Questions and answers about common urinary concerns and points of out of danger signs.

• Is it abnormal to wake up at night to pass urine?

Yes, this is abnormal. From the age of about three years, most people can sleep up to eight hours without going to the toilet. But if you take a lot of fluids before bedtime, you are likely to wake up more times to urinate. If you are pregnant, the growing uterus applies pressure on the bladder, leading to a need to pass more urine often. Urinary tract infections, diabetes and medication can also increase urinary frequency. If in doubt, see your doctor.

• Is it abnormal to have strange smelling urine?

Sometimes, what we eat can affect how our urine smells, for instance antibiotics or foods such as asparagus, fish and some spices. Sweet-smelling urine is a possible sign of systematic disease.

• What is the right amount of water to take?

Drinking up to eight glasses dairy will help keep you well hydrated. However, to know if you are drinking enough water, check your urine to see whether it is almost clear and with no scent. When your urine is yellow or golden, you need to increase your fluid intake.

• When should I worry about the way my urine appear?

The color of urine can change depending on what one often takes. Beetroot and some berries can turn urine pink or red. If you haven not eaten any of these, then red urine could occur as a sign of bladder infection, kidney stones, or even cancer of the bladder or other systematic disease. Cloudy urine or urine with debris could also be a sign of infection.

• Is it safe to drink urine?

There has been a lot of talk about urine therapy. Urine is a byproduct of metabolism, and expels toxic waste that the body does not need. Further, as the urine passes through the bladder, it picks bacteria along the way. This means that bacterial infections can occur after drinking the urine. More scientific research is necessary to proof the correctness of urine drinking therapy.

• When I sometimes feel too lazy to go to the toilet, can it cause a problem?

Holding urine for a long time can increase your risk of infections in the urinary tract. It allows whatever bacteria present in the urine to multiply. Other habits include wearing the same pad or pants for too long, and wiping oneself from back to front.

• Why do men have less UTI s than women?

Women have a short urethra, meaning that bacteria find it easier to get to the bladder. Sexual activity hastens this situation. Therefore, the bladder should always be emptied before and after, to flash out the bacteria.