Have frequent trips to the bathroom at night been disrupting your normal sleep cycle? Are you exhausted and find it difficult to concentrate due to a lack of good-quality sleep? If so, a good night’s rest can be more than just a distant dream.
You may have nocturia. Our experts at Urology of Greater Atlanta can show you how to treat nocturia. You will be in good hands because all our doctors are board-certified.
For your convenience, we have multiple offices located throughout Georgia. Schedule an appointment with us today so that you can get the high-quality sleep you deserve!
What Is Nocturia?
Nocturia is a medical condition in which you wake up during the night to urinate due to an overactive bladder. You can think of this condition as nocturnal urinary frequency — having to urinate more often at night.
It is common for most people to wake up once during the night to urinate, but frequent urination at night may be your body’s way of signaling that something else is going on.
Although nocturia can be coupled with daytime urinary frequency, it can also occur by itself.
How Is Nocturia Different From Nocturnal Polyuria?
Nocturia occurs when you are urinating too frequently. Nocturnal polyuria refers to urinating too much volume. In short, nocturia refers to frequency, while polyuria relates to volume.
Whom Does Nocturia Affect?
Nocturia can affect both men and women. It becomes more common as you age and can occur for different reasons.
What Causes Nocturia?
There are many possible causes of nocturia, including:
- High fluid intake
- Sleep disorders
- Bladder obstruction
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate in men)
- Bladder overactivity (bladder spasms)
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Bladder inflammation (swelling)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Reduced bladder capacity
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure or heart disease
Symptoms of Nocturia
Symptoms of nocturia can include the following:
- Waking up more than once a night to urinate (Normally, you should be able to sleep six to eight hours during the night without needing to use the bathroom.)
- Urinating more volume (if polyuria is present).
- Fatigue/low energy levels during the day due to sleep disruptions caused by frequent bathroom trips.
How Is Nocturia Diagnosed?
To help your specialist make an accurate nocturia diagnosis, keeping a fluid and voiding diary would be helpful.
A fluid and voiding diary is a two-day record showing the following:
- How much you drink
- How often you must use the bathroom
- How much urine you released
- Any medications you are taking
- Any UTIs, along with any related symptoms
In addition to reviewing the diary, your specialist may also ask you further questions to determine the possible cause(s) of and treatment for your nocturia. A urinalysis may also be ordered to examine your urine for infection.
Treatment Options for Nocturia
Nocturia can be treated in several ways, including lifestyle changes and medication. Below you will find more information regarding both treatment options.
Lifestyle Changes
There are many lifestyle changes that could help with treating nocturia. They include taking the following actions:
- Restrict fluids in the evening. Limiting fluid intake, especially coffee, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol can result in a decreased amount of urine produced in the evening/night.
- Take afternoon naps. Napping during the day can help reduce fluid buildup because it allows liquid to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Once you wake up, you can use the bathroom to eliminate excess urine.
- Elevate your legs. This helps prevent fluid retention by redistributing fluids so that they can be reabsorbed into your bloodstream.
- Wear compression stockings. This can also help fluids be redistributed and reabsorbed into your bloodstream. This is done because the stocking exerts pressure against your leg while at the same time decreasing pressure on your veins.
- Manage the time that you take diuretics. If you take them mid-to-late afternoon or six hours before you go to sleep, it can help reduce the number of times you feel the need to use the bathroom during the night.
Medications
In addition to lifestyle changes, several different medicinal options are available to alleviate and treat nocturia. These medications include:
- Desmopressin (helps the kidneys produce less urine)
- Furosemide (helps to regulate urine production during the day in order to decrease urine production at night)
- Bumetanide
The following anticholinergic medications can also reduce your symptoms:
- Darifenacin
- Tolterodine
- Solifenacin
- Oxybutynin
- Trospium Chloride
Not everyone will benefit from these medications, but your doctor can help you choose the one that would be best for your individual needs.
How Can Nocturia Be Prevented?
One of the most important steps toward preventing nocturia is to drink only enough fluids before bedtime. If you consume too much fluid in the evening, you are more likely to experience nocturia. Limiting or avoiding certain medications is another way to decrease urine production at night.
The symptoms of nocturia do not have to have to keep you up at night any longer. Our experts at Urology of Greater Atlanta can assist you. Contact us to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations throughout Georgia today!
