Does dehydration really increase incontinence and frequent urination?
Do any of these circumstances apply to you?
- You tend to go a little too long without drinking water
- You live in a hot and dry climate
- You have a health condition that causes chronic dehydration
There is a link between dehydration, poor bladder health and incontinence. But how common is this? And could dehydration be the cause of your own incontinence problems? Let’s take a look.
Signs of dehydration
When your body loses more fluid than you take in, you can become dehydrated. Water makes up two-thirds of your body weight, and the amount of water you lose can affect the severity of dehydration. Dehydration falls into several categories: mild (3% to 5% water loss), moderate (6% to 10% loss), and severe (more than 10% loss). The more water you lose, the worse your symptoms can become.
Pay attention to your body. You may be dehydrated if you notice the following symptoms:
- Feelings of lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Dark or strongly colored urine
It’s easy to spot signs of dehydration in yourself, but it can be difficult to spot signs of dehydration in babies and others. Babies often have a sunken soft spot on their head when they are dehydrated and produce very few tears when they cry. The same goes for older adults. You may see few tears when they cry or dry lips.
Although you might expect dehydration to cause you to urinate less, it can be a factor in frequent urination.
The link between incontinence and drinking too little
In general, many people associate incontinence with drinking too much fluid in a short period of time. This makes sense, because the amount of urine your bladder has to hold increases with excessive water intake. This often results in more toilet visits.
However, dehydration can also be a cause of incontinence. If you do not drink enough water, the urine in your bladder can become very concentrated . When the urine in your bladder contains too much salt, it can irritate your bladder and lead to incontinence. Drinking carbonated drinks such as soda instead of water can also irritate your bladder.
Urinary incontinence is also common in older people, especially women. Many people notice that their bodies start to behave differently as they get older. Their muscles start to become less tense and may even cramp up. This can lead to incontinence.
While drinking less water may seem like a possible solution to incontinence, not drinking enough water is not only bad for your body, it can also make incontinence symptoms worse. Your body needs water to function. Drink when you’re thirsty, and unless your doctor tells you otherwise, aim for eight glasses or two liters of water a day to be healthy.
Often incontinence is temporary. It is usually a symptom and not a disease. If you have addressed the underlying cause, you may not have to worry about this problem anymore.
In the meantime, there is a temporary solution for dehydration-related incontinence, and it is simple: just drink more water. If your symptoms do not improve, it is best to consult a doctor.
Prevent dehydration
Keep your body in the best possible shape by paying attention to what it needs. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you suspect you are dehydrated, you can drink more water to see if your symptoms go away. For example, if you suspect you are dehydrated but you are urinating frequently, drink more water and see if there is a difference.
You need to make sure you don't lose more water than your body can afford, which means you should strongly consider doing the following to prevent dehydration:
- Wear sunscreen. The sun easily dehydrates your body. Stay out of the sun whenever possible. Excessive exposure to heat can not only lead to dehydration, but also to heat fatigue, heat stroke, and exhaustion. These can all lead to other physical and mental health symptoms.
- Be careful with alcohol consumption. Alcohol often makes you urinate more often. If you want to avoid getting dehydrated, make sure to drink water when you do have a drink. Pair a cocktail or a glass of wine with a glass of water. This will keep you hydrated and feeling your best.
- Check medications. Some medications can make you urinate more often. If this is the case, you should significantly increase your water intake unless your doctor advises otherwise. Make sure you learn about the side effects of all your medications. Talk to a pharmacist if you have any questions.
- Drink lots of water. Last but not least, drink lots of water throughout the day. It can be easy to forget to drink water, so don’t be shy and set a reminder on your phone. You can also consider eating more fruit to supplement your water intake.
It is rare for dehydration to lead to chronic or ongoing incontinence, especially if you change your drinking habits. Long-term incontinence can be caused by a number of diseases and conditions, as well as pregnancy. If you are dehydrated and still urinate frequently, it could be a sign that some of your organs are not functioning properly. It is safe to say that incontinence due to dehydration is temporary and often easily remedied. Simply drink more water.
Conclusion
Do you have to pee more when you are dehydrated? You absolutely can. Dehydration does not always mean peeing less. It is important to pay attention to your body and see what else it is telling you. For example, do you get a headache? Is your urine extremely dark or does it smell strange?
The solution to this type of incontinence can be quite simple. All you need to do is monitor your water intake and make sure you drink enough. If you are dealing with incontinence, prepare yourself with Robin Underwear incontinence products. They are easy to use, affordable and keep you as dry as possible while you stay active all day long. With our products, you don’t have to make drastic changes to your life and you can just carry on as if nothing is wrong.
