5 Ways to Stop Peeing So Often
Do you find yourself racing to the restroom all day? Or waking up multiple times throughout the night to pee? If you urinate more than eight times a day and more than once at night, you most likely have frequent urination.
It's a frequent condition in elderly folks, although it can afflict people of any age. Many persons who urinate frequently also have an overactive bladder, which is characterized by an intense need to urinate that occurs unexpectedly and is difficult to control.
Frequent urinating is not necessarily bad. However, it can be uncomfortable and irritating, especially if the gotta-go feeling prevents you from engaging in things you enjoy, such as extended travels or trekking.
Disrupted sleep has been linked to health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.
If you are wondering “How to Stop Frequent Urination”, taking the strategies outlined below can help lessen your need to travel frequently.
1. Drink water wisely
If you drink a lot during the day, reducing your intake can help you urinate less frequently. Many people drink the often-recommended eight glasses of water every day, but there's no science behind that figure.
If you have a huge individual working outside, sweating, they probably require more. However, a tiny individual who sits at a computer all day will most likely require far less. I spend half of my day telling people they're drinking too much fluid. However, not drinking enough fluids can result in additional trips to the restroom. It may seem contradictory, yet urine is made up of waste products and is highly unpleasant to the body. The more concentrated your pee, the more annoying it is, which makes you want to go.
So how much should you drink? Allow your thirst to guide you, but aim for at least 40 ounces of fluid per day, which is equivalent to around five glasses. Your urine's color should be light to medium yellow.
2. Get out of the habit of going “just in case”
Going to the bathroom before you have the urge can increase pee frequency.
Here's why. Most people notice that their bladder is full approximately 10 to 15 minutes before they need to use the restroom. If you go before that sensation sets in, the neurons in your bladder will adjust over time and begin to alert your brain that you need to go sooner.
3. Try to hold off when you feel the urge
One of the most effective ways to lessen your need to pee all the time is to wait as long as possible when you first feel the urge.
Sitting down can help you avoid using the restroom because it puts pressure on the pudendal nerve, causing the bladder to quiet down reflexively.
Contracting your pelvic floor muscles (known as a Kegel) relaxes the bladder and makes it easier to wait. I instruct my patients to take large, slow, deep breaths before closing their eyes, contracting their pelvic floor muscles, and mentally telling their bladder to relax. It isn't flawless, but one in every two to three women who do it will see improvement.
4. Acupuncture
Some patients find that acupuncture might help reduce their mad sprints to the restroom. Acupuncture uses extremely fine needles to stimulate specific spots on the body. New procedures also involve passing an electric current through the needles.
5. Seek medical help
If you continue to have frequent urination despite adopting the lifestyle modifications outlined above, consult your doctor about medical options.
If you have an overactive bladder, your doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce the need to urinate. Other options include nerve stimulation, Botox injections, or, in severe cases, surgery to install a "bladder pacemaker" that can help control bladder function.
The main line is that if you're peeing excessively and it bothers you, you should consult a doctor.