Medical Edge Newspaper Column

June 17, 2007
Readers:
An increase in the number of trips to the bathroom — day or night — is a signal it's time to see a physician. Frequent urination often indicates an underlying medical condition. With proper diagnosis and treatment, it's possible to return to normal urinary habits.

Here are some of the common causes of frequent urination:

Urinary tract infections: Symptoms of a bacterial infection of the bladder or the urethra (the tube through which urine flows out of the body) can include frequency, burning with urination, foul-smelling urine, fever and pelvic pain.

Side effect of medication: Diuretics and other medications can increase urinary frequency.

Age-related changes: Weakening of the bladder, urethra and pelvic floor muscles many reduce the amount of the urine the bladder can store and your ability to hold or properly eliminate urine.

Prostate problems: For men, an enlarged or infected prostate can lead to urgency and frequent urination, especially at night.

Bladder problems: Frequent or urgent urination can be an early sign of bladder cancer. Bladder stones or bladder inflammation can cause frequent or painful urination.

Diabetes: High sugar draw water into the bloodstream which must then be excreted through the kidneys, increasing the need to urinate.

Kidney disease: Diseases that impair renal function may affect the ability to concentrate urine, increasing the amount of urine produced.

Congestive heart failure: A weak heart can't pump blood efficiently, causing fluids to build up. The kidneys produce large amounts of urine as they eliminate excess fluids.

The key treatment for frequent urination is addressing the underlying condition.