Introduction
Frequent urination (needing to urinate more than seven times in 24 hours) is a disruptive, inconvenient, and often stressful outcome of a constantly full bladder. Causes range from diabetes to urinary tract infections or too much fluid intake.
A full bladder can disrupt sleep as you will have to keep waking up to urinate, a condition called nocturia. But in many cases, frequent urination is treatable. The healthcare professionals at Yashoda Hospitals can guide you in the right direction.
Types
Frequent urination can be categorised according to the underlying cause, for example, infection, disease, or injury of the bladder. Diseases and conditions that often cause frequent urination include anxiety disorders, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), bladder stones, and diabetes.
Symptoms
Frequent urination may be accompanied by pain, discomfort, chills, increased appetite or thirst, fatigue, difficulty during urination, loss of bladder control, and bloody or cloudy urine. If you are experiencing any of these, a urologist needs to be consulted.
Causes of frequent urination
Here are some causes:
- Â Â Â Â Urinary tract infection
- Â Â Â Â Hypertension
- Â Â Â Â Bladder issues (Interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder syndrome)
- Â Â Â Â Bladder cancer
- Â Â Â Â Pregnancy
- Â Â Â Â Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Â Â Â Â Hypercalcemia (above normal amounts of calcium in the blood)
- Â Â Â Â Prostate problems (enlarged prostate or BPH)
- Â Â Â Â Stroke
- Â Â Â Â Pelvic tumour
- Â Â Â Â Diuretics
- Â Â Â Â Inflammation of the vagina
- Â Â Â Â Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
When to see a doctor
If you notice you are urinating more than seven times a day or waking up at night to urinate, or have a fever, vomiting, lower back pain, especially near the kidney region, blood in the urine, or discharge from the penis or vagina, you need to consult with a urologist. To book an appointment, contact Yashoda Hospitals.
Risk factors for frequent urination
Certain conditions put you at greater risk for frequent urination
- Anxiety disorders
- Type 1 and 2 diabetes
- Â Kidney conditions, such as kidney infection and kidney stones
- Advancing age (middle-aged or older)
- Â Pregnancy
- Â Enlarged prostate
Possible complications
Frequent urination can lead to complications of the kidneys, bladder, prostate, or urinary tract.
Prevention
Lifestyle changes that can help manage frequent urination include:
- Avoiding fluids at nighttime
- Limiting caffeine
- Â Kegel exercises
Treatment for frequent urination
Your doctor may order tests such as:
- Â Blood tests for kidney function, electrolytes, and blood sugars
- Â Urinalysis to detect compounds that pass through the urine
- Cystometry and or Cystoscopy to examine the bladder
- Neurological tests to determine nerve disorder
- Ultrasonography
Treatment for frequent urination involves:
- Keeping blood sugar levels under control
- Bladder retraining if urination is due to overactive bladder
- Diet modification to avoid food that irritates the bladder or acts as a diuretic (caffeine, alcohol)
- Kegel exercises
- Medications such as darifenacin, mirabegron, imipramine, oxybutynin, and trospium extended-release
- Botox may be injected into the bladder to help increase its storage capacity
- Â Minimally invasive surgery
- Â Wearing a protective pad or underwear to avoid leaks
A physician or urologist will be able to guide in terms of diagnosis and treatment. To book an appointment with world-class specialists, contact Yashoda Hospitals.
Conclusion
Frequent urination is when you urinate more than seven times in 24 hours. Causes can vary from too much caffeine and fluid intake to diabetes or urinary tract infections. It is important to get on the right course of treatment.
