Do you get up frequently during the night to urinate? This is known as nocturia. Nocturia is the frequent need to get up during the night and pee. This is problematic because the frequent rousing can interfere with your sleep cycle and lead to sleep deprivation.
Nocturia is a common cause of sleep loss. People without nocturia can usually go 6 to 8 hours of sleeping without having to urinate. Getting up once per night is likely not going to cause problems. Getting up 2-3 times per night is likely to cause daytime sleepiness. People with Nocturia may get up 4-6 times or more, leading to potentially severe sleep deprivation [Sleep Foundation].
Many things can cause nocturia, mainly lifestyle factors, medical conditions, sleep disorders, and natural factors. It’s important to note that until recently, the suspected cause of nocturia was a full bladder. While this certainly may be true in some cases, there are many other reasons for nocturia that don’t involve a full bladder.
First, there are numerous medical conditions which can cause nocturia, such as:
Nocturia is also a naturally occurring phenomenon because as we age, we produce less anti-diuretic hormones, and/or our bladder loses holding capacity. Pregnancy is also another factor as the bladder is squeezed by the placenta and growing fetus.
Finally, lifestyle factors and habits can cause it, such as excess alcohol, coffee, or water at night.
The symptom of nocturia is waking up multiple times per night to urinate. Things to pay attention to in regards to nocturia are:
These are important questions in establishing why you may be experiencing nocturia and how severe it is. The more severe the nocturia, the more severe the sleep deprivation:
If you are experiencing nocturia, consult your doctor or sleep specialist right away. It will be extremely helpful to keep a daily diary of:
Generally, treatment begins with medications, bladder or neurological tests, an ultrasound, or a recommendation to a sleep center for testing.
There are a few lifestyle habits you can make to help prevent nocturia: