Medical professionals have revealed when nighttime trips to the bathroom might indicate a problem, depending on a person’s age.
Being awakened by the need to urinate, a condition known as nocturia, can result from various causes. Davina Richardson, a nurse at the charity Bladder and Bowel UK, explains that this issue can disrupt sleep and negatively impact daily life and general wellbeing.
Richardson also notes that drinking too many caffeinated beverages during the day or consuming liquids late at night can contribute to the problem.
Experts caution that there is a delicate balance between typical nighttime bathroom use and when frequent need to urinate could indicate a more serious issue.
NHS doctors explain that the number of times one might need to urinate at night varies with age. As people age, the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps the body retain water and prevent dehydration, diminishes, leading to increased nighttime urination.
In individuals over 70, getting up to urinate twice a night is considered normal, and this number can increase to four times for those in their 90s.
For those under 60, using the bathroom once a night is common. More frequent urination could suggest a urinary tract infection or more serious conditions like diabetes, kidney stones, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, or heart disease.
Doctors suggest that a noticeable increase in nocturia accompanied by additional symptoms should be a warning sign.
Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, and more frequent nighttime urination.
According to the UK’s National Health Service, high blood sugar can irritate the bladder and increase thirst, leading to more frequent urination.
Additionally, symptoms such as chest pains, swollen ankles, excessive sweating, and increased nighttime urination may indicate a heart issue, as per NHS guidelines.
Bladder and Bowel UK warn that urinary tract infections might also present with a burning sensation during urination or urine that is cloudy or has a strong odor.
Alternatively, a sudden increase in nocturnal urination could be related to a sleep disorder, the effects of certain medications, an overactive bladder, or increased fluid intake.