According to the Cleveland Clinic, an average person is expected to urinate about six to eight times within a 24-hour period, with any deviation from the figure likely to be caused by a number of factors. Thus, if you are having to make more trips to the bathroom than the specified six to eight hours within a day, you may have a urinary symptom simply referred to as frequent urination.
It is a highly disruptive, stressful and inconvenient symptom that could see to it that you constantly have a full bladder, thus, you are forced to make more trips to the bathroom throughout the day and even at night. When this need to urinate frequently affects a person only during the day, the person is said to suffer from polyuria. However, when it often occurs at night, the person is said to suffer from nocturia.
It is considered normal that at certain periods in life, it is possible to need to urinate more frequently. This is usually true for pregnant women, who will have frequent urination (a normal symptom of pregnancy) and it often stops after giving birth. However, in many other cases, having to urinate more than 6-8 times within a day can be indicative of issues that are not normal parts of life and don’t stop with time.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, while anyone, regardless of their gender or age can experience frequent urination, people who are more likely to experience it include those who are middle-aged or old adults, pregnant women, or men with an enlarged prostate. Other known causes of frequent urination, according to the Cleveland Clinic include the following:
1. Urinary tract and bladder conditions such as urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder syndrome, and bladder cancer.
2. Diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2 can also cause frequent urination, thus it is important to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
3. Prostate problems due to the age-induced enlargement of the prostate which, in turn, puts pressure on the urinary system and causes frequent urination.
4. Other known causes of frequent urination include having a stroke, use of diuretics, inflammation of the vagina, developing a pelvic tumour, prolapse of the female organs through the vagina, and drinking too much alcohol or caffeine.
Having considered some of the possible causes of frequent urination, it is worth stating that it is a treatable and manageable condition, with its treatment often revolving around establishing its underlying cause and sometimes, making certain lifestyle changes. Diet is especially crucial in this regard as food can either make better or make worse the symptoms.
This implies that it is important you avoid certain foods and drinks that can make you urinate more than normal while increasing your intake of certain foods that can help reduce the severity of the issue. With that in mind, below are some of the foods you can eat when you have frequent urination:
1. Bladder-friendly fruits
These are fruits that are exceptionally high in vitamin content and are not acidic. Healthy examples include bananas, apples, grapes, coconut, watermelon, strawberries, and blackberries.
2. Bladder-friendly vegetables
Vegetables are highly beneficial to the body thanks to their impressive health benefits. Some of the healthy vegetables you can eat which may help reduce your symptom of frequent urination include asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, kale, carrots, celery, and lettuce.
3. Fibre-rich foods
Fibre-rich foods are also important in helping your bladder by preventing the additional pressure often put on the bladder by constipation. Foods that are high in fibre that you can eat include lentils, beans, barley, oats, raspberries, bran, artichoke, and almonds.
4. Protein-rich foods
Protein is one of the most important food nutrients and its intake is not only good for your bladder only, but equally for your overall health. Protein-rich foods to consume more include fish, chicken, and eggs.
On the other side of the spectrum lies certain foods that are known to irritate the bladder and make you more vulnerable to constant or frequent urination. It is highly recommended to limit your intake of such foods or even avoid them completely if and when possible. A few of such foods and drinks, according to Corey Whelan of Healthline include the following:
1. Carbonated beverages such as sparkling water, coffee and tea.
2. Chocolate.
3. Alcoholic drinks.
4. Citrus fruits such as orange, lime, and lemons.
5. Tomatoes and tomato-based products, including ketchup, tomato sauce, and chilli.
6. Spicy foods.
7. Foods containing artificial flavourings and preservatives.
8. Foods containing sugar or sugar substitutes.
9. Honey.
10. Raw onion.
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