator of a serious health problem.
In most of the cases, people delay going to the doctor due to embarrassment or fear of getting something serious diagnosed.
However, this may not always be the case. Few people suffer from recurrent urination due to increased coffee, tea or any other fluid intake. Pregnant women suffer from it because of the increased pressure of the fetus on the bladder.
It is advised to get you checked as early as possible. The earlier the diagnosis takes place; the better would be the chances of treating this condition.
Read further to know the causes, symptoms, treatment methods and lots more information related to this condition.
Table of Contents
Should You Be Worried If You Are Peeing Frequently
Causes Of Frequent Urination
There are many disorders and infections whose one of the symptom is polyuria. The urination process involves nerves located in the brain, spinal cord, and the bladder.
Many muscle groups are also involved. Diabetes, pregnancy, urinary tract infection and prostate disorder are the most popularly known causes of polyuria. Frequent urination may cause weakness.
So let us discuss these and other various causes of polyuria.
1. Diabetes
The initial symptoms of type one and type two diabetes involve the condition of frequent urination. This is because the body is trying to unload the excess glucose from the blood.
2. Anxiety
Anxiety or fear usually generates an urge to pee. This happens because the body is responding to the stress by eliminating more amount of water from the body.
3. Drinking more fluids, caffeine, and diuretics
It is normal if you urinate six to eight times a day. But if you need to visit the loo more than this, then the reason may be that you are consuming an excess of coffee or other liquids. A few people may also suffer from frequent urination due to consumption of diuretics.
4. Urinary Tract Infection
Another common reason for frequent urination is UTI or urinary tract infection. Approximately 50 to 60 percent ofwomen suffer from this at least once in their lifetime. The harmful bacteria get in the urinary bladder through the urethra.
Antibiotics are recommended to treat this infection. It is most likely to occur if unhygienic toilets are used. It may also occur if no proper hygiene is maintained during sexual intercourse.
5. Pregnancy
From the initial weeks of pregnancy, you would need to go to pee more often than usual. This is because of the pressure on the bladder caused due to the growing fetus.
6. Medication
There are a few drugs that may be the reason for this condition. Tofranil and Elavil are antidepressant drugs which are known to aggravate the symptoms of the urinary disorder. High blood pressure medicines too can cause increased urination.
Diuretics which are also called as ‘water pills’ remove out more water from the kidney. This helps to reduce the pressure of the blood. And this also results in frequent urination.
7. Prostate dysfunction
In the case of the enlargement of the prostate glands, the urethral tube gets pressed and can cause problems with the passage of urine. The individual may be unable to completely empty the bladder at one time.
The urinary bladder gets irritable and there is an urge to urinate even when the bladder is slightly filled. This leads to frequent urination.
8. Neurogenic bladder
A dysfunction of the brain, spinal cord and nerve may lead to a condition called neurogenic bladder. This may lead to loss of control over the bladder. Damage to the nerves that signal the brain when the bladder is full can lead to this problem.
A few other disorders that may cause neurogenic disorder are- spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, nerve damage due to surgery or syphilis and multiple sclerosis.
The symptoms experienced by the individual suffering from this disorder are- unable to tell when the bladder is full, a complication in emptying out the bladder and retention of urine.
9. Urethral stricture
This is a condition in which the tube which carries the urine becomes narrow. It occurs because of inflammation caused or a scar tissue due to some surgery, disease or bruise.
It also occurs if there is a tumor growing near the urethra. Apart from frequent urination some other symptoms to look out for are- swelling in the penis, blood in the semen, blood in the urine, pain during urination, loss of bladder control and less urine output.
It is very important that you treat this condition; else it may lead to kidney problems.
10. Incontinence
There are two types of incontinence. You may be suffering from stress incontinence if you cannot control your bladder while laughing, exercising or sneezing.
It is also related to being overweight. When there is a pressure of the pelvis, there are problems with the bladder. This condition can be treated.
When there is a pressure of the pelvis, there are problems with the bladder. This condition can be treated.
In some cases, the individual urinates before or on his or her way to reaching the loo. This is due to urging incontinence. The muscles in the bladder start to contract prematurely. This too can be treated.
11. Dietary habits
A few foods that increase the frequency of urination are chocolates, strawberries, spicy foods, fermented foods, baked products, red meat and vinegar. These should be avoided if you are in the process of curing problems related to urination.
