Frequent urination is the urge to urinate more often than usual. It can be caused by excessive fluids or caffeine intake, pregnancy, or anxiety. This condition can disrupt daily routines, disturb sleep cycles, and sometimes point toward an underlying condition, such as an overactive bladder. It can be immensely stressful for the patient, but it is treatable and can be managed with the help of treatment options recommended by a healthcare expert.

What are the signs/symptoms of the condition?
Most people tend to urinate 6-7 times a day. In some cases, the urge to urinate might be significantly more and require assistance from a professional. Hence, in addition to discomfort, some of the other symptoms one can look out for are:

• Cloudy urine
• Painful urination
• Blood in the urine
• Discolored/smelly urine
• Fever
• Loss of bladder control
• Nausea/vomiting
• Discharge from vagina or penis

What are the causes of frequent urination?
Various underlying conditions may be linked to the development of frequent urination. These conditions may affect any part of the urinary tract, including the kidney and tubes.

Urinary tract infection
One of the most common causes of frequent urination, a urinary tract infection (UTI), happens when an exterior infection enters the body and leads to the inflammation of the urinary system. Some of its risk factors include old age, dehydration, holding in urine for a long time, and changes in the urinary system, among others.

Interstitial cystitis
A complex condition usually identified by frequent urination and chronic inflammation of the muscle layers of the bladder, it can cause extreme discomfort to the patient. This can range from a mild burning sensation to extreme pain in the pelvis and abdomen. Incontinence and urgency are also known to be associated with this chronic condition.

Pregnancy
Usually, pregnancy puts increased pressure on the bladder causing frequent urination. It can also occur due to the increase in the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone. It might begin during the first trimester, and, as the pregnancy progresses, it might also lead to leakage or incontinence.

Diabetes
A person suffering from frequent urination might also have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This is caused due to the uncontrolled levels of sugar in the bloodstream that the kidneys try to flush out. As the stress on the kidneys increases, it leads to a rise in the number of fluids leaving the body.

How can frequent urination be treated?
In most circumstances where frequent urination signifies an underlying condition, treating it would cause a reduction in discomfort. Furthermore, there are other ways to treat it, which include:

• Bladder retraining
  This treatment method involves increasing the time between urinating over 12 weeks. It aids the bladder’s ability to hold urine for longer periods of time. The patient can start with a time of 5 minutes and gradually increase it to 3-4 hours.
• Monitoring fluid intake
  An increase in the number of fluids taken throughout the day may also be a reason for frequent urination. Hence, it is important to closely monitor fluid intake daily and reduce it if necessary to avoid the discomfort associated with frequent urination.
• Kegel exercises
  These exercises, followed for 5 minutes thrice a day, helps strengthen the muscles around the urethra and urinary bladder. This improves bladder control and may also reduce the frequency and urinary emergencies.
• Biofeedback
  This assisted therapy method aids people in gaining control over multiple muscles, hence controlling bodily functions. With the help of biofeedback, patients can gain more control over the muscles near the bladder to counter frequent urination with ease.

Managing frequent urination with foods
Frequent urination causes immense discomfort to the patient; hence it becomes important to make certain lifestyle changes to decrease it. This also includes changes in food intake, which may help strengthen the body’s muscles, provide it with more nutrition and decrease the patient’s troubles.

Foods to eat

• Pears
  Pears are rich sources of fiber which can help promote bladder health. It can prove to be of great help for people suffering from bladder-related issues like frequent urination and overactive bladder.
• Bananas
  Some fruits, like bananas, are incredibly tasty and are good sources of nutrition. They are rich in potassium and fiber, which help promote healthy bowel movements and decrease the pressure of the intestines on the urinary bladder.

Foods to avoid

• Coffee/tea
  Coffee and tea increase bladder activity and result in frequent urination. They also lead to other bladder-related problems, such as incontinence and urgency.
• Chocolate
  The caffeine content in chocolates can aggravate bladder-related issues and increase the patient’s discomfort.