Introduction
The body eliminates various fluid waste through urination. Urine includes various toxic substances such as urea, uric acid, and harmful chemicals, which remain in the bladder until it is extracted from your urinary tract. A healthy person urinates 7-8 times a day.
What Is Frequent Urination?
If you are visiting the toilet more than 7-8 times a day, it can be due to a symptom known as frequent urination. It can be due to some medical issue, or it can also happen if you are drinking too much. Your bladder feels uncomfortable because of this.
Who Experiences Frequent Urination?
Everyone has the urge to urinate. This urge is not always constant. Sometimes you need to urinate more often than usual. Anyone can experience excessive urination. It can affect anyone, including women, men, and kids. They all can show the symptoms. You can also experience Frequent Urination if you are living an unhealthy lifestyle and consuming too many fluids such as coffee, energy drinks, or alcohol.
It can also result due to kidney, ureter, or urinary bladder disorders[1]. Middle-aged people and pregnant women may urinate frequently.
What Are The Causes Of Frequent Urination?
As mentioned above, there are many disorders that might lead to Frequent Urination. Conditions that induce excessive Urination are UTIs, Diabetes, prostate issues, and pregnancy.
1. Urinary Tract Infection Or UTI
Problems with the urinary system and bladder, called urinary tract infections, are among the most common problems that lead to excessive urination. In UTI, the infection enters your body and causes swelling in your urinary system. Interstitial cystitis is a painful condition during which you urinate excessively. Bladder cancer[2] can also cause excessive urination. In women and girls, UTIs are common. Symptoms of UTI include blood in urine, which is the most common symptom.
2. Pregnancy
Frequent Urination is a common symptom of pregnancy. Excessive Urination happens during a few months of pregnancy and is unrelated to any medical condition. It happens because the baby grows larger in your body, which produces pressure on the bladder and squeezes it. The urine can leak when you cough or sneeze. During the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, you will notice the symptom the most. Pregnant women are at higher risk of getting UTIs.
3. Prostate Gland
Your prostate gets bigger with age, but if it becomes too big and problems may arise. The bladder’s ability to contract and the flow of urine can both be affected by an enlarged prostate gland as it puts pressure on your bladder. Benign prostatic hyperplasia[3] is the most typical reason men over 40 produce excessive urine. The inability to pee and waking up repeatedly throughout the night to urinate are some of the symptoms that may exist.
4. Diabetes
Type1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common frequent urination causes. When diabetes is not controlled, more fluid is released from the kidney and enters the urine. The most common reason for polyuria is uncontrolled and untreated diabetes.
Additional symptoms of diabetes include uncontrollable appetite and thirst, weight loss, frequent tiredness, visual impairment, and mood swings. It is essential to consult a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms and you suspect you may have diabetes.
Frequent Urination In Women
Your age, habits, health, and lifestyle can be the reasons why you go to the toilet more often. Frequent Urination can sometimes be normal, such as in case of pregnancy or when you are drinking liquids too much. But other times, it can be due to a variety of medical conditions such as:
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Vaginitis
- Overactive bladder
- Interstitial cystitis (IC)
- Bladder stones
- Stress and anxiety
- Decreased estrogen
It can also be an indication of menopause, which typically affects women around the age of 45-50. Low estrogen level is also a symptom of menopause. Low estrogen levels might be easily treated by hormonal therapies.
Frequent Urination In Men
Frequent Urination can have a variety of causes. In men, it can happen due to drinking habits, and other unhealthy habits, but many medical conditions are also a reason for it. An increased desire to urinate suggests that there could be a problem with your urinary tract.
The following are some causes:
- Prostatitis
- Bacterial infection
- Prostate cancer
- Urinary incontinence
- Diabetes
Chronic pain, discomfort, or excessive pressure on the urinary bladder may cause frequent urination during the day and night. If you suspect you have any of the above-mentioned conditions, consult a urologist who can accurately identify the issue.
Frequent Urination Symptoms
Needing to pee more frequently is the main sign of excessive urination. The lifestyle of the individual is negatively impacted by excessive urination.
