Waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom is not a good experience.
Once you get to sleep, the last thing you need is a full bladder waking you up.
How can you decrease the need to urinate at night?
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First, however, it’s a good idea to track down the cause.
Causes
There are a number of reasons why you might wake up frequently at night to urinate.
With any of these, it is best to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you have.
Children
It is uncommon for younger people to get up in the night to pee.
Children may have enuresis or bedwetting, but they typically outgrow this.
There are also a number of effectivebehavioral treatmentsand medications that can help.
Nocturia as You Age
As we age, our ability to concentrate urine overnight declines.
This means that the bladder fills more quickly, which prompts a trip to the bathroom.
When urination occurs during the night, it is callednocturia.
In particular, men who are middle-aged or older may develop urinary frequency as part of benign prostate enlargement.
Nocturia may also be part of medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure.
Nocturia is also a common side effect of taking diuretic blood pressure medications.
These are sometimes called “water pills” and include Lasix (furosemide).
Sleep Apnea
It is also important totreat sleep apneabecause this can also lead to nocturia.
There are two major reasons for this.
Sleep apnea leads to fragmented sleep.
In these lighter stages, you will naturally become more aware of how full your bladder is.
Nighttime Habits
There are some causes of nighttime urination that can be controlled.
Caffeine, which works as a stimulant, is also a mild diuretic that can increase urination.
The best thing you could do is to reduce how much you drink at night.
This is especially true in the four to six hours before bedtime.
It’s also best to limit your activities.
Make a quick trip to the bathroom and return promptly to bed.
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