The production of excess urine, known scientifically as polyuria, occurs when you make more than 3 liters of pee in 24 hours and should not be confused with the frequent urge to urinate in normal amounts, also known as polaquiuria.
Generally, excess urine is not a concern and only occurs because of excessive water consumption, which needs to be eliminated from the body, but can also indicate health problems, such as diabetes or kidney failure, especially if it arises for no apparent reason and for several days.
Thus, the ideal is that whenever there are changes in the urine or its amount, consult a nephrologist or at least a general practitioner to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment. Check out what the major changes in urine mean.
1. Excessive water consumption
This is the most common and least serious cause of excess urine and it happens because the body needs to maintain well-balanced fluid levels within the body tissues to prevent the onset of swelling and also facilitate the work of important organs such as the brain or the lungs.
Thus, when drinking too much water, there is also the need to eliminate this excess through the urine, resulting in polyuria, that is, the elimination of more than 3 liters of urine per day. The amount of fluids can also be influenced when drinking too many coffees, teas or soft drinks during the day, for example.
- What to do : If the urine is very clear or transparent, you can reduce the amount of water ingested during the day. Generally, the urine should be a light yellow color to indicate that the amount of water is adequate.
2. Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is another common cause of increased urine output, and this usually happens because the body needs to quickly reduce the amount of sugar in the blood by filtering that sugar through the kidneys by eliminating it in the urine.
Although it is more frequent that this symptom arises in people who do not know that they have the disease, it can also happen in those who already have the diagnosis, but does not make the appropriate treatment, presenting uncontrolled glucose levels. Check for other symptoms that may indicate the presence of diabetes.
- What to do : When you suspect you have diabetes, you should see a general practitioner or an endocrinologist for tests that help confirm diabetes. Afterwards, the feeding should be adapted and, if necessary, the use of medicines recommended by the doctor. See which tests are most commonly used to diagnose diabetes.
3. Diabetes insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a kidney disorder that, although it has an identical name, is not related to diabetes mellitus and is therefore not caused by excess blood sugar, caused by a hormonal change that causes the kidney to eliminate water through the urine.
Another very common symptom is the presence of excessive thirst, since most of the water is being eliminated from the body. Some causes that can cause diabetes insipidus include brain trauma, autoimmune diseases, infections or even tumors. Understand better what this disease is and what its causes.
- What to do : It is best to consult an endocrinologist to confirm the diagnosis and start the most appropriate treatment, which can be done with a diet low in salt and with the use of some remedies indicated by the doctor.
4. Liver changes
When the liver is not working properly, one of the symptoms that may arise is excess urine as well as frequent urge to urinate. This is because the liver is not able to properly filter the blood that passes and therefore the kidneys may be working harder to compensate. In addition to excess urine, it is also possible that the color of urine changes, becoming darker.
- What to do : Be aware of other signs that may indicate liver problems such as poor digestion, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, yellowing of the skin, or even weight loss. If this happens, consult a hepatologist to identify the problem and start the most appropriate treatment. Some tea that can help in liver health include boldo, artichoke or thistle, for example. Check out 11 symptoms that can indicate liver problems.
5. Use of diuretics
The main function of diuretic medicines, such as furosemide or spironolactone, is to eliminate excess fluid in the body. Therefore, if you are taking any of these medicines it is normal to also make more pee during the day.
Generally, these remedies are indicated by the doctor to treat symptoms related to heart problems or even urinary tract infection, and should not be used without medical advice, especially in weight loss processes, as they can cause the loss of important minerals.
- What to do : If you are taking a diuretic on a doctor's appointment, but the discomfort of too much urination is very uncomfortable, talk to your doctor to see if you can reduce the dose or change your medicine. If you are taking it without advice, you should stop using the medicine and consult a doctor.
6. Pregnancy
Although not a health problem, pregnancy is another very common cause of excess urination. This is because during this phase of a woman's life, there are several changes, especially at the hormonal level that lead to an increase in blood supply and kidney function. Thus, it is common for the pregnant woman to urinate more than normal.
In addition, during pregnancy it is also normal for the uterus to grow and pressure on the bladder, which causes the woman to urinate more often during the day because the bladder can not dilate to accumulate too much pee.
- What to do : Too much urination during pregnancy is completely normal, however to try to reduce the amount of urine the pregnant can avoid some drinks that stimulate the process of forming urine like coffee and tea, giving preference to water, for example.
7. Excess of calcium in the blood
Excess calcium in the blood, also known as hypercalcemia, occurs especially in people with hyperparathyroidism, and is characterized by the presence of calcium levels above 10.5 mg / dl in the blood. In addition to causing a significant increase in the amount of urine, hypercalcemia may also present other signs such as drowsiness, excessive tiredness, nausea, and frequent headache.
- What to do : If there is a suspicion of excess calcium in your blood you should consult a general practitioner and have a blood test. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor usually uses diuretic medicines to try to eliminate high blood calcium levels quickly. See more about what hypercalcemia is and how it is treated.
