If you find yourself frequently getting up to go to the bathroom during the night, chances are you’re completely normal.
That’s what hospital doctors say, who say that getting up once a night to urinate if you’re under 60 is nothing unusual.
‘Nocturia (need to urinate at night) can be caused by many different problems.
‘Some problems, such as drinking too much later in the evening or drinking too many caffeinated drinks throughout the day, may be easy to solve,’ says nurse Davina Richardson of Bowel and Bladder UK.
However, if you go more than once a night, it could indicate a problem.
Excessive use of the toilet can be a sign of a range of conditions – from the less serious urinary tract infection to alarming diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate cancer or even heart disease.
However, the threshold for what is considered ‘normal’ changes with age.
According to the NHS, it is relatively normal for people over 70 to wake up twice a night to urinate.
It is expected that people in their 20s will have to get up to pee much less than someone in their 90s, the NHS says.
And once you’re in your 90s, this can increase to four times a night, the NHS adds.
That’s because as the body ages, it produces less of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
This is the hormone that regulates how much water we retain and helps prevent dehydration.
However, if the increase in frequency of bathroom use is accompanied by other symptoms, it may cause concern.
Being very thirsty, losing weight without losing weight and having blurred vision, as well as having to go to the toilet more often, can be a sign of diabetes.
That’s because high blood sugar increases thirst and the need to reach for a glass of water, leading to frequent toilet visits during the night, the NHS explains.
High blood sugar levels also irritate the bladder, causing you to urinate more often, it adds.
If the frequent need to urinate is accompanied by chest pain, swollen ankles and sweating, it may be a sign of heart disease.
Heart disease can cause poor circulation, which can lead to ankle swelling. This extra fluid is reabsorbed into the bloodstream and removed by the kidneys, increasing the need to go to the toilet, the NHS explains.
But more frequent visits can also be a warning sign of a urinary tract infection, according to Bowel and Bladder UK. This is usually accompanied by a burning sensation and cloudy or bad-smelling urine.
Other causes include kidney stones or an overactive bladder, certain medications, sleep disorders and excessive fluid intake.
Nocturia can cause significant disruption to sleep, negatively impacting daytime functioning, quality of life and long-term health and wellbeing, Ms Richardson explains.
While it can be an early symptom for some medical conditions, it can also be resolved with simple lifestyle changes, she added.
Treatment recommendations for nocturia include reducing intake of caffeine, carbonated drinks and alcohol, avoiding drinking large amounts of fluid during the evening hours and avoiding a high-protein diet, especially late in the evening.
The NHS recommends that those who need to use the toilet during the night drink their last glass of water at 8pm rather than 10pm.
But make sure you drink the same amount of water just earlier in the day.
Maintaining good sleep hygiene is another lifestyle change that could help.
That’s because nocturia can sometimes be a sign of poor sleep, as you’re more likely to notice nighttime urges when you’re awake or in shallow sleep.
However, the NHS advises those who use the toilet more often than usual in the middle of the night to speak to their GP.