The frequency of urination is the perfect way to know how hydrated your body is. So how often should you pee? Normally, you should go to the toilet around 8 times in 24 hours. If you happen to pee much more than that, it might be an indication that you drink too much water or you are taking a lot of caffeine that flushes out liquids from your body since it is diuretic. However, urinating too many times can indicate other serious problems.
Possible causes of frequent urination
Since you are wondering about the question “how often should you pee”, you may also be curious about the causes of peeing too much in a day.
Diabetes
Increase in urination frequency can be an indication of type 1 and 2 diabetes. This is due to the fact that the body is trying to expel unused glucose through urine.
Pregnancy
As soon as you get pregnant, the uterus increases in size and puts pressure on the bladder, which results in stronger urge to urinate and increased frequency in urination.
Prostate Problems
When the prostate enlarges, it puts pressure on the urethra, causing the walls of the bladder to become irritable. As a result, the bladder contracts even when there is only small amount of urine.
Use of Diuretic
If you are on drugs that cause water to be flashed out of the body, peeing frequency can increase. Drugs that treat high blood pressure have the same effect.
Stroke
Problems of the nerves can lead to bladder malfunction like increase in frequency or sudden urges to pee.
Overactive Bladder
An over-reactive bladder sends you to the washroom even though there is no urine during the day and at night.
Urinary Tract Infection
Inflammation can occur in the lining of the urethra due to an infection. This causes irritation in the walls of the bladder which in turn increases the urge to urinate.
Other Possible Causes
Other causes of the increase in urination frequency are excessive fluid intake, caffeine drinks like soda, coffee and green tea, alcohol, ration treatment affecting the lower abdomen or pelvis, bladder cancer and dysfunction as well as aging.
How to treat frequent urination
After knowing the answer to how often should you pee, you might be interested in knowing what to do if urinate too frequently.
Bladder Retraining
Retraining is very helpful if you have an over-reactive bladder. You are required to hold urine for a longer time than you usually do. Increase the interval for a period of 12 weeks. This helps the bladder to hold urine longer and thus reduces the frequency of urination.
Kegel Exercises
These exercises involve contacting and releasing the pelvic floor muscles. When you are urinating, stop voluntarily then restart the flow again to engage these muscles. Once these muscles are toned, you are able to reduce the urinating frequency. Below is a video guide on how to do kegel exercises effectively: