Why do I pee so much at night?

MOST people have experienced the annoyance of being woken in the middle of the night needing to pee, but why does it happen?

Drinking lots of fluids before bed can of course contribute, but there could be other reasons you regularly need the toilet at night.

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Why do I pee so much at night?

Nocturia is where you frequently need to pee during the night and it can disrupt your sleeping patterns.

The most common causes are drinking a lot of fluid close to the time you go to bed, and sleep related problems - as you are more likely to need to pee while awake.

There are several other possible causes of nocturia according to the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, one of which could be hormonal changes.

As you age you produce less anti-diuretic hormone, a chemical that helps your body hold onto fluid therefore stopping the need to go as much during the night.

The trust also said that prostate changes can be a factor, as the glands grow with age and put pressure on the urethra.

Bladder conditions can be a cause of nocturia, such as an over-active bladder or a bladder infection.

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Heart disease can be another cause of nocturia as when your heart and circulation get weaker you will notice ankle swelling.

Whilst you are lying down or have your feet in the air, the fluid from this swelling is absorbed in the blood stream and then removed by the kidneys, which increases your need to urinate.

Another medical condition that can increase the chance of needing to pee during the night is diabetes.

This is because high blood sugar levels both increase your thirst so that you drink more, and irritate the bladder.

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How can I stop peeing so much at night?

There are several precautions you can take to reduce the frequency of needing to pee at night.

According to Healthline, these include:

1. Avoiding beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol - diuretics.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight so as to not put pressure on the bladder.
3. Afternoon naps.
4. Timing when you take anti-diuretic medication so you don't disrupt your night-time urination production.
5. If leg swelling is a cause, ensure you regularly elevate your legs throughout the day. Compression stockings can also prevent fluid build-up.

Do I need to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if you have painful conditions that disrupt your sleep, and preventative measures and lifestyle changes fail to improve it.

Persistent nocturia could be the sign of a health condition such as urge incontinence, prostate problems or a low level of the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).

If necessary there are medications your doctor can prescribe to help relieve your symptoms.