{"id":14429,"date":"2020-03-27T08:21:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T08:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14429"},"modified":"2021-05-06T17:08:50","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T17:08:50","slug":"14-common-causes-of-frequent-urination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-frequent-urination\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Frequent Urination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Every human urinates several times a day. While there\u2019s no set amount that\u2019s deemed \u201cnormal\u201d, according to medical experts, the average person urinates between four to eight times a day. There are several factors that can influence your need to \u201cgo\u201d, so some days you may urinate more than others \u2013 even more than eight times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you find that you\u2019re urinating more often than eight times a day on a regular basis, or you are waking up more than once in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, you might be urinating too often. The need to empty the bladder more than eight times a day is considered excessive. If you find that you\u2019re urinating on a frequent basis, you are likely wondering the cause. Increased urine output can occur for a variety of reasons. Below, we\u2019ll take a look at 14 common causes of frequent urination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Your diet. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What you\u2019re eating and drinking \u2013 and how much \u2013 can lead to increased urination. It stands to reason that the more fluid you ingest, the more often you\u2019re going to have to urinate. If you\u2019re drinking more fluids than you normally do, you\u2019re going to have to empty your bladder <\/a>more often. But drinking beverages isn\u2019t the only way your fluid intake increases; certain foods can also increase the amount of fluids you\u2019re ingesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to nutritional experts, 20% to 30% of the fluid the average person ingests comes from food. Additionally, certain beverages and foods irritate the bladder, which can result in the increased need to urinate. Caffeinated drinks, carbonated beverages, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes and tomato-based foods and beverages, acidic foods and beverages (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, etc.) are some examples of foods and beverages that can irritate the bladder, resulting in an increased need to urinate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Urinary tract infection (UTI).<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Urinary tract infections<\/a> (UTIs) are another common cause of frequent urination. A UTI refers to an infection that occurs in any component of the urinary system, including the bladder, the kidneys, the ureters, or the urethra, though UTIs most commonly affect the lower portion of the urinary tract, which includes the urethra and the bladder. Infections of the urinary tract are usually the result of bacteria entering the urinary system via the urethra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequent urination is one of the symptoms that are associated with a UTI, though there are other symptoms, as well. If you find that, in addition to increased urine output, you also experience a burning sensation when you try to empty your bladder, you only release a small amount of urine, your urine looks cloudy or discolored (dark, red, or bright pink), and there\u2019s a strong odor, you may have a UTI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Diuretics.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are taking diuretics<\/a>, or water pills, more than likely your need to urinate more frequently is the result of those pills. Water pills are often used to treat several different medical conditions; examples include problems with the kidneys and liver, edema (swelling of the tissues throughout the body), as well as high blood pressure. Diuretics increase the production of sodium (salt) that the kidneys release into the urine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The salt also removes water from your blood, which decreases the amount of fluid that flows through the arteries and veins; hence why diuretics are often used to treat high blood pressure. The increased amount of salt and water that are entering your urine leads to an increased need to urinate. If you have been prescribed diuretics and find that you\u2019re urinating more often than usual, it is likely the result of the medication that you are taking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Diabetes mellitus.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes <\/a>mellitus, also known as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, can cause frequent urination. Under normal conditions, when you consume carbohydrates, they are turned into glucose, a form of sugar. That sugar is then sent through the bloodstream and the pancreas releases a hormone known as insulin, which transports the glucose from your bloodstream into the cells of your body. The cells use glucose for energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn\u2019t produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but it either doesn\u2019t create enough or the body doesn\u2019t use it correctly. Both types of diabetes are marked by high blood sugar. The kidneys attempt to filter out the excess sugar in the bloodstream and the sugar can end up being transported into the urine. As a result, more water is drawn from the body, which leads to increased urine production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Diabetes insipidus.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes insipidus is different from diabetes mellitus, but it can also cause frequent urination. With this condition, the body doesn\u2019t create an adequate amount of vasopressin. Vasopressin is a hormone that is supposed to direct the kidneys to release water into the bloodstream when it\u2019s needed. When you\u2019re thirsty, the levels of vasopressin are supposed to increase and the kidneys reabsorb an increased amount of water and produce concentrated urine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of vasopressin results in an improper balance of fluid levels within the body, which leads to increased urine production and the frequent need to urinate. Other symptoms of diabetes insipidus include increased thirst despite drinking an adequate amount, dry mouth<\/a>, confusion, headaches, fatigue, irritability, and muscle pain. It can also lead to nocturia, the medical term used to describe the increased need to urinate while sleeping. If you are experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Kidney stones.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kidney stones<\/a>, also known as renal lithiasis, are another common cause of frequent urination. Kidney stones are hardened salts and minerals that form within the kidneys. There are several causes of kidney stones and they can impact any part of the urinary tract. Typically, they are the result of highly concentrated urine. When the urine is highly concentrated, it contains an increased amount of substances that can crystalize; calcium, uric acid, and oxalate, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fluid within the urine cannot dilute the increased amount of these substances. Additionally, the urine may not contain substances that stop these crystals from clumping together. These two factors combined result in the perfect environment for kidney stones.  Frequent urination is one of the most common signs of kidney stones; however, other symptoms include pain in the back, side, abdomen, and groin, painful urination, as well as odd-colored and strange-smelling urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Painful bladder syndrome.