Nocturia is one of the most common types of urinary incontinence in older people. It is the physiological need to get up to urinate at night, which interrupts sleep and can affect daily performance. Incontinence is completely normal from certain ages onwards because the muscles around the bladder lose elasticity.
The nervous system also intervenes in the regulation of urine output and that is why a malfunction – for a multitude of reasons – causes the contraction of the muscles and the relaxation of the sphincters, which makes us urgently go to the bathroom. , regardless of the amount of urine in the bladder.
The main difference between nocturia and other types of incontinence such as enuresis lies in the degree of control: the latter is involuntary urination while sleeping. In both cases, the need to urinate during the night can respond to a wide variety of factors, including hormonal changes, pathologies or as a side effect of some medications.
Nocturia may be due to an abnormal or excessive increase in the amount of urine produced. This phenomenon is known as polyuria and those who suffer from it can produce more than 2.8 liters of urine in a day. To give you an idea, an adult in normal health conditions produces between 1 and 2 liters of urine per day, depending on the amount of liquids they ingest and how much they sweat.
On the other hand, Arginine vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone is responsible for controlling the reabsorption of water molecules through the concentration of urine. Hormonal changes can lead to a lower ability to concentrate, which makes the urine more dilute and, therefore, increases its quantity and the need to urinate at night.
People with cardiovascular problems tend to have poor circulation and swelling of the legs, feet or ankles. To alleviate these symptoms, it is common for patients to sleep with their feet up, which causes the concentrated liquid to penetrate the blood and be excreted through the kidneys. Consequently, this increases their needs to go to the bathroom.
Hyperglycemia increases the sensation of thirst in patients, who ingest a greater amount of liquids that must then be eliminated through urine. As if this were not enough, high blood sugar levels feed this vicious cycle, since it puts the kidneys to work to release this excess glucose, which the liver produces again.
Kidney problems, the consumption of diuretics or medications such as antidepressants, which cause an increase in dry mouth and, consequently, the need to drink, are also related to nocturia in older adults.
To prevent nocturia, it is recommended to reduce water intake in the late afternoon and limit the consumption of other liquids that could irritate the bladder, such as those that contain caffeine, theine, or alcoholic beverages. In any case, you should consult this problem with your doctor so that he can review your medication and assess if this is the reason for your nocturia.
