In the pharmacy, you have to hear people asking – is there any advice why you have to visit the toilet more often than others? Jokes aside, but if the small need becomes so pressing that it begins to affect daily activities, then it is worth paying more attention to this issue. What is the “average patient” who becomes fatigued by the excessive need to urinate? Pharmacist of “Mēnes Aptiekas” Ieva Turonoka knows how to tell that, although you want to imagine it from an older age, such a problem can occur at any age and its causes can be both easily corrected and especially dangerous for health.
“Especially those pharmacists who work with regular customers have gained their trust, they notice changes in their behavior – the hitherto cheerful and sociable person begins to limit contacts, goes out in public less often, does not attend cultural events, for which before, when buying hygiene products or medicines necessary for everyday life, used to also inform his pharmacist as an advisor in health problems,” says Ieva Turonoka.
It’s true that a theater performance becomes unbearable if, when the intermission begins, you have to stumble and try to get to the toilet first.
The pharmacist observed that usually people try to “push the problem aside” instead of solving it by looking for the cause, for example, women start buying sanitary napkins instead of daily pads, use nutritional supplements containing cranberry extract much more, and so on. But the worst thing you can do to your health in such cases is to refrain from drinking water. This can be helpful on rare occasions, such as before attending a public event, but is by no means a permanent solution to bladder control. You should definitely visit a doctor, because there are many reasons for wanting to pee too often, and some of them require an immediate medical solution.
Too much liquid
It’s not just the water that’s to blame. We take in 20-30% of liquid from food and drinks. It goes without saying that too much liquid (especially if water is replaced with diuretic drinks such as tea or coffee) will also make you run to the toilet more often. It lowers the amount of salts in the blood to unhealthy levels. “Follow the ‘golden’ rule: drink enough to make your urine clear or light yellow, but not so much that you’re looking for the nearest toilet all day,” advises the pharmacist.
Urinary tract infections
This is the most common reason for frequent urination. Bacteria infect the kidneys, bladder or urinary tract, the bladder swells and cannot absorb as much urine, it can be cloudy, bloody or have a particularly unpleasant smell. Fever, chills, nausea, and pain in the side or lower abdomen may also be present. In order to detect a urinary tract infection and the treatment to be effective and accurate, it is necessary to go to the doctor and also submit the analyzes for a laboratory examination. If the disease is in a mild form, the pharmacist will be able to help with phytotherapy, but to fight a serious infection, the doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics.
Diabetes
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes raise blood sugar levels. The kidneys try to filter it, but they are not always able to cope with the load, so the sugar ends up in the urine. More fluid is removed from the body, it is necessary to urinate more often. Frequent urination is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes.
Diuretics
Also known as diuretics, these drugs treat high blood pressure and liver and kidney problems. They force the kidneys to excrete sodium more, so you want to urinate more often. “Drinking too little or not eating a healthy diet can lead to the loss of too much sodium and potassium, which can be harmful to health. This can manifest as dizziness, pain and nausea. However, before you stop taking the medicine, consult your doctor about how to compensate for the underlying disease, which is why you have to take these medicines,” says the pharmacist of Mēnes Aptiekas.
Painful bladder syndrome
There is a feeling that you need to urinate all the time, but nothing much comes out when you go to the toilet. There may also be lower abdominal pain that gets worse when you urinate or have sex. These sensations occur when the bladder tissue swells and becomes very sensitive. It is not always clear what causes this condition. Also called interstitial cystitis, it can be treated with diet and exercise, medication, surgery, and physical therapy.
Kidney stones
Deposits of minerals and salts can form small stones in the kidneys. In such cases, the need to go to the toilet is frequent, but only a few drops can be squeezed out. There may also be nausea, fever, chills, and severe flank and back pain that radiates to the groin. Being overweight, dehydration, high-protein diets, and a family history of kidney stones are risk factors. Stones may pass on their own (a painful process!) or may require surgery.