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Formally known as interstitial cystitis<\/a>, painful bladder syndrome is a chronic condition that results in increased pressure on the bladder, as well as pain in the bladder. It can also lead to pain in the pelvic region. As the bladder fills with fluid, it expands, and once it\u2019s reached a certain amount of fullness, a message is sent to the brain through the nerves of the pelvis to alert you that it\u2019s time to urinate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With painful bladder syndrome, the signals that are sent from the pelvic nerves to the brain don\u2019t function properly. As a result of this miscommunication, those who suffer from painful bladder syndrome have to urinate more frequently, but usually, smaller amounts of urine are produced. Other symptoms of painful bladder syndrome include pain in the pelvic region, pain when the bladder is full that\u2019s relieved upon urinating, and painful sexual intercourse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.Vaginitis.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For women who experience frequent urination, a condition known as vaginitis <\/a>may be to blame. This condition is marked by an inflamed vagina. That inflammation can lead to increased amounts of vaginal discharge, as well as pain and itching in the vaginal area. It can also result in an increased need to urinate. The vagina contains bacteria, and under normal conditions, that bacteria is properly balanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, vaginitis occurs when the normal balance of bacteria within the vagina is thrown off. It can also occur as a result of a yeast infection, which is typically caused by Candida albicans, a naturally occurring fungus. Other factors that can lead to vaginitis include lower estrogen levels (usually in post-menopausal women), as well as some types of skin disorders. Other symptoms of vaginitis include spotting (light vaginal bleeding that is pinkish in color), painful sexual intercourse, and foul-smelling and strange-colored urination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Menopause.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another reason why women may experience frequent urination is menopause. As mentioned above, during menopause<\/a>, the female body produces less estrogen. It also produces less progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are female sex hormones, and both play an important part in a woman\u2019s overall health and well-being. During menopause, the primary cause of increased urination is the reduced production of estrogen. This hormone is responsible for regulating menstrual cycles; hence why menstruation ceases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estrogen also impacts the reproductive system, the heart, blood vessels, breasts, skin, bones, and urinary tract. Because of the lower levels of this sex hormone, females may experience an increased need to urinate. Additionally, they may find that they experience pain while urinating and that they are unable to control their bladders (urinary incontinence). If you\u2019re a woman in your late-40s through the late-50s and you are experiencing an increased need to urinate, menopause may be beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Enlarged prostate. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For men who feel an increased need to urinate, the cause could be an enlarged prostate<\/a>. A condition is medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate commonly occurs in men as they age. The prostate is situated underneath the bladder. The urethra, the tube that passes urine from the bladder through the penis, passes through the middle of the prostate gland. The enlargement of the prostate affects the flow of urine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of men experience prostate growth throughout the course of their lifetimes. For a lot of men, this growth can result in symptoms that affect the urinary tract, including blocked urine flow or increased urination. The exact cause of prostate enlargement isn\u2019t clearly understood; though it is believed that it is the result of imbalanced sex hormones. Other factors may include diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and a family history of an enlarged prostate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Overactive bladder.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overactive bladder (OAB) is yet another common cause of frequent urination. In addition to the increased need to urinate, OAB can also lead to urinary incontinence, the inability to control urine output. While both men and women can be affected by OAB, it\u2019s more common among women. The kidneys are responsible for urine production. They filter out toxins <\/a>and fluids from the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fluid becomes urine, which is sent to the bladder, where it is held until nerves within the pelvic region signal to the brain that it\u2019s time to empty the bladder. Upon receiving this message, the muscles of the pelvic floor relax and urine then exists the body. With overactive bladder, the muscles within the bladder involuntarily contract, creating the need to urinate more often, even when the bladder isn\u2019t full. The exact cause of OAB is unknown, though the risk increases with age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Constipation.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Constipation <\/a>is marked by the inability to produce a bowel movement or difficult to pass. However, this condition doesn\u2019t only affect the bowels; it can also affect the bladder. When constipated, the bowels become overladen with stool. This influx of stool can cause the bowels to push on the bladder, and as a result, you may experience an increased need to urinate. Additionally, when you\u2019re constipated, the muscles of the pelvic floor can become weakened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These muscles help to control both the bowels and the bladder, so when they\u2019re weakened, you may experience an increased need to urinate. There are several factors that can contribute to constipation, including lifestyle changes, eating increased amounts of dairy products, not drinking enough, not ingesting enough fiber, heightened stress levels, excessive laxative use, certain medications (prescription narcotics, iron, and antidepressants, for example), pregnancy, irritable bowel syndrome, and resisting the urge to defecate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Pregnancy.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the later stages of pregnancy<\/a>, it is not uncommon for women to feel as if they need to urinate more frequently than usual. As the fetus grows, the uterus also grows. Both the developing baby and the enlarged uterus place pressure on the bladder, which results in increased urination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, frequent urination doesn\u2019t only affect women during the later stages of pregnancy; increased urine production can also occur during the early stages of pregnancy. In fact, frequent urination is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. As soon as an egg becomes fertilized, a woman\u2019s body increased hormone production to prepare the body for the growing baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This increased hormone production can affect the urinary tract and the way in which the brain and bladder communicate. As a result, you may feel as if you have to urinate more often during the early stages of gestation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Weakened pelvic floor muscles.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, weakened pelvic floor muscles can lead to an increased need to urinate. The muscles of the pelvic floor refer to a group of muscles that support the organs within the pelvic region. In women, the pelvic muscles include the uterus, bladder<\/a>, and bowels, and in mend, they include the bladder and bowels. These muscles play a key part in supporting the function of the bladder; thus, when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened, it isn\u2019t unusual to feel an increased need to urinate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weakened pelvic floor muscles can occur for a number of reasons. In women, pregnancy can contribute to this condition, as an enlarged uterus, a growing fetus, and childbirth itself press on the pelvic floor muscles and weaken them. In both men and women, obesity can weaken these muscles and chronic constipation can also weaken the muscles of the pelvic floor region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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