So many of us have to fight the urge to pee constantly. Between having to get up to pee repeatedly during the night to having to excuse yourself at lunch constantly, the struggle is real. The constant need to pee is not just uncomfortable, but also exceedingly embarrassing. However, instead of just being an inconvenience, the need to pee constantly can actually be an indicator for an array of problems.
Usually, people pee around six to seven times a day. However, anywhere from four to ten times is also deemed normal as long as it does not cause you any problems. People peeing more than eight to ten times a day is nothing short of a cause for concern. For most people, the urge to pee constantly comes and goes. Factors like sleep, stress and hydration play an active role in how much you pee and how many times you have to go to the washroom. To identify the reason behind the frequent urination, a thorough picture of not only your habits but also your health needs to be drawn.
Here are a few reasons that can help you identify what might be the leading cause behind your frequent need to pee
11. You have a UTI
However, if the urgent need to urinate comes accompanied by a fever, pain in the abdomen or feelings of discomfort when peeing, the chances are that you have a urinary tract infection. A urinary tract infection takes place if bacteria makes its way into your body via the urinary tract. However, don’t be worried because this ailment can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics.
10. Excessive Fluid Intake
People all around you are constantly singing praises of staying hydrated. From making your skin great to helping with bodily imbalances, water seems to be able to do it all. While everyone keeps telling us to stay hydrated, no one actually tells us when to stop. Contrary to what the vast majority holds to be true, it is actually not beneficial to intake more than eight to ten ounces of water per hour. Drinking more than this prescribed amount is one of the leading causes of having to urinate too often.
Therefore, if you are having the persistent urge to pee often, your hydration levels are what you need to check first.
9. Overactive Bladder
Roughly 33 million Americans suffer from a condition known as an overactive bladder. An overactive bladder occurs when the nerves existing in your bladder make it contract without your control. Initially, an overactive bladder was perceived as a sign of ageing. However, recently it was found out in a study that around a quarter of the people who suffer from an overactive bladder were diagnosed with the disease before they turned 35.
Having an overactive bladder means that you constantly feel the need to pee, even if there is not a lot of fluid accumulated in your bladder. There are several ways to help cope with this problem. There are prescription medicines that can help alleviate your problem, while some people choose to go under the knife for invasive clinical procedures like Bladder Botox injections to help solve their issue.
8. You’re anxious
Being in a constant or persistent state of anxiety can also cause major urinary problems. Being a naturally nervous person or struggling with anxiety can cause you to make frequent trips to the bathroom.
Normally, the bladder continues to expand until it is full and then proceeds to send a signal to the brain, informing it that it is time to think about when you head to the bathroom. More usually than not, we suppress this urge and start making our way to the bathroom at a convenient pace. However, when someone is anxious, it causes the bladder to be more active, sending more persistent signals to the brain causing the person to panic even more.
You can get rid of this problem by taking concrete steps to help manage your anxiety. Some options that can help lower stress levels are meditation therapy, relaxation techniques and yoga.
7. Diabetes
Both categories, type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to frequent trips to the bathroom. Being diabetic means that your body gets rid of glucose via urine, meaning that you will be peeing not only often but also in large quantities. Moreover, people affected by diabetes also feel more thirsty, resulting in over hydration that in turn causes excessive urination. Diabetes is also linked to several other ailments, which is why you should get tested for it on a regular basis. You can be tested for diabetes by your local physician.
6. You have prostate problems
An enlarged prostate can also lead to having to pee more often than necessary. The inflamed prostate continues to press against the urethra, causing a block to the natural flow of urine making your bladder very irritable. This leads to the bladder beginning to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine.
5. Diuretic Intake
Substances like alcohol and highly caffeinated drinks are known as diuretics – substances that have the ability to make you pee a lot. Medication used to treat the buildup of fluid in our body and high blood pressure also act as diuretics. If you consume a large amount of alcohol or caffeinated beverages, try to limit your consumption. Moreover, you can consult your physician to investigate if you are taking any known diuretics as medication and then try to shift to another line of medication, to help with your problems regarding frequent urination.
4. Pregnancy
A deceptively full bladder might be a sign of pregnancy. When pregnant, the uterus keeps pushing on the bladder, making you feel like you have a strong need to urinate even when your bladder is not really full. If you keep feeling like your bladder is full, but you urinate in a small amount, take a pregnancy test to rule out your chances of pregnancy.
3. Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts, abnormal growth on the ovaries, can cause a relentless push on your bladder. This push gives the illusion that your bladder is full even when it isn’t. Signs that you have ovarian cysts include strong pelvic pain or irregularity in your menstrual cycle. They can be easily detected via ultrasound.
2. Interstitial Cystitis
This condition is one in which the nerves that are responsible for sending signals from your bladder to your brain get seriously affected. If you feel pressure and pain in not only your bladder region but also your pelvis, it might be cause for alarm.
Moreover, another sign that you have interstitial cysts is that you find yourself pee very frequently, but with very little coming out. Interstitial cysts can be treated with physical therapy, meditation and nerve stimulation techniques.
1. Stroke or Other Neurological Disease
A constant need to urinate may also be the prolonged effect of nerve damage or a neurological disease. In this case, your urinary imbalance will be one of many symptoms, depending on your situation. To combat your situation, head over to a physician and get some tests done, to determine the severity of your problem.