Hot weather has people reaching for water more often, which naturally can mean extra trips to the toilet.
But a doctor has cautioned that repeatedly waking during the night to urinate may point to something more significant than simply drinking more fluids.
There is a medical name for this: nocturia.
According to Cleveland Clinic, the condition is defined as:
‘wakes up more than once during the night needing to urinate’
While increased water intake can sometimes explain it, nighttime urination may also be linked to more serious issues including sleep-related conditions or a blockage affecting the bladder.
Experts say it is worth paying attention to how often it happens, because waking once in the night to pee can be fairly common, but repeated trips may suggest an underlying cause that can often be treated.
Doctors often look at a person’s fluid intake, the timing of medications and whether the body is producing too much urine overnight. A bladder diary, urine testing and a review of other symptoms can help identify the reason.
Needing to get up to pee overnight becomes more common as people age. Cleveland Clinic says it is:
‘affecting more than 50% of adults after age 50,’
The condition is said to be more common in females before age 50, and affects one in three people over 30.
Urologist Dr Marisa Clifton said the issue should not automatically be dismissed as part of getting older.
“Although it is often assumed to be a normal part of aging, nocturia may have treatable underlying causes,” urologist Dr Marisa Clifton told the Daily Mail.
Some medications can contribute as well, including diuretics that are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure.
Dr Clifton also warned that obstructive sleep apnea may be responsible in some cases.
Cleveland Clinic describes the condition as follows:
‘blockage or narrowing in your airway keeps air from moving through your windpipe when you’re asleep’
That can cause oxygen levels in the blood to fall while a person sleeps.
As a result, people may wake up repeatedly through the night as the brain shifts into:
‘survival mode’
Although that response helps the person start breathing properly again, it can also seriously interrupt normal sleep.
Dr Clifton said this may also explain why some people urinate more at night.
‘the condition leads to increased production of the hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide, leading to increased nighttime urine production’
Frequent urination can also be associated with diabetes, as raised blood sugar levels force the kidneys to work harder to remove excess glucose.
Other possible causes include an overactive bladder, urinary tract irritation or obstruction, and medical conditions that affect fluid balance. In some cases, nocturia can also be related to problems such as heart disease or bladder outlet blockage, depending on the person’s age and overall health.
Medical advice is especially important if waking to urinate happens several times a night, causes tiredness the next day, begins suddenly, changes noticeably, or appears alongside other symptoms such as thirst, burning when passing urine, swelling, breathlessness or blood in the urine.
Anyone worried about the symptom should speak to a doctor. Doctors may suggest adjusting the timing of fluids or certain medications, but any changes should only be made after medical advice, especially if a person has other health conditions.