Increased Urinary Frequency

Increased Urinary Frequency: Overview

Normally, the average person urinates no more than six to eight times each day, and does not have to get up at night to use the bathroom.  When a person needs urinate more than once every couple of hours during the day, or get up several times during the night, something is probably wrong.

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After urine is produced by the kidneys, it flows down the ureters into the bladder.  The bladder is a hollow, balloon-like organ, most of its wall being made of muscle.  As the bladder fills, the muscle relaxes so that the bladder expands and holds urine.  During urination, the bladder muscle contracts to squeeze out the urine.  The urethra is the tube through which urine passes from the bladder to the outside.  The urethra has a muscle – the sphincter – which is completely separate to the bladder muscle.  The sphincter normally stays closed and makes a seal to keep urine from leaking.  During urination, the sphincter opens and lets urine pass.

The bladder and urethra have a specialized lining called the epithelium.  The epithelium forms a barrier between the urine and the bladder muscle.  The epithelium also helps to keep bacteria from sticking to the bladder, so it helps to prevent bladder infections.

Causes and Development

Common causes of frequent urination include:

Added to these possible causes is the natural process of aging: As we get older, the muscle of the bladder loses elasticity and tone.  As a result, the bladder's capacity can be reduced by almost 50%, causing more frequent urination, and may empty less completely.  The warning period between the urge and actual urination is also shortened or even lost as one ages.  In addition, muscular disability, spinal cord effects on the bladder muscle, tumors, infection, or anatomic damage to the sphincters and/or bladder neck may cause incontinence in advancing age.  Other risks for incontinence in old age include chronic disease, cognitive impairment, medications, smoking, pelvic muscle weakness, low fluid intake and environment.

Signs, symptoms & indicators of Increased Urinary Frequency:

Symptoms - Urinary

Risk factors for Increased Urinary Frequency:

Allergy

Autoimmune

Diet

Caffeine Intoxication

Caffeine is a diuretic, causing increased urination.

Female-Specific

Glandular

Hormones

Diabetes Insipidus

Average urine volume for a normal adult is 1.5 liters daily.  In advanced cases of diabetes insipidus, urine volume can approach 18 liters daily.

Male-Specific

Enlarged Prostate

Increases in the number of times a man has to visit the bathroom along with a frequent sensation of having to urinate – especially at night – are among some of the early signs.  In addition, a reduction in the force and caliber of urination is also characteristic of prostatic enlargement.

Metabolic

Organ Health

Symptoms - Food - Beverages

Counter-indicators

Tumors, Benign

Fibroids

Mural fibroids (located in the uterine wall) and subserous fibroids (protruding outside the uterine wall) may reach a large size before causing symptoms.  These symptoms may include pressure on the bladder with difficulty voiding or urinary frequency and urgency, pressure on the rectum with constipation, lower back and abdominal pain, as well as heavy bleeding.

Urinary

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Increased Urinary Frequency suggests the following may be present:

Infections

Urinary

Recommendations for Increased Urinary Frequency:

Diet

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Weak or unproven link: may increase risk of; may suggest
Weak or unproven link:
may increase risk of; may suggest
Strong or generally accepted link: often increases risk of; often suggests
Strong or generally accepted link:
often increases risk of; often suggests
Definite or direct link: is a sign or symptom of; increases risk of
Definite or direct link:
is a sign or symptom of; increases risk of
Strong counter-indication: often decreases risk of
Strong counter-indication:
often decreases risk of
Moderately useful: often helps with
Moderately useful:
often helps with
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