Kidney Health: Drinking a lot of water, but not urinating much? Here’s what it means

Drinking a lot of water but hardly peeing is a warning sign, not something to ignore. It usually means your body is either holding on to water, not getting enough in the first place, or something is blocking urine from coming out, and all of these need attention.What amount of urine production qualifies as insufficientMedical professionals identify low urine output through the term “oliguria.” The normal functioning of kidneys depends on adult urine output to reach more than 400–500 ml (less than 2 cups), throughout a 24-hour period. Your kidneys, circulation or urinary tract blockage becomes suspected when you drink enough fluids, but produce less than normal urine, and your urine appears dark, or you produce no urine at all. Medical personnel need to start emergency treatment right away when patients either produce small amounts of urine or no urine at all, because this condition requires immediate medical intervention.

Fluid balance and dehydration assessmentYour body can show signs of dehydration, even when you believe you are consuming enough fluids. Your kidneys will decrease urine production to conserve water, when your body loses fluids through sweating, or when you have fever, vomiting, or experience diarrhea. Your body contains extra water in blood and tissues at this time, while your urine becomes darker and you produce less of it. Your body requires more fluids and electrolytes when your urine turns dark yellow or amber, because it should be pale straw in color.Kidney issuesThe kidneys operate as filters which remove waste products and excess water from blood, to generate urine. The kidneys produce less urine when they experience damage, or when blood flow to these organs becomes insufficient. The causes of this condition include acute kidney injury, prolonged high blood pressure, diabetes, severe infections, blood loss, heart failure and specific medications, which harm kidney function. The underlying condition will not respond to increased water consumption, and your body may experience increased swelling and breathing difficulties.Blockages: When urine is unable to get outThe body produces urine through the kidneys, but some obstruction can prevent the urine from leaving the body. The medical term for this condition is “post‑renal.”The main causes of post-renal obstruction include kidney stones, prostate enlargement, blood clots and severe constipation and tumors, located in the bladder and pelvic area. The symptoms include a strong need to urinate, but only producing small amounts of urine, along with lower abdominal back pain and burning sensations during urination, and blood in the urine. Medical evaluation becomes necessary because blockages that last for an extended period, will cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

When to visit a doctorYou need to visit a doctor when your urine production stays low, even though you consume enough fluids which should be at least 1.5–2 liters per day, unless your doctor specifies otherwise. You need to visit an emergency center right away, when you produce minimal urine and experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, severe flank or belly pain, confusion, eye and leg swelling. Doctors will perform vital sign checks, along with abdominal and bladder examinations before ordering blood tests for kidney function, electrolytes and urine tests and possibly an ultrasound to detect blockages. The earliest medical diagnosis helps doctors prevent damage progression, which leads to better long-term kidney health.What you can do right now (and what not to do)In case of less urine, drinking additional water will not help your situation. Track your fluid intake and urination frequency from the previous day, while monitoring your urine color and documenting all your symptoms to present to your doctor. People with kidney disease should follow these steps to protect their kidneys.