There is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night and realizing you have to pee. Perhaps you try to avoid this sensation and go back to sleep, but your bladder forces you to get out from under your warm covers and make your way to the bathroom. If this happens multiple times a night, it can prevent you from getting the quality sleep you need to function.
To avoid nighttime bathroom trips, there are habits you can adopt to prevent your bladder from taking control when you're trying to rest. Plus, we also outline when it may be time for you to see a doctor.
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What is nocturia, and what causes it?
Nocturia is a medical condition that causes you to wake up more than once per night to urinate. 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 peeing in the middle of the night
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