If you get up frequently at night to go to the bathroom, chances are you’re perfectly normal.
This is according to the doctors at the hospital, who say that getting up to urinate once a night if you are under 60 years old is nothing out of the ordinary.
‘Nocturia (the need to urinate at night) can be caused by many different problems.
“Some cases, such as drinking too late at night or too many caffeinated drinks throughout the day, can be easy to fix,” said nurse Davina Richardson, from Bowel and Bladder UK.
However, going more than once a night could indicate a problem.
Using the bathroom in excessive amounts could be a sign of a variety of conditions, from less serious urinary tract infections to alarming illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, or even heart disease.
However, the threshold for what is considered “normal” changes with age.
For people over 70, waking up to urinate twice a night is relatively normal, according to the NHS.
People in their 20s are expected to need to get up to urinate much less than someone in their 90s, says the NHS
And once you reach 90, this could increase to four times a night, the NHS adds.
This is because as the body ages, it produces less of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
This is the hormone that regulates the amount of water we retain and helps prevent dehydration.
However, if the increased frequency of toileting is accompanied by other symptoms, it could cause concern.
Feeling very thirsty, losing weight without binding and having blurred vision in addition to needing to go to the bathroom more can be a sign of diabetes.
This is because high blood sugar increases thirst and the need for a glass of water, leading to frequent trips to the bathroom during the night, the NHS explains.
High blood sugar levels also irritate the bladder, causing you to urinate more frequently, he adds.
If the frequent need to urinate is accompanied by chest pains, swollen ankles, and a feeling of sweating, it could be a sign of a heart condition.
A heart condition 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 bathroom, explains the NHS.
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 foul-smelling urine.
Other causes include kidney stones or overactive bladder, certain medications, sleep disorders, and excessive fluid intake.
Nocturia can cause significant sleep disruption, with a negative effect on daytime functioning, quality of life and long-term health and well-being, Ms Richardson explained.
Although it can be an early symptom of some medical conditions, it can also be solved with simple lifestyle changes, he added.
Treatment tips for nocturia include reducing your intake of caffeine, soft drinks, and alcohol, avoiding drinking large amounts of fluid during the evening hours, and avoiding a high-protein diet, especially at the end of the night.
The NHS suggests that those who need to go to the bathroom at night drink their last glass of water at 8pm rather than 10pm.
But still make sure you drink the same amount of water earlier in the day.
Maintaining good sleep hygiene is another lifestyle change that could help.
This is because nocturia can sometimes be a sign of poor sleep, as you are more likely to notice nocturnal urges when you are awake or in shallow sleep.
However, the NHS advises those who go to the bathroom more than usual in the middle of the night to speak to their GP.