Elevation Impact on Bladder Frequency and/or Diarrhea or Bloating

High elevation can change how often you pee and how your gut feels, especially during the first few days after arriving somewhere like Denver or the Colorado mountains. Most people expect headaches at altitude, but few expect their bladder and bowels to act differently. Some changes people may experience are increased urinary frequency (the need to pee often) and urgency of bowel movements, or abdominal bloating. These symptoms can last the first few days, or your body may need to adapt permanently. This can mean your body changes how it responds to bladder and bowel frequency for an extended time. The culprit is low oxygen and overall thinner air. This can cause hypoxia, or low oxygen levels in your body tissues. For many, bladder frequency, bloating, diarrhea, or even constipation improves with pacing, hydration, electrolytes, and attention to warning signs. Denver sits at 5,280 feet, while many Colorado ski towns and trailheads are higher, so visitors may notice symptoms even before they think of themselves as being at “high altitude.” (visitdenver.com)

Why Do You Pee More at High Altitude?

Urination can look different at high altitude compared to sea level. Urination may be more frequent, come with leaking, and feel more urgent. When the bladder does not receive enough oxygen over time, which can increase risk as elevation rises, the bladder becomes stiffer. Elevation may also cause the detrusor muscle, which is a muscle in the wall of the bladder that allows the bladder to squeeze, to become overactive. This can cause urgency, frequency, and leakage issues because the muscle is tired (Verratti, 2019). Urine pH levels may also rise in this environment, which can cause a diuretic effect (Wang, 2022). 

Dehydration at Elevation

A “high altitude bladder” at altitude can feel contradictory; you feel dry but still experience urgency. This is because your body is getting rid of extra bicarbonate and water to better acclimate to the climate. Dry air, faster breathing, sun exposure, and exercise can also reduce your fluid balance before you feel thirsty. A dehydrated bladder can cause more urinary urgency. When you are dehydrated, it can cause concentrated urine; this can create urgency even when the bladder is not “full” due to concentrated urine. These symptoms can worsen when you drink caffeine, alcohol, or carbonated drinks. To help bladder symptoms improve at high elevation, practice proper hydration, rest, and overall acclimation. 

Why Does Higher Elevation Cause Diarrhea or Bloating?

In a city like Denver, you may notice your bowel movements are a little closer together than at sea level. This is because at higher elevation, the air has less oxygen. This means your body has to work harder to function normally. One part that can be affected is the epithelial cells that line your GI tract, also known as the intestinal barrier. The intestinal barrier is responsible for preventing harmful bacteria from going too far in your body. Elevation and stress can make it less effective. The low oxygen in the air can create an acidic space that damages these cells in your intestinal barrier. This can allow harmful bacteria to go into your body. Exercise can make things feel worse because it can aggravate the fragile zone. 

Ways to Reduce The Impact of High Altitude on Bladder and Bowel Functioning in Colorado

Luckily, there are tips and tricks to manage your symptoms to ensure you can cope with these new experiences. 

• Hydration & Elevation: As most know, hydration can help; however, using just plain water is not the most efficient. Plan to start getting hydrated before you travel somewhere with higher elevation than you are used to. Drink electrolytes or salty snacks to ensure that your sodium stays at a healthy level. 

• Avoid Bladder Irritants: Avoid alcohol, overconsumption of caffeine, and carbonated drinks, as these can often worsen bladder frequency. 

• Proper Bowel Movement Time: It is important to respect your bowel movements. That may look like taking time to understand what is happening in your body before you spend all day without access to a bathroom. Giving proper, unrushed time in the bathroom can ensure that symptoms do not worsen. When you do use the restroom, make sure you are relaxing all the way down on the toilet seat. 

• Nutritional Supplements: For bowel movements, some studies support that nutritional supplements, including curcumin, may help relieve GI symptoms caused by altitude. With any supplement use, always speak with your doctor prior to taking them.

• Know It’s Temporary: The most important thing to note while you may be experiencing some of these symptoms is that they are common and usually not permanent. If symptoms persist or worsen, it’s important to seek guidance from a healthcare professional.  

Ensure you are taking care of your body and giving it a little extra love while at elevation! 

Sources:

Holmer, B. (2022, March 10). Tummy Troubles Up High: How Altitude Affects GI Physiology. I Spy Physiology Blog. Retrieved 9 17, 2026, from https://ispyphysiology.com/2022/03/10/tummy-troubles-up-high-how-altitude-affects-gi-physiology/

Verratti V, Mrakic-Sposta S, Moriggi M, et al. Urinary physiology and hypoxia: a pilot study of moderate-altitude trekking effects on urodynamic indexes. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 317: F1081-F1086, 2019. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00333.2019.

Wang, S. Y., Gao, J., & Zhao, J. H. (2022). Effects of high altitude on renal physiology and kidney diseases. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 969456. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.969456

Written By Qwinn Selmer-Spong, Undergraduate Student at University of Denver, Kinesiology, 2028 with supervision from Gina Inglese, OTR/L