These are some of the common symptoms:
1. Smelly And Discolored Urine
Another of the frequent urination symptoms is color changes in urine and a foul smell. It can be due to certain medicines and foods. But sometimes, it can also indicate a medical issue. Many people ignore their urine’s color or smell until there is a significant change.
You may have type 2 diabetes if your urine smells fruity and you’ve been racing to the toilet more often than usual. The smell of urine may be due to genetic conditions in some people. Your urine should be clear if you are properly hydrated.
2. Cloudy Urine
Numerous conditions may lead to cloudy urine, which is another frequent urination cause. Some of them are sexually transmitted diseases (STI), dehydration, diabetes, kidney stones, and many others. Young children and elderly people are more vulnerable to dehydration.
Cloudy urine can also occur due to the presence of more protein, crystalline materials, pus, or blood in the urine. Cloudy urine can also happen due to kidney stones. When you have kidney stones, your urine includes a lot of minerals, which make it cloudy.
3. Abdominal Pain
At some point in your life, you must have experienced abdominal pain. It is also one of the most common symptoms of excessive urination. It may indicate a severe medical issue, so it’s vital to consult a doctor for the treatment.
Inflammation of the urinary tract, organ distention, or lack of blood flow can result in abdominal pain. Always make sure you drink healthy and eat healthy if you are dealing with abdominal or stomach pain.
4. Urinary Inconsistency
Urinary inconsistency or loss of bladder control is another frequent urination cause. It is an embarrassing problem. Sometimes people have an urge to urinate so quickly that it becomes difficult to reach the toilet when they sneeze or cough.
Urinary incontinence is not a natural result of aging, even though it happens more frequently as people age, mostly in their 50s. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if urine incontinence interferes with your everyday activities.
Frequent Urination Treatment
Doctors can perform various tests to find out the underlying reason for excessive urination. In some cases, medical therapies and drugs are also given.
1. Drugs
Frequent urination treatment includes the use of drugs like Darifenacin (Enablex), oxybutynin (Ditropan), and tolterodine extended-release (Detrol LA). Other drugs that can be used include:
- Oxybutynin skin patch (Oxytrol)
- Mirabegron (Myrbetriq)
Women are mostly given Oxytrol to control their urination. Darifenacin is prescribed for patients who need to urinate more than twice every night. Your doctor may also suggest drugs, such as Vesicare (solifenacin) or Ditropan (oxybutynin) if you have overactive bladder syndrome (OAB).
2. Diet Modification
You should avoid meals that have a diuretic effect or can irritate your bladder. Carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and milk chocolates should be avoided.
Consuming meals high in fiber can worsen your overactive bladder syndrome, so you must avoid them. Monitoring your fluid intake throughout the day will help you avoid urine incontinence. Drinking coffee might affect your bladder and increase your desire to pass urine.
3. Sugar Control
Your doctor can prescribe medications and treatments to control your sugar levels. High sugar levels can result in diabetes. Your doctor could advise some diet modifications, insulin injections, oral drugs, or both if you have diabetes mellitus[4].
Metformin is a drug that is typically suggested first for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Metformin is affordable, reliable, and efficient. It could lower the danger of cardiovascular problems. The first method of treatment for type 1 diabetes involves subcutaneous injections of insulin.
4. Kegel Exercises
To enhance bladder control and lessen urine urgency and frequency, kegel exercises help to strengthen the muscles and tissues around your urinary bladder and urethra.
Bladder control might be improved by doing five minutes of pelvic muscle exercise every day. The kegel exercises can be performed by laying down, sitting, or standing. First, do simple kegel exercises and then start with the difficult one. Also, you do not have to buy any special equipment to perform these exercises.
Prevention For Frequent Urination
- Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Stay away from specific meals and beverages that can result in nocturia.
- Avoid food that can irritate your bladders, such as chocolate or spicy foods.
- Do physical therapy that strengthens your pelvic muscles.
Conclusion
Frequent Urination can affect your daily life, so be interested in ignoring this issue and changing your daily habits and lifestyle. Speak with a doctor if you have abdominal pain or dribbling and notice any further symptoms or if the issue is affecting your quality of life. Several different disorders can lead to frequent urination.
