Dr Karl reveals the surprising number of times you should be heading to the bathroom at night
How many times a day should you actually be going to the bathroom? According to Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, there’s no single magic number – but there is a range that can tell you if your body is in balance.
Speaking on ABC Health, Dr Karl said the ‘normal’ range for urination is six to eight times per day, though it can be anywhere between two and ten depending on your body and lifestyle.
Dr Karl said that it’s typical to use the washroom between zero and four times at night, with older people on the higher end of the spectrum.
But if you’re way outside that range, it may be time to think about your habits.
‘Firstly, you have to make sure you have a good balance between how much water you drink because it can be easy to confuse the thirst signal with a hunger signal,’ he explained.
‘People will just eat instead of drinking water.’
A simple way to check your hydration, he said, is by paying attention to the colour of your urine.
‘You don’t want incredibly light, and you don’t want incredibly dark – just somewhere in between.
Dr Karl said the ‘normal’ range for urination is six to eight times per day, though it can be anywhere between two and ten depending on your body and lifestyle
A simple way to check your hydration, he said, is by paying attention to the colour of your urine
‘Too light is a problem because you could be flushing out other vitamins and minerals. More of a problem seems to be the other end, too dark.’
Dr Karl also pointed to the importance of the pelvic floor.
If you’re urinating too often, it could be because you’re rushing to the bathroom at the very first signal your bladder gives.
‘Your bladder is kind of like an accordion,’ he said.
‘Too much holding is bad, but a little bit is good.’
That’s where pelvic floor exercises can make a difference.
These exercises involve tightening and lifting the muscles you’d use to stop your flow of urine, holding for a few seconds before relaxing.
Experts recommend repeating this several times a day, gradually increasing the length of the hold to build strength and control.
If you’re urinating too often, it could be because you’re rushing to the bathroom at the very first signal your bladder gives
The advice has sparked plenty of reactions from readers and health workers.
‘I’m a nurse and if I can pee once a shift then it’s a good day,’ one person admitted.
Another wrote, ‘I only pee about two times a day, sometimes more. I’ve always been like this. I had an ultrasound once as a child and was told I had quite a large bladder.’
Whether you’re on the lower or higher end of the scale, Dr Karl’s reminder is clear: listen to your body, pay attention to your hydration, and don’t underestimate the role of pelvic floor strength when it comes to a healthy bladder.
