Is frequent nocturnal urination abnormal?

When sleeping, the excretory system is less active, urine is produced less and more concentrated than during the day. A healthy person does not need to wake up at night to urinate, and can sleep through the night for 6-8 hours. According to the International Continence Society (ICS), nocturia is a condition in which a person has to wake up at night one or more times to urinate, with each urination disrupting sleep.

There are many causes of nocturia such as drinking too much water, insomnia, and urinary tract obstruction. The disease occurs at all ages but is more common in older people, especially men, causing fatigue and disrupted sleep.

Some people urinate more often at night due to lifestyle, including drinking too much liquid before bed, taking diuretics, habits… While others may have medical conditions such as polyuria (polyuria). diabetes, nocturnal polyuria, diabetes, high blood pressure, benign prostatic hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, pelvic organ prolapse (pelvic floor muscle) weakened or damaged)… This disease can be alone or combined with other symptoms of the lower urinary tract such as frequent urination during the day, urgency, difficulty urinating, interrupted urination, end-of-stream leakage. …

Nocturia disturbs the sleep cycle, causing lack of sleep, fatigue, decreased concentration, mood changes, affecting quality of life… Insomnia due to frequent nocturia is one of the risk factors causes chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, and difficult-to-control diabetes, increasing the risk of stroke and falls, which often occur in the elderly.

Treatment methods are mainly based on the cause. For example, people with sleep disorders that lead to nocturia should see a specialist. In case of prostate enlargement, the patient needs medication or surgery for treatment.

You should see a specialist to have the doctor determine the cause and give specific advice. At the same time, you should also change your lifestyle to help reduce symptoms. Limit fluid intake in the evening, especially drinks containing caffeine. If you take diuretics, take them in the morning or at least 6 hours before bed. People with frequent nocturnal urination should take a nap to help the blood absorb fluid, raise their legs when sitting to distribute fluid, and perform pelvic floor exercises.