爲什麼冬天總要上廁所?大綱

Why you need to wee more in winter

爲什麼冬天總要上廁所？

If you find yourself needing to go to the toilet more frequently after being out in cold weather, then don't worry, you're not Alone. A doctor has explained why it is you might be finding yourself nipping to the loo a little more often during the winter months.

天氣變冷，出門在外的你是否發現自己上廁所的次數增多了？別擔心，你不是一個人。一位醫生向我們解釋了冬天總要上廁所的原因。

According to experts, it's common to need a wee more frequently during periods of cold weather. This is due to a biological process called cold diuresis, which occurs when the body's temperature lowers. Dr Diana Gall, from online medical service, Doctor 4 U has explained why it happens and what you need to do about it.

專家表示，冬天上廁所更頻繁是正常現象。這是一種叫做天冷利尿的生物學過程所致，這一過程發生在體溫降低時。在線醫療服務的戴安娜·高爾（Diana Gall）醫生解釋了冬天總要上廁所的原因以及個人需採取的對應措施。

She said: "The biological response is to redirect blood to the core to create warmth, while the kidneys release extra fluid to stabilize the pressure. And it's this process which boosts urine production, giving you the urge to wee more in the cold, winter months." She continued: "There's currently a lack of scientific research into the phenomena, which means we don't know just how low the temperature needs to get before it takes effect. But we do know you're likely to feel the effects if you're standing around outside this winter - and it means you might need to know where the toilets are if you're visiting the winter market."

她說：“這一生物學反應會將血液重新引導至身體重心，帶來溫暖，而腎臟會釋放多餘的液體來穩定壓力。這一過程導致尿量增加，因此人們在寒冷的冬天總要上廁所。”她繼續道：“目前，關於此現象的科學研究尚不多見，所以我們並不知道多低的溫度纔算低。但我們知道，如果今年冬天你長時間待在室外，一定有機會體驗尿頻——這也意味着如果你要逛冬季市場，最好找到衛生間所在。”

Dr Gall advises people to wrap up warm and try to avoid standing outside for long periods of time. She also explains how frequent urination can be "damaging" to your body's natural balance - and in some cases can even prove "fatal". She adds: "Frequent urination due to diuresis can actually be really damaging to your body's natural salt, water and mineral balance. It can lead to conditions like hyponatremia, when there's not enough sodium in the body, or hyperkalemia, too much potassium, and hypokalemia, not enough potassium. All three of these conditions can prove fatal in extreme circumstances. And if you are weeing too much, you need to replenish fluids to avoid dehydration."

高爾建議人們注意保暖，並避免長時間待在室外。她還解釋了尿頻對身體自然平衡的危害——在某些情況下，甚至可能是“致命的”。她補充說：“利尿引起的尿頻實際上會導致身體鹽分的丟失，破壞水和礦物質的平衡。體內鈉元素不足時，會導致低鈉血癥，鉀元素過多時，會導致高鉀血癥，而鉀元素不足時，則會導致低鉀血癥。在極端情況下，這三種病症都可能致命。冬天尿頻時，你還需要多喝水以避免脫水。”