Polyuria is excessive urination, which can be caused by drinking too much fluid or an underlying medical condition. It can be accompanied by polydipsia (increased thirst) and is a symptom of diabetes. If lasting for more than a day, it’s important to see a doctor to explore possible causes and treatment options.
Polyuria is a medical symptom in which someone produces an unusually large volume of urine. Sometimes people urinate a lot because they drink a lot of fluids, but sometimes polyuria is a symptom of an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed. This symptom may be accompanied by polydipsia, defined as increased thirst; the two conditions are often linked in a cycle as the body struggles to cope with an imbalance occurring internally.
Polydipsia and polyuria are two characteristic symptoms of diabetes that can be an important diagnostic clue. However, polyuria can also be caused by a variety of other conditions. For example, sometimes people with fluid buildups such as ascites and edema start expressing fluid in their urine. Some medications can also cause it, with diuretics being a notable example, and there are many other health conditions associated with excessive urination.
People with polyuria find that they need to pass urine frequently and that when they urinate, the urine volume may be higher than normal. If a lot of water is consumed at the same time, the urine may be relatively pale in colour. In some patients, polyuria occurs more at night, with people getting up several times during the evening to urinate. Sometimes people may wet the bed because they don’t realize how badly they need to pee.
If polyuria occurs within a single day and someone remembers drinking a lot of fluids, especially tea or coffee, no medical attention is likely needed, especially if no other abnormal symptoms are noted. The body is simply processing fluid it doesn’t need and getting rid of it. While this may be inconvenient, it’s no cause for alarm; although it could be a cause for moderating your coffee and tea intake in the future. Patients who know they have conditions that cause excessive urination may view polyuria as a sign that the condition has not been well managed and it is time to see a doctor to evaluate the current treatment plan.
When a patient experiences polyuria combined with excessive thirst and lasting for more than a day, it’s time to pay a visit to the doctor. The doctor can evaluate the patient to explore possible causes and use some diagnostic tests to learn more about the patient’s situation. It is hoped that treating the condition causing the excessive urination will resolve the polyuria as well. Patients should be aware that many of the conditions associated with excessive urination are chronic, so treatment focuses on management, not finding a cure.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
