Nocturia is nighttime urination a condition that can be disruptive, resulting feeling tired in the morning and finding it difficult to deal with stress.
Nocturia causes a person to wake more than usual at nite - in some cases having to go to the loo as many as five or six times.
Dr Mike Nicholls, a Urologist based at Entabeni Hospital in Durban, said half of all adults in the 50 to 59 age group will have nocturia.
He said it is common in 10 % in adults aged 40, to 80 % in those over 80. An increase in prostate size is one of the main contributors in men, while Menopause affects women.
The incidence of sleep disturbance/ disorders increase with age too, said Nicholls.
He said aside from the nighttime disruptions other symptoms include daytime urinary frequency, with urgency and a slow stream that may continue though the day.
Here are some tips Nicholls provides for symptoms and monitoring:
- First identify the cause.
- Make behaviour and lifestyle changes - restrict fluid two hours prior to bedtime, avoid diuretics like caffeine and alcohol in the evening, and control a chronic cough and constipation
- Keep a "Bladder Diary" - it can help quantify the problem and compare day and night time volumes.
- Nocturia is associated with profound decrease in quality of life: A range of sleep disturbances which will adversely affect daytime functioning. Lowered level of vitality, impairment of work, weight gain and impact on emotional health are some consequences. *The more serious consequences include increased risk of falls in the elderly and long term cardiac implications.
“One should see a health care practitioner to ensure there is no urinary tract infection. Further treatment may include physiotherapy, medication and surgery,” said Nicholls.