Few things ruin a good night's rest like having to get out of a warm, comfortable bed to use the bathroom. That quick trip can be enough to break up iyour sleep, and once it happens, falling back asleep is not always easy. But at the same time, you don't want to stay uncomfortable while trying to drift off. So what do you do?
When it happens more than once in a single night, the impact can be even worse. Interrupted sleep leaves you groggy the next morning and can make it harder to get through your day.
If this is a regular issue, it's absolutely worth looking into why it keeps happening and what you can do to cut down on those nighttime wake-ups. Luckily there are some simple things you can do to keep your middle-of-the-night peeing to a minimum.
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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 normal to urinate 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.
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