We’ve all had that unwanted experience: waking up in the middle of the night, realizing you have to pee, trying to fall back asleep and eventually giving in so your bladder stops screaming at you. However, when this experience becomes so frequent that it continually prevents you from getting quality sleep, you may be dealing with a medical condition called nocturia.
Fortunately, there are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to prevent yourself from having to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. But if those don't work, we also discuss when it's time for you to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
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What is nocturia?
Nocturia is a medical condition that causes you to wake up more than once per night to pee. It affects an estimated one in three adults over 30 and about half of people 65 and older.
There are many causes of nocturia, including drinking too much liquid before bed, consuming alcohol or caffeine at nighttime and taking diuretic medications. Certain medical conditions -- like bladder obstructions, diabetes and urinary tract infections -- can also contribute to nocturia. In other cases, people have nocturia simply because they've developed a habit of waking up and using the bathroom (although they might not necessarily need to go).
How many times is it normal to pee at night?
The frequency of nightly urination will vary from person to person. It's affected by numerous individual factors, including age, underlying conditions, pregnancy and fluid intake.
Most people should be able to get a full 6 to 8 hours of rest without waking up to pee, and experts advise that once per night is not necessarily something to worry about -- especially since it's so individual-based. However, if you're regularly waking up more than once, you're entering nocturia territory, and it might be cause for concern.
5 habits to help you stop waking up to pee at night
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