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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
What is the normal frequency for going to the toilet? In case of excess or insufficiency, when should we worry? American experts from the National Institute of Health answered this question. Are you in the norm?
Have you ever wondered if you go too much, or too little, to the little corner? The question may make you smile, but urinating is one of the body’s essential functions and can reveal clues about your state of health. This is why the National Institute of Health (NIH), an American health authority, has seriously studied the question.
Six to eight pees per day on average
First of all, where do our pressing desires come from? From a message sent to the brain. Urine comes from the kidneys which filter waste and water to fill the bladder. When it is filled, pressure on the muscles gives the signal to the brain: you have to go relieve yourself.
Which happens on average every 3 to 4 hours. The NIH’s answer is therefore mathematical: on average we urinate 6 to 8 times a day. A frequency which can however vary from one person to another between 4 to 10 times a day, the experts specifying that the rule is not immutable: “Some people may need to go more or less regularly depending on various factors. Urination can be a reflection of many activities of our body or our environment.
So the more you drink, the more you go to the bathroom. Certain medications can also cause you to urinate more.
Too many or too few desires? A sign to watch out for
Do you notice an increase in the frequency of your urination or, on the contrary, too few trips to the toilet? These changes can be a sign of a disorder or a health problem, as Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo points out:
“There really isn’t an ideal frequency. Generally, when we drink a lot, we urinate a lot. When you urinate little, it can be a sign of dehydration. But there are other signs to observe.
An increased frequency of urination, called pollakiuria, can be a sign of overhydration”but also urinary tract infection, especially if the urine is cloudy, smelly and painful when urinating” says the doctor. A high frequency can also be a sign of diabetes,”especially if you are very thirsty and urinate a lot”.
“On the other hand, too little daily urination can be a sign of dehydration, urinary retention in the bladder or general dysfunction, in which the kidneys will no longer eliminate enough urine, or a neurological problem” refers to the specialist.
For their part, doctors from the National Institutes of Health warn. In case of :
- Blood in the urine;
- More than 10 times a day or more than 3 times a night, or if, on the contrary, you spend 6 hours or more without having to pee;
- Urinary leakage;
- Painful urination;
- Difficulty urinating.
It is advisable to consult a doctor.
Slide: The different colors of urine and their meaning