How many times is it normal to use the bathroom

Many things can negatively affect your quality of life. One that may not be on your radar is how frequently you use the bathroom at night—but it should be. Waking up frequently to urinate can be frustrating and exhausting. If it happens often enough, it can leave you feeling sleepy and less able to concentrate throughout the day. John Danella, Geisinger urologist. The body naturally produces a hormone called antidiuretic hormone ADH , which tells your kidneys how much water to retain.

Whether you smoke comes into play, since tobacco can irritate your bladder. Loading up on sugar sweetened drinks like sodas and juices can also make you pee more, as well as upping your salt consumption which makes you thirstier , Peterson says. The opposite can occur when you amp up your level of activity and sweat more, says Orli Etingin , M. Basically, if you're sweating more, you're peeing less, because you're getting rid of water by other means. The number of times you stop by the porcelain throne should only become a cause for concern if you notice a drastic change, Peterson says.

But honestly, it can be tough to determine how much your bathroom habits are changing or if they are at all. That's why it's a good idea to keep what urologists call a "voiding diary" if you're concerned for any reason. That means you write down everything you drink and when , when you pee, and how much you're going each time.

FYI: A "normal" amount of pee each time should be enough to fill up a coffee cup or more—but you don't have to actually measure it. You want a longer, steady stream instead of a few drops. Cologne said. But if you go to the bathroom more often but then suddenly stop, and your stool is hard and difficult to pass, you may be constipated.

Constipation on its own can be regulated by eating fiber and drinking water, but it can also be a sign of more serious problems, such as a thyroid issue, diabetes or cancer. It could also be caused by a new medication or change in routine. Drink lots of water. Maintaining good colon health is easy, and important, because not only can it help you avoid preventable colon issues, but the things that are good for your colon are also good for your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, skin, hair, and overall well-being.

Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals includes "virtual" hospital , a Medical Group with more than 2, physicians and advanced practice clinicians at about clinics, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services.

Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in clinical quality improvement and efficient healthcare delivery. Which should I choose? Authors Topics. Jeremy Holt Mar 24, How do I know if I have normal potty habits? I just realized I only experience unhealthy bowel movements! Why have things changed for me? What diseases and disorders can give me abnormal bowel movements?