7 reasons for the frequent urination at night
75% of the fluid we consume during the day is eliminated from the body when we urinate. Bladder capacity is 300 milliliters. As soon as it overflows, the nervous system receives a signal to empty it. Normally, in healthy men, the number of daily urinations is 5-7 times, and 1 time at night. The occasional urge to go to the bathroom at night is normal, since at this time of day the bladder produces more concentrated urine, but in a smaller amount. That enables us to sleep without waking up. But frequent trips to the restroom are not the norm.
Here are 7 reasons that explain frequent urination at night:
1. Drinking lots of water before going to bed
Refrain from eating and drinking 2-3 hours before going to bed. So you can reduce trips to the bathroom to 1 time or even to zero.
2. Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics: they collect fluid from the cells and remove it with urine. If you do not want to wake up at night to go to the bathroom, avoid those drinks.
3. Taking diuretics
Some medications may have this side effect. Before using medications, you should carefully read the instructions or consult your doctor. So you will know for sure whether they have a diuretic effect or not.
4. Apnea
This disease is characterized by periodic stops of breathing during sleep, which is accompanied by snoring. One of the symptoms of apnea is frequent night urination. In one study, 84% of subjects who suffered from apnea complained of having a constant urge to urinate - more than 6 times a night.
5. Leg swelling
If you suffer from leg swelling, but still do not recognize the cause of the disease, it's time to find out. Excess fluid that accumulates in the tissues of the hands and feet is transported to the kidneys. From there, the body removes it with urine at night.
6. Infections
The most common cause of frequent urge to use the bathroom at night is urinary tract infections. Other symptoms of these diseases include: changes in the color of urine, pain when urinating, and increased body temperature.
7. Prostate diseases
An enlarged prostate gland presses on the bladder, narrows the urethra and changes its shape. All this is accompanied by the urge to urinate, even if the bladder is empty.
Thus, there are many reasons for frequent urges to visit the toilet. A common reason for that is the presence of a certain disease. For example, diabetes. To prevent this, schedule an annual checkup with a urologist. If you notice that night trips to the toilet have become a habit of yours, and at the same time it feels painful to urinate, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.