Nocturia

One of the most common causes of nocturia is imbibing large amounts of liquid prior to going to bed. The individual will then have to get up one or more times to relieve him or herself as the bladder is filled with liquid. By reducing or restricting one's intake of fluids before heading to bed, that person can effectively cease the need to wake up and head to the bathroom to urinate. Other than drinking too many liquids, there are other medical conditions that result in a person having nocturia and losing sleep.

·         The use of a diuretic can result in the need for a person to relieve him or herself throughout the day, including when that person is asleep. A diuretic, whether natural or medicinal, is a substance that causes the bladder to drain excess fluid from the body through urination.

·         A urinary tract infection (UTI) can affect how a person urinates and increase the frequency with which a person makes trips to the bathroom. A person with a urinary tract infection may have nocturia if he or she has little flow while urinating which then causes the person to need to use the bathroom more often.

·         Having diabetes can also cause nocturia in some people, especially if the diabetes is undiagnosed or untreated. Due to higher glucose levels, there is increase solute in the body which causes fluids to be expelled through urination.

·         Some prescription medications can also contribute to a person's need to urinate by introducing more solute into a person's system or affecting a person's ability to control his or bladder.

·         Overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) is a condition in which a person makes frequent trips to the bathroom either because the bladder fills up quickly or due to improper signaling by the person's body.

Nocturia can be treated easily depending on the cause for this sleep disorder. As mentioned above, if the cause is consuming too many liquids prior to one's bedtime, he or she should simply reduce fluid intake several hours before bed. However, if the condition persists, there may be a medical cause and that person should consult a physician. In many cases, the use of a diuretic, such as cranberry juice, and reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body and return the body to a normal state. Again, if this should prove ineffective as well, a physician should be consulted to determine the cause and prescribe a proper method of treatment for the nocturia.