There are many different issues that can disrupt your sleep and prevent you from obtaining a good night’s rest. One condition that can cause this is called Nocturia, which is a medical problem that is characterized by night urination, resulting in an individual having to wake up to relieve their bladder during their sleep time.
To learn more about nocturia and night urination, continue reading. And, if you are experiencing these symptoms, remember that the most important step that you can take for your health, and your ability to get that all-important good night’s sleep, is to consult with your doctor about what you can do to get relief.
What Is Nocturia?
This condition may present in an individual as nocturnal polyuria, low nocturnal bladder capacity, or a combination of both. It occurs in women and men equally and may result due to various reasons.
Although night urination can happen at just about any age, it is typically seen in older adults and is a condition that tends to worsen with time.
What Are the Symptoms?
Since it is not entirely uncommon for the average person to have to get up in the middle of the night on occasion to go to the washroom, especially if they have consumed a substantial amount of liquids or alcohol shortly before bedtime, it’s not always easy for a person to realize the difference between the results of consuming too much liquid prior to sleep and night urination that is a chronic problem. Therefore, it’s important to know the symptoms of nocturia, so a person knows what to watch for in case they suspect a more serious issue is at hand.
The two most common nocturia symptoms include:
- Unable to sleep for 6 – 8 hours straight without having to get up for the bathroom
- The need to urinate more than once during sleep time
What Are the Causes?
What causes chronic night urination? There are a variety of causes, such as:
- Daily urine production is higher than average (exceeds 2 liters)
- The body urine production increases during sleep (known as nocturnal polyuria)
- The amount of urine produced during the night is greater than the bladder’s capacity (known as low nocturnal bladder capacity)
That said, while the above may be the cause of the symptoms, nocturia is often caused by other issues that may include:
- ingesting too much fluid prior to bedtime, especially diuretics
- Certain medications, such as diuretic drugs (water pills)
- Excessive vitamin D intake
- Congestive heart failure
- Edema of lower legs
- Sleeping disorders that result in a person waking up repeatedly through the night
- Bladder issues, such as obstruction, infections, overactivity, and inflammation of the bladder.
How Is It Diagnosed?
If you have nocturia, don’t worry, as there are some treatment options available. It can’t be stressed enough that you should consult with your doctor if you think you might be suffering from this condition. He or she will be able to diagnose you properly so that you can get to the bottom of your unpleasant symptoms. Then, once you know what is causing you to go to the bathroom too much throughout the night, you and your doctor can work together to relieve those symptoms.
Also, bear in mind that nocturia might be a sign that there is a more serious problem going on, such as a urinary tract infection, which has the potential to spread, or diabetes. By treating the underlying problem, your nighttime urination problems will also resolve. So, don’t be shy when it comes to talking to your doctor!
Your doctor will ask you a lot of questions to figure out what’s going on. He or she might also work on diagnosing nocturia by using tools and tests like a fluid deprivation test, a urinalysis, a blood sugar test, various blood tests, a urine culture, urological tests, and imaging tests.
What Are the Treatments?
What are the treatments available for nocturia? Well, according to Healthline, they include:
- Desmopressin – This is a medication that affects the kidneys so that they will make less urine during the night.
- Anticholinergic medications – These can help reduce your symptoms if you have been diagnosed with an overactive bladder.
If you are taking a medication that is causing you to urinate more frequently throughout the night, your doctor might recommend changing the time of day at which you take that medicine. Before changing the way, you take any of your prescription medications, be sure to consult with your doctor first.
Have Symptoms? Talk to Your Doctor!
If you think you may have nocturia, you should bring up your concerns with your doctor and obtain an official diagnosis to discover the root cause. There are both natural and medicinal treatments for the condition and once you obtain effective treatment, you’ll be able to achieve a good night’s rest.
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