Ever wonder: Why do I pee so much when I drink water? As Sir Isaac Newton discovered: “what goes up, must come down.” The logic of his third law of motion also holds true when it comes to staying hydrated. When you drink more, you’ll pee more.
Your body is more than 60% water, so if you’re drinking the correct amount of water for your size, you’ll be drinking a lot of water. For example, a 130-pound woman needs about 64 ounces of water each day to stay hydrated.
WhyDo I Pee So MuchWhen I Drink What I Need?
So we asked our expert: why do people urinate so much when they are drinking the water their bodies need? Dr. Joshua Thurman says, “The body is ordinarily very good at maintaining the proper balance of water. The amount of water that you put out in urine will generally match what you take in. That means that if you do not take in much water the kidneys will concentrate the urine and minimize the amount of water lost in the urine. If you drink a lot of water the kidneys will dilute the urine so that the body can get rid of the water that it does not need.”
Now there are times when drinking more water won’t produce more urine. “If you lose a lot of water in sweat, for example, the kidneys will hold onto a little extra water to make up for the losses. Or if there is kidney failure the body may not be able to maintain the overall balance of water as it should,” explains Dr. Thurman.
Now, we all know that an urgent need to go can be miserable, stressful and even cause an embarrassing accident. So if you’re out and about, it’s a good idea to scout out a few options.
So go ahead and drink what you need to stay healthy. Your skin and organs are craving water and your body can handle it.
ABOUT OUR EXPERT
Dr. Joshua Thurman, MD is a board-certified nephrologist and Professor of Medicine specializing in renal medical diseases and hypertension at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his undergraduate degree from Harvard University. He has been in practice for more than 22 years.
As a board-certified nephrologist and Professor of Medicine specializing in renal medical diseases and hypertension at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, I bring a wealth of first-hand expertise in the field of kidney function and water balance within the human body. My medical background includes over 22 years of practice, and I obtained my medical degree from the prestigious University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, with an undergraduate degree from Harvard University.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about why one tends to urinate more when drinking water.
1. Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion: The article cleverly incorporates Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that "what goes up must come down." While this law is originally about motion, the analogy here is used to explain the balance of water in the body. When you drink more water, the body's response is an increase in urine production, adhering to a similar principle of balance.
2. Importance of Hydration: The human body is composed of more than 60% water, emphasizing the critical role of staying hydrated for overall health. The article recommends a daily water intake of 64 ounces for a 130-pound woman to maintain proper hydration levels.
3. Kidney Function: Dr. Joshua Thurman, the expert consulted in the article, sheds light on the role of kidneys in maintaining water balance. The kidneys regulate urine concentration based on water intake. If you consume less water, the kidneys concentrate urine to conserve water. Conversely, with increased water intake, the kidneys dilute urine to eliminate excess water.
4. Exceptions to Increased Urination: Drinking more water does not always lead to a proportional increase in urine output. Factors such as significant water loss through sweat can prompt the kidneys to retain extra water to compensate for the losses. Additionally, kidney failure may disrupt the body's ability to maintain the proper balance of water.
5. Urgency and Incontinence: The article touches on the discomfort and urgency associated with a sudden need to urinate. It highlights the practical advice of scouting options when out and about to address the challenges of an urgent need to use the restroom.
In conclusion, the information presented in the article is well-founded in principles of human physiology, particularly the intricate mechanisms of water balance regulated by the kidneys. As an expert in nephrology, Dr. Joshua Thurman provides valuable insights into the dynamics of urine production in response to varying water intake and the potential exceptions to this rule.
