Do you also urinate frequently and a lot? Let's talk about this Polyuria!

Do you sometimes think, "Mom, why do I have to urinate so much?" Or do you wake up at night to urinate without even sleeping soundly? Polyuria is the medical term for passing more urine than normal, that is, in large quantities, per day. This is not just frequent trips to the toilet. In this case, your bladder fills up every time and a large amount of urine is passed. Although this is a major symptom of diabetes, it can also be caused by other health problems. So let's get to know this exactly.

What exactly is polyuria?

Simply put, an adult normally doesn't excrete more than 3 liters of urine per day. But in the case of Polyuria, this amount can go up to 15 liters per day. Imagine how much that is!

Now, some people have conditions like Overactive Bladder. In that, you feel the need to urinate quickly, even when there is only a small amount of urine in your bladder. But in Polyuria, what happens is that your body actually produces more urine, so your bladder fills up quickly. So you have to urinate frequently, in large amounts.

What are the main characteristics of this condition?

A person with polyuria may experience these symptoms. See if you have one or more of these symptoms.

What are the causes of polyuria?

There could be several reasons for this. Let's look at the main ones.

1. Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes)

The most common cause of polyuria is diabetes. This is one of the first signs of diabetes. Here's how it works: When you have diabetes, your blood sugar (glucose) levels get too high. Then our kidneys have to work harder than usual to filter out this excess sugar.

2. Drinking plenty of fluids

Some health conditions can make you feel extremely thirsty. But sometimes, some people drink too much water to stay healthy. This can also be a cause of polyuria. Especially alcohol and caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, some soft drinks) increase urine production.

3. Some medications

Some medications you take may also be a cause of this.

• Diuretics: These are commonly called "water pills." These medications, which are used to treat high blood pressure, remove excess water and salts from the body.
• Other medications: Medications such as calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, lithium for bipolar disorder, and SSRIs for depression can also cause this.

4. Diabetes Insipidus

This is a rare condition that is completely different from the diabetes we all know. What happens here is that the body has difficulty controlling fluid levels. Vasopressin, which is produced in our brain,This is caused by a deficiency of a hormone called Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or by the kidneys not responding properly to it. A person with this condition does not feel thirsty no matter how much water they drink. This can be caused by factors such as kidney disease, cancer, brain injury, or surgery.

5. Kidney disease or kidney failure

Damaged kidneys cannot properly control urine. Polyuria is often an early sign of kidney disease. Conditions such as liver disease, sickle cell anemia, and high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia) can also affect the kidneys and cause polyuria.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

When you see a doctor to tell him about this, he will look at several factors to find the cause.

• Asking you details: How much and how often you urinate, how thirsty you are, and whether this change came suddenly or gradually.
• Medical history: Ask about recent surgeries, treatments received, and medications taken.
• Physical examination: Checks for signs of diabetes or other diseases.
• Urine tests: In addition to a regular urine test, you may be asked to collect all of your urine for a 24-hour period and test it.
• Water Deprivation Test: This is a special test to diagnose Diabetes Insipidus. It is usually done under medical supervision in a hospital.
• Blood tests: Checks the levels of things like glucose, calcium, sodium, and potassium in the blood.

What is the treatment for this?

The way to stop polyuria depends on the underlying cause . Therefore, it is very important to first find out the exact cause. Once the cause is known, you can resort to treatments such as:

• Keeping your diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) under good control .
• Changing or adjusting the dosage of medications that cause polyuria (this should only be done on the advice of a doctor).
• Proper treatment of diseases affecting the kidneys.
• Taking specific medications such as Desmopressin for Diabetes Insipidus.
• If the cause is excessive fluid intake, limit the amount of fluid you drink .

When should you definitely see a doctor?

If you need to urinate more than 8 times a day, or if you feel like you're passing more urine than usual, be sure to see your doctor.

In particular, if excessive urination is accompanied by the following symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.

If you have severe symptoms like these, it is best to go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.