Surprising and Dangerous Causes of Nightly Urination
Surprising and Dangerous Causes of Nightly Urination.
When your body goes into sleep mode every night, your bladder changes gears and produces less urine, but more concentrated, to allow you to sleep without interruption. This balance can be reduced by a variety of factors, including disease. And while most people need a night detour to go to the bathroom due to the glass of wine they took at night and have nothing to worry about, frequent and multiple nighttime urination is a red flag.
Even so, nocturia (the scientific term for frequent nocturnal urination) can be caused by a disease, there are some benign causes, among which are the following:
Diuretic medications
Caffeine
Alcohol
Excessive liquids before bedtime
As a symptom, nocturia can point to a variety of diseases, from urinary tract infections to neurological diseases. Keep reading to know more about each cause.
1. Obstructive sleep apnea
causes nocturnal urination
Nighttime urination is so frequent in sleep apnea that it became a telltale sign of the disease, as important as snoring, but many people do not suspect that sleep apnea is the cause of frequent nocturnal urination. The American Sleep Apnea Association mentions that more than 84% of patients suffering from sleep apnea reported nocturia. Many patients with untreated sleep apnea report 6 or more night trips to the bathroom. The underlying mechanism of nocturia in sleep apnea is not clear, but it is known that patients who begin a treatment aimed at sleep apnea find that nighttime bath rests are almost completely resolved.
2. Prolapse of the bladder A prolapse of the bladder can occur when a woman's bladder is poorly supported by the pelvic muscles and ligaments, as a result, descends to the vaginal wall. Patients with even a minor prolapse complain of nocturia, and prolapse of the bladder is one of the main causes of nocturia in women. In this condition, nocturnal urination probably occurs because the tension of the vagina can aggravate the bladder when it is horizontal, and one feels the need to urinate, even when the bladder is not full.
3. Enlarged prostate
causes nocturnal urination
An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in medical terms. In patients suffering from BPH, the urinary tract changes its shape and functionality along with the enlarged prostate. BPH is one of the main causes of nocturia in men, which is caused by increased bladder sensation and narrowing of the urethra, which can make you feel an urge to urinate, even when the bladder is almost empty. In these cases, nocturia is not the only symptom and there is also a greater need to urinate and incontinence.
4. Anxiety and depression
causes nocturnal urination
Mental problems, such as anxiety and depression, can also manifest in the form of nocturia. Although the exact link between these two conditions is unknown, it is believed that nocturia is a side effect of the sleep disorders that come with anxiety and depression.
In these cases, it is not necessary to empty the bladder that awakens a person, but go to the bathroom when they are already awake. To stop both nocturia and sleep disorders, it is recommended to try to relax before sleep, whether doing breathing exercises, aromatherapy or meditation. It is also a good idea to avoid nighttime naps, late night meals and caffeinated beverages at night.
5. UTIs One of the most common causes of nocturia are urinary tract infections (UTI), cystitis, as well as bladder or kidney infections. These infections of the urinary system usually cause frequent burning sensation before, during and after urination, as well as the urgency to urinate during the day and night. Other symptoms of these infections include changes in urine, fever, pain in the back and lower part of the pelvis.
6. Swelling of the legs (edema)
causes nocturnal urination
There are many causes of edema, ranging from liver failure to heart disease, but all these conditions cause an excess of water accumulation in the tissues of the extremities. This extra liquid has to go somewhere, so the body transports this liquid to the kidneys to excrete it from the body, which usually goes through the night.
Keep in mind that the information contained in this article is presented for informational purposes only. If you experience nocturia or any other suspicious symptom, go to a doctor for a diagnosis by a specialist.
When your body goes into sleep mode every night, your bladder changes gears and produces less urine, but more concentrated, to allow you to sleep without interruption. This balance can be reduced by a variety of factors, including disease. And while most people need a night detour to go to the bathroom due to the glass of wine they took at night and have nothing to worry about, frequent and multiple nighttime urination is a red flag.
Even so, nocturia (the scientific term for frequent nocturnal urination) can be caused by a disease, there are some benign causes, among which are the following:
Diuretic medications
Caffeine
Alcohol
Excessive liquids before bedtime
As a symptom, nocturia can point to a variety of diseases, from urinary tract infections to neurological diseases. Keep reading to know more about each cause.
1. Obstructive sleep apnea
Nighttime urination is so frequent in sleep apnea that it became a telltale sign of the disease, as important as snoring, but many people do not suspect that sleep apnea is the cause of frequent nocturnal urination. The American Sleep Apnea Association mentions that more than 84% of patients suffering from sleep apnea reported nocturia. Many patients with untreated sleep apnea report 6 or more night trips to the bathroom. The underlying mechanism of nocturia in sleep apnea is not clear, but it is known that patients who begin a treatment aimed at sleep apnea find that nighttime bath rests are almost completely resolved.
2. Prolapse of the bladder A prolapse of the bladder can occur when a woman's bladder is poorly supported by the pelvic muscles and ligaments, as a result, descends to the vaginal wall. Patients with even a minor prolapse complain of nocturia, and prolapse of the bladder is one of the main causes of nocturia in women. In this condition, nocturnal urination probably occurs because the tension of the vagina can aggravate the bladder when it is horizontal, and one feels the need to urinate, even when the bladder is not full.
3. Enlarged prostate
causes nocturnal urination
An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in medical terms. In patients suffering from BPH, the urinary tract changes its shape and functionality along with the enlarged prostate. BPH is one of the main causes of nocturia in men, which is caused by increased bladder sensation and narrowing of the urethra, which can make you feel an urge to urinate, even when the bladder is almost empty. In these cases, nocturia is not the only symptom and there is also a greater need to urinate and incontinence.
4. Anxiety and depression
causes nocturnal urination
Mental problems, such as anxiety and depression, can also manifest in the form of nocturia. Although the exact link between these two conditions is unknown, it is believed that nocturia is a side effect of the sleep disorders that come with anxiety and depression.
In these cases, it is not necessary to empty the bladder that awakens a person, but go to the bathroom when they are already awake. To stop both nocturia and sleep disorders, it is recommended to try to relax before sleep, whether doing breathing exercises, aromatherapy or meditation. It is also a good idea to avoid nighttime naps, late night meals and caffeinated beverages at night.
5. UTIs One of the most common causes of nocturia are urinary tract infections (UTI), cystitis, as well as bladder or kidney infections. These infections of the urinary system usually cause frequent burning sensation before, during and after urination, as well as the urgency to urinate during the day and night. Other symptoms of these infections include changes in urine, fever, pain in the back and lower part of the pelvis.
6. Swelling of the legs (edema)
causes nocturnal urination
There are many causes of edema, ranging from liver failure to heart disease, but all these conditions cause an excess of water accumulation in the tissues of the extremities. This extra liquid has to go somewhere, so the body transports this liquid to the kidneys to excrete it from the body, which usually goes through the night.
Keep in mind that the information contained in this article is presented for informational purposes only. If you experience nocturia or any other suspicious symptom, go to a doctor for a diagnosis by a specialist.
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