Pregnancy
As the baby grows, it takes up more space and puts pressure on the bladder, which makes you go to the toilet more often. Not only the growing baby is to blame. During pregnancy, the body produces pregnancy horm
one called human chorionic gonadotropin, which is associated with an increased urge to urinate. Consult your doctor if you experience pain when urinating or blood in your urine.
A stroke
A stroke can damage the nerves that control the bladder. It manifests itself as a stronger desire to urinate more often, the amount of urine released can be small, but it can also be relatively large. Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other brain diseases can have similar effects. Your doctor can help you adjust your diet and make toileting recommendations to reduce your symptoms. In severe cases, medication or surgery may be necessary.
Vaginitis
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina. It can be caused by yeast, bacteria, viruses, medications or hormonal changes. Chemicals in body care products or inappropriate laundry can also be a trigger. Symptoms are itching, burning sensation when urinating, pain during sex. There may also be discharge, an unpleasant odor and an increased urge to urinate.
Too much alcohol or caffeine
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks act as diuretics, increasing the removal of water from the body. These drinks also reduce the amount of vasopressin produced in the body. It is a hormone that causes the kidneys to supply more water to the body’s needs, instead of sending it to the bladder for elimination. Therefore, it is a good idea to add a sip of water to alcoholic cocktails, beer or wine. Although caffeine also has serious effects, you need to drink a lot more coffee to achieve the same effect as alcohol.
Weak pelvis
The pelvis is an area in the lower abdomen. When the muscles stretch and become weak, which tends to happen during pregnancy and childbirth, the bladder or urethra can become stretched. In both cases, there may be increased urination.
Menopause
A woman stops menstruating around the age of 50. The body produces less of the hormone estrogen, which can make you want to urinate more. Your doctor can help with hormone replacement therapy, dietary changes, and other treatments.
Tumor
A tumor, both malignant and benign, can cause an increased urge to urinate because it takes up more space in or around the bladder. Blood in the urine is the most important sign of cancer. Talk to your doctor if you notice blood in your urine, a lump in your lower abdomen, or pain when you urinate.
Prostate
Men have a walnut-sized gland, the prostate, which can enlarge after the age of 25. An enlarged prostate can make the flow of urine weak and uneven. This causes a more frequent urge to urinate and sometimes the urge is sudden. In rare cases, it can be a sign of more serious diseases, such as cancer. A doctor may perform tests to rule out other causes and then treat an enlarged prostate.
Constipation
If you have not been able to pass a bowel movement for a while (constipation), the bowels may be so full that they press on the bladder and cause you to urinate more often or with difficulty. “Constipation can add to the problem by weakening the pelvic floor muscles, which help control the bowels and bladder. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about how to regulate bowel movements,” reminds Ieva Turonoka.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea stops breathing for a short time and is associated with the need to urinate during the night (nocturia). This causes you to wake up one or more times during the night to go to the bathroom, and is much more common in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Pharmacist Ieva Turonoka emphasizes that this is only an approximate list of possible causes, therefore, if the cause has not been diagnosed and treatment coordinated with the doctor, you should not rely on full-fledged help in the pharmacy. However, once the real reason for frequent urination has been established, the pharmacist has a huge range of products that make everyday life easier, starting with medicines, nutritional supplements and ending with hygiene products, both to keep the body clean, to care for sensitive skin areas, and to choose the most suitable sanitary napkins or pads .
“Daily care of intimate areas is very important to prevent skin inflammation, unpleasant odor, itching and discomfort. Washing products for the intimate area are available in the form of gel, foam, gel or cream. Wet wipes for biting the intimate area are also available in the pharmacy, which are easy to take with you when going about your daily routine. The variety of sanitary napkins is large – thicker, thinner, longer, shorter, for both women and men. There are also different sizes of panties available, which are great for incontinence, such as when you’re at an event, on a long journey, or during a night’s sleep. The pharmacist in the pharmacy will definitely help you choose products that are suitable for a specific situation,” confirms pharmacist Ieva Turonoka.
