Frequent urination at night, known as nocturia, happens when an individual wakes up two or more times during an eight-hour sleep period to urinate. It is common and more prevalent with aging, especially over age 50, and can affect both men and women. Several factors can cause this:
- Producing excess urine at night (nocturnal polyuria), sometimes due to drinking too much fluid before bed, diabetes, kidney issues, or certain medications like diuretics.
- Reduced bladder capacity, possibly from infections, inflammation, or an enlarged prostate in men.
- Overactive bladder or urinary tract issues.
- Sleep disruptions, such as from sleep apnea, which not only wakes you but increases urine production.
- Lifestyle factors like consumption of alcohol or caffeine late in the day.
If you are waking multiple times to pee at night, it might be related to one or more of these causes and addressing the underlying issue can help improve sleep quality and reduce nighttime urination.
