If you’re waking up repeatedly at night to urinate, it’s called nocturia. Getting up once can be normal, particularly as you get older, but frequent or newly increased nighttime urination can sometimes point to an underlying problem.
Common reasons
-
Drinking lots of fluids near bedtime, especially tea, coffee, or other caffeinated drinks.
-
Alcohol, which can increase urine production and disrupt sleep.
-
Diuretics (“water pills”) and some other medications.
-
Enlarged prostate in men, which can cause a weak stream, difficulty starting, or incomplete emptying.
-
Overactive bladder or urinary-tract problems.
-
Diabetes, especially when accompanied by increased thirst and daytime urination.
-
Sleep apnea, which can contribute to increased nighttime urine production.
-
Leg swelling: Fluid that accumulates in the legs during the day can return to circulation when lying down, increasing nighttime urination.
-
Less commonly, heart or kidney problems can contribute.
What you can try
-
Move most of your fluid intake earlier in the day.
-
Limit caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
-
Empty your bladder immediately before going to bed.
-
If your legs tend to swell, elevating them for a period during the afternoon/evening may help some people.
-
Don’t drastically restrict fluids just to avoid urinating—dehydration can cause other problems.
If you’re regularly getting up two or more times a night, or the change is new and persistent, discuss it with a healthcare professional. Keeping a 2–3 day bladder diary (when you drink, how much you urinate, and when you wake) can be very useful.
Seek prompt medical attention for blood in the urine, fever with urinary symptoms, severe pain, inability to urinate, or sudden severe changes in urination.
