Frequent Urination: How to Deal with This Serious Problem

Frequent urination is an irritating condition where a person has to pass urine frequently. If you suffer from frequent urination, you may feel like passing urine even after you go once. Your bladder may not be emptied, and the result could be having to visit the toilet multiple times. Frequent urination at night is a big problem, making you wake up many times and disturbing your sleep. We look at more details about this condition and how it can be treated.

What is frequent urination, and who may experience it?

Frequent urination is a troublesome condition where you have to pass urine too many times. It is a condition that can disturb your daily life. Frequent urination at night is known as nocturia, and it can wreck your sleep schedule. Frequent urination can be experienced by anyone.

Frequent urination is common among males over the age of 70 due to the problem of an enlarged prostate. Frequent urination in women can occur due to pregnancy. In general, people pass urine around 7 times in a day. If you have to go more than this or if you need to go once an hour or more frequently, you are suffering from frequent urination.

Symptoms of Frequent Urination

Urinating more than 8 times a day is the major symptom. Other symptoms depend on the cause of the condition and include:

• Incontinence, where urine leaks and can’t be controlled.
• Urgency, where it is difficult to hold urine for a long time.
• Burning during urination or pain after.
• Foul smell of urine.
• Abdominal pain.
• Blood in urine.
• Chills and fever.

Causes of Frequent Urination

Frequent urination occurs due to several reasons.

• Commonly, it can occur due to a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs are more common among the elderly.
• OAB, or overactive bladder, leads to frequent urination. OAB is due to weak muscles or damage to the nerves controlling bladder function. This condition can occur due to obesity, stroke, or a physical injury to the nerves and muscles.
• Excess consumption of caffeine and alcohol can irritate the bladder, causing frequent urination.
• Kidney problems like kidney stones or an infection can lead to frequent urination.
• Weak pelvic muscles are a common problem for frequent urination women.
• Bladder cancer can be a cause of this problem.

Diagnosing Frequent Urination

The doctor would understand the symptoms faced by the patient before making a diagnosis. Apart from a physical pelvic examination, various tests are needed. A urine test is used to find out if the patient has a urinary infection. A blood test is performed to check for diabetes or any other condition causing frequent urination.

An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is done to check the bladder. It is done twice before urinating and after urinating. Cystoscopy may be required to take samples from the bladder if required. Based on the results of the tests, the doctor would diagnose the cause of frequent urination.

Treatment for Frequent Urination

The treatment for frequent urination is decided based on the cause diagnosed. The root cause of the problem is treated to ensure the patient gets relief from frequent urination. Here are some of the treatment options:

1. Strengthening pelvic muscles through kegel exercises.
2. Bladder retraining to strengthen the bladder muscle and allow the bladder to hold more urine.
3. Changing the diet to avoid foods that irritate the bladder.
4. Antibiotics or other medications to treat UTI or any other infections that are causing frequent infection.
5. Avoiding drinking too much water in the evening to avoid having to get up too many times at night.
6. The biofeedback technique is used to help the patient control the working of the bladder muscles.
7. Medication to strengthen the bladder muscles.
8. In some cases, surgery may be required if no other options help.

Conclusion

Frequent urination is a common problem experienced by most people. Frequent urination during pregnancy or among the elderly is quite common. It is not a problem to be ignored since it can disrupt your normal life. You must see a doctor to seek help. Fortunately, there are many treatment options that can solve this problem and help you lead a normal life.