Why Do You Pee More When You’re Ill? Cold Symptoms Explained

Flu and colds can come with a wide range of associated symptoms, including an unusually overactive bladder. If you find that you need to use the bathroom more when you're sick, there usually isn't reason to worry—it's completely normal and we're here to explain why.

In addition to peeing more frequently, you may also find that you leak urine from time to time when you're sick. Urinary incontinence symptoms may be concerning, but you can generally expect them to subside when you recover from your cold.

In this article, we'll explore the reasons why you need to pee more when you're sick, including the fact that your body typically produces more urine due to an increased fluid intake. We'll also give you a few tips on how you can look after your bladder health during flu season.

Why Do I Pee More When I Have a Cold?

There are a few different reasons why you may need to pee more often when you have a cold, including:

Pressure on the pelvic floor

When you're coughing and sneezing more than usual, you're putting additional pressure on your pelvic floor muscles. This can increase your urge to pee and may even result in urine leaks.

Increased fluid intake

When sick, you're typically encouraged to drink more fluids, including water and tea, among other 'health' drinks. This increased fluid intake can cause your body to produce more urine and result in you needing to pee more often than usual.

Cold medications

Unfortunately, many over-the-counter cold medications can result in constipation. The build-up of stool in your abdominal area puts additional pressure on your bladder muscle, causing you to pee more often than usual.

Cold-induced diuresis

Most people get colds in winter, and the drop in temperatures may also play a role in your increased need to pee. Did you know that cold weather can affect your urinary system? Because you're sweating less in cooler temperatures, your body needs to pee more to expel toxins and get rid of excess fluid.

How to Lessen Frequent Urination and Urine Leakage When You Have a Cold

Having to pee more often than usual can be very frustrating, but there are a few ways you can alleviate your symptoms, including:

Make sure you drink enough water

While drinking more water can cause you to pee more than usual, it's very important to stay hydrated so that your body can flush out waste products. Proper hydration supports immune function and may aid in a faster recovery from illness.

Participate in gentle exercise

You may need more rest than usual to recover from your flu or cold. However, participating in gentle exercise can actually help speed up your recovery and keep your pelvic floor muscles strong and healthy.

Don't hold in your pee

Yes, it may be frustrating having to pee more than usual, but holding in your pee can actually do additional damage to your urinary system. Go to the bathroom as much as you need to, and try to make sure that you empty your bladder fully each time you go.

Avoid bladder irritants

Did you know that certain foods can actually irritate your bladder, resulting in the need to pee more frequently and a loss of bladder control? That's why you should try to stay away from bladder irritants, especially if you're ill.

Some of the foods and drinks that may act as bladder irritants include:

• Caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee

• Carbonated drinks

• Spicy food

• Alcohol

• Artificial sweeteners

• Acidic foods like tomatoes

Make use of urinary incontinence products

Urine leaks can really ruin your day, so it may be worth considering incontinence pads or leak-proof underwear if you feel as though you may experience a leak or two. These specialised products are designed to help you go about your day as normal.

FAQs

What are the different types of urinary incontinence?

The different types of urinary incontinence include:

• Stress incontinence - caused by physical actions like coughing and sneezing.

• Urge incontinence - preceded by a sudden urge to pee.

• Functional incontinence - when there's a physical obstruction restricting you from getting to the bathroom in time to pee. It can also be caused by other illnesses.

• Overflow incontinence - when your bladder doesn't empty properly, so you leak urine after peeing.

• Mixed incontinence - a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

How can I strengthen my pelvic muscles?

When your pelvic floor muscles are weak, you can be more susceptible to things like stress incontinence. However, you can strengthen these muscles by performing pelvic floor exercises on a regular basis.

What are some of the other reasons for frequent urination?

Some of the other causes behind frequent urination include diabetes insipidus, urinary tract infections, pregnancy, nerve damage, bladder cancer, and other bladder problems.

How can I avoid getting colds and flu?

If you regularly suffer from colds and flu, you may want to make a few lifestyle changes to boost your immune system. Try to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet, drink enough water. You can also avoid catching infections from others by practicing good hand hygiene and you may wish to consider wearing a face mask in crowded environments.

Final Thoughts

If you're someone who already suffers from incontinence, you may experience a more frequent urge to urinate, as well as increased urine leakage when you're sick. So, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your symptoms and make an appointment with your GP should you notice anything out of the ordinary.

Here at Jude, we are passionate about discussing health conditions such as urinary incontinence and other bladder-related issues. We aim to break the stigmas that surround these conditions by providing helpful and informative resources in our blog. We also offer a range of incontinence products, including bladder support supplements, leak-proof underwear, and more.

Remember that you can still live a happy and normal life, even if you experience bladder control issues.