12. Interstitial cystitis
This condition is characterised by extreme pain in the pelvic and bladder region.
This is a chronic disorder. No specific cause is known for this. There is an urge to urinate even when the bladder is filled with small amounts of urine.
This condition is seen more commonly in women than in men. Currently, there has been no cure which has been found to this condition. However, therapies and medication help in relieving the symptoms.
13. Diverticulitis
In diverticulitis, there is a formation of pouches bulging out from the side of the colon wall. There is a pain in the lower abdomen, diarrhoea, blood in the stools along with increased frequency of urination. More of fiber should be included in the diet to prevent this condition.
14. Bladder cancer
The symptoms experienced are blood in the urine, polyuria and pain while urinating. This condition can be treated by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
15. Kidney infection
The kidneys are affected if UTI is not treated in time. If not given proper treatment, the blood too gets infected. Antibiotics are given to treat this condition.
Along with frequent urination, a few other symptoms to look out for are- nausea, confusion, cloudy and foul-smelling urine, pain while urinating, back pain and fever.
16. Overactive bladder
Under normal circumstances, when the bladder is completely full, the nerves signal the brain and we get the urge to pass out urine. However, individuals having an overactive bladder have the urge to urinate even when their bladder is little or partially filled.
17. Radiation therapy
Individuals who go through radiation therapy for treating cancer may have to suffer from polyuria. This is especially the case if the pelvis is affected by cancer.
Diagnosis
Now that you know the various causes of polyuria, you may need to check with the doctor what the exact cause is in your case. It is important to know whether the reason is physical, neurological or psychological.
Immediately visit the doctor if you experience symptoms like fever, vomiting, blood in the urine and pain in the back or bladder, along with polyuria.
When you visit the doctor he may start off by asking a few questions.A few examples are given below:
- How much has been your fluid intake lately?
- Since when have you noticed a change in your urination pattern?
- Are you on any medication presently?
- Are you experiencing any other symptoms as well?
- Does your urine smell any different from usual? What is the colour of your urine?
- Does this problem occur in the day as well as night?
After asking these preliminary questions, you may need to go through a few tests.
- Urine test: This is done to analyse if there is a presence of any abnormal components in the urine.
- Imaging test– You may need to go through an ultrasound test to see the actual condition of the body. It is done to check for any tumours or other obstructions in the bladder.
- Cystometry– This test is carried out to check the pressure inside the bladder. It also checks the functioning of the bladder. It checks the working of the nerves and muscles of the bladder and how the urine is held and released.
- Neurological test– This is done to check if there is any disorder of the brain, spinal cord or nerves.
- Blood test– This is recommended to check if the individual is suffering from diabetes or infection.
- Rectal test– This is done to check on the prostate glands.
The physician may tell you to maintain a log book to check the exact frequency of urination. He may also recommend to you a urologist.
Home Remedies To Cure Frequent Urination
The focus of the treatment would be on treating the underlying cause of this condition.
So if the cause of frequent urination is anxiety, then you would be given therapies and medications to calm your mind.
As soon as the feeling of anxiety goes, the condition of polyuria too comes under control. If polyuria is due to bacterial invasion, then antibiotics are given.
Acupuncture is known to be beneficial in treating this condition. Sometimes, surgery is required to treat polyuria.
Given below are a few guidelines to keep in mind to keep polyuria under control.
- Avoid eating foods like chocolates, tomato based items, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, caffeine and alcohol. They act as diuretics and cause frequent urination.
- Avoid excessive fluid intake. Drink only levels which are normal. Do not consume more amounts of liquids than required.
- Avoid smoking and drinking.
- Retain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
- Eat fibre rich foods to avoid constipation. Constipation puts a pressure on the bladder which increases the urge to urinate.
- Get a good 8-hour sleep at night as it helps to calm your body and mind.
- Practising yoga has been proven beneficial in treating polyuria.
- Avoid going to hot places as it increases perspiration and makes the urine concentrated. Due to this, burning sensation is experienced, when urine is passed out.
It is always best to consult the specialist if you see any changes in your urination frequency.
Do not worry and be afraid of getting detected with something serious. It is always better to detect the problem as quickly as possible.
Early treatment can be started and the condition remains under control.
With a proper treatment and lifestyle, this condition can easily be brought under control and even treated completely.
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