Frequent Urination at Night – Nocturia : Definition, Causes

Frequent Urination at Night – This is a common problem for most people. Millions of Americans are experiencing this and its very bothersome especially since it disrupts sleep every time. Frequent urination at night is not only common to elderly people, but it happens to everyone of all ages. This experience is also known as “Nocturia.”

This affects our sleeping schedule and quality sleep since it prevents us from getting peaceful sleep at night. Not getting enough rest at night can have a negative impact in our daytime activities, like getting randomly drowsy which can be dangerous especially when you are going up or down the stairs. Aside from getting physically hurt, it can also seriously affect our health.

Nocturia or frequent urination at night may be reduced or prevented to improve our quality of sleep every night. Before anything else, we should assess the basics of nocturia.

Nocturia definition

This is a condition that causes you to get up in the middle of your sleep at night to urinate. Fortunately, nocturia is not a disease but a mere symptom —a bothersome symptom.

How frequent do you have to wake up at night to urinate for it to be called nocturia? Definitely more than once every night. Some people don’t find frequent urination at night that too bothersome, but it may cause stress to those who have difficult going back to sleep. On the Brightside, it does not let you involuntarily pee in your bed.

Who Experiences Nocturia More?

Frequent urination at night is way more common than you think. Both men and women, young and old, can experience nocturia. However, older people are more prone to it. Pregnant women also experience nocturia more often, but it is usually less frequent within 3 months after giving birth.

Effects of Nocturia

Nocturia or frequent urination at night may affect your health negatively since it prevents you from getting the quality sleep you need every night. This sleep-disrupting symptom is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, which as a consequence, affects physical and mental function which can lead to bad accidents.

Causes of Frequent Urination at Night (Nocturia)

Nocturia may be provoked by 3 main things:

• Producing excess urine especially right before sleeping at night
• Your bladder has less capacity
• Sleep disruptions

Excess Urine Production

Nocturnal Polyuria is what its called when you produce excess urine at night. 88% of the total nocturia population is caused because of this nocturnal polyuria.

In some cases, people suffer from frequent urination even during day time – this is called global polyuria. Global polyuria is common due to drinking too much fluid, when having diabetes, and/or even due to having poor kidney functions.

Water pills, alcoholic beverage, and caffeinated drinks can increase or enhance production of pee.

When too much urine has been produced, it needs to be released from the body, causing you to wake up at night o pee. This also happens when there is swelling or there happens to be accumulation of fluid in the legs/peripheral edema relocates after a person moves into a lying position.

If you have other medical conditions, such would also affect peripheral edema, which in turn risks the effects of nocturnal polyuria.

Capacity of your Bladder Decreased

Having your bladder capacity decreased and having increased urinary frequency can increase the effects of nocturia.

When does your bladder capacity decrease? This commonly happens to people who have:

• Urinary tract infections (UTI)
• People who have an enlarged prostate
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Overactive Bladder
• Inflammation of urinary tract
• Bladder stones

Some people not only experience frequent urination at night, but also during the day.

Having Trouble Sleeping

Another thing that provokes frequent urination at night or during daytime, is when you have always had trouble sleeping for some reason. Example of this is having OSA or obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing especially at night when you try to sleep. This reduced airflow reduces oxygen levels in the body, while you try to sleep at night, as a consequence, it happens to affect your hormones in a way that it increases urine production.

What can you do to help reduce the bothersome nocturia?

From the very beginning of this article, we have established that frequent urination at night is bothersome. However, with a few lifestyle changes, we can help reduce this problem.

• Evening fluid intake should be reduced, especially before bed.
• Caffeine and alcohol use should be reduced, especially in the afternoon and evening.
• Elevating the legs for an hour or more before bedtime to minimize edema resorption and conversion to urine during sleeping.
• Sleep hygiene, which includes your bedroom environment and sleeping patterns, can help you have fewer awakenings when you feel the urge to go to the bathroom. Here are some suggestions for getting a good night’s sleep:
• On weekdays and weekends, maintaining a consistent sleep routine, including waking up at the same time.
• Having a consistent regimen that prepares you for slumber each night.

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