Do you have to take frequent trips to the bathroom at night?
Is it pissing you off because you feel exhausted due to your overactive bladder at night and unable to concentrate due to lack of sleep?
If so, it can be no less than a distant dream to get rid of it if you don’t act now. As much as an overactive bladder at night is irritating, it is equally common.
Notably, more than 30% of men and 40% of women in the United States live with the symptoms of overactive bladder at night.
It is also called Nocturia or Frequent Urination at Night. It is simply described as waking up multiple times during the night to pee.
It can occur in young people and becomes common with age. In fact, more than 50% of men have to deal with the symptoms of overactive bladder at night in their seventies.
So, what causes overactive bladder at night? Is it something to do with nerves, sleep quality, or drinking too much fluid before sleeping?
If you also want to know the reason behind the loss of bladder control at night and how to prevent it, this blog is for you.
60 Seconds Summary
- An overactive bladder causes you to wake up more than 2 times at night to pee.
- Low adh levels, increase in salt intake, caffeine and alcohol consumption at night, menopause and certain medical conditions cause an overactive bladder at night.
- There are natural tips like cutting down salt intake, caffeine, and alcohol, doing kegel exercises, and increasing ADH levels at night that can help treat nocturia or overactive bladder at night.
What Causes Overactive Bladder At Night?
An overactive bladder especially at night can be highly irritating.
People often switch to decreasing fluid intake instinctively with the hope that this will make them pee less.
Still, it doesn’t always help because that might not be the root cause of why you are peeing every 2 hours at night.
There are multiple reasons behind what causes overactive bladder at night.
#1. It is all about hormones
Throughout the day your body naturally produces the ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) or vasopressin.
This hormone basically works to signal the kidney how much water to retain. It helps regulate the amount of water in the body and thus affects the urine concentration as well.
Notably, a high ADH level causes the body to produce less urine, whereas a low level results in greater urine production.
So, basically, when ADH levels are low at night, it can lead to an overactive bladder causing you to wake up multiple times at night.
#2. Medical Conditions
At times medical conditions are also responsible for your overactive bladder. Issues like
- UTIs
- Diabetes
- Heart or liver failure
- Kidney disease
- Bladder tumors
- Enlarged prostate
- High blood pressure
Can make you use the bathroom too many times at night.
#3. Excessive Salt Intake
Do you like to add extra salt to your dishes? Well, that might answer “Why do I pee every 2 hours at night”.
That’s right, consuming excessive salt makes your body get rid of it causing you to retain it through urination.
It is found to affect the urinary sodium and creatinine concentrations. Studies have suggested that controlling salt intake can actually improve nocturia in patients with high salt intake.
#4. Menopause
No health issue in a woman’s body isn’t get triggered by menopause and it’s so not fair.
This particular phase of a woman’s life causes a dramatic drop in the estrogen level.
This primary female hormone keeps the urinary tract and vaginal tissues elastic and sufficiently lubricated.
The drastic and sudden drop in the estrogen hormone weakens the bladder and this is one of the primary reasons behind elder people and menopause women peeing a lot at night.
#5. Excessive Caffeine Consumption
If you are habituated to consuming too much caffeine at night before going to bed or throughout the day.
Stop doing that unless you love spending too much time peeing at night. Caffeine can irritate the bladder and have a diuretic effect causing an overactive bladder at night.
Adding to it, if you consume alcohol, it makes the situation even worse.
Only learning what causes an overactive bladder isn’t going to help. It’s crucial to take some necessary steps to get rid of it. But before that, let’s know…
How Many Times is Normal to Urinate at Night?
It is common for people to wake up once in the night to pee. However, in certain cases, people wake up two times.
Nonetheless, if you are continuously waking up 2 times or more at night to relieve your bladder, you might be suffering from an overactive bladder and must do something about it.
You can try natural ways to medication to stop frequent urination at night.
How Can I Stop an Overactive Bladder at Night?
Living with an overactive bladder at night is not really a pleasant feeling. You gotta do something to have a good night’s sleep.
Here are some of the tips to prevent an overactive bladder at night or nocturia treatment.
#1. You must know how to increase ADH at night naturally. There are natural ways including anti-diuretic foods and doing exercises to stop frequent urination at night.
#2. Restrict the salt intake in your daily diet. The best way is to avoid eating fast foods and artificial sauces because they contain too much salt and sodium in them which causes an electrolyte imbalance.
#3. Talk to your doctor about the medical issues. Sometimes certain medications including antimuscarinics and beta-3 agonists cause the bladder to relax. This can cause an overactive bladder even bed wetting at night.
#4. Limit fluids and alcohol consumption at night; especially 3-4 hours before sleeping. Drinking too much fluid before going to sleep can cause an overactive bladder to anyone. Therefore, try to stay hydrated throughout the day. Also, too much alcohol at night irritates the bladder and exacerbates overactive bladder symptoms.
#5. Do certain exercises like kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles that control the bladder and improve bladder control. It is easy to do kegel exercise; squeeze the muscles you use to stop the urine flow, hold for a few seconds, and then release.
These were some of the ways to treat an overactive bladder at night.
Rushing to the washroom more than 2 times at night can be frustrating especially when you are not used to it.
If you are experiencing it for the first time, here are some of the most frequently asked queries about OAB that can serve some help.
FAQ
While knowing what causes overactive bladder at night and tips to control are essential, it’s of no harm to get into some more details.
#1. Can drinking more water help an overactive bladder?
It’s a mixed bag. While staying hydrated is important for overall health, including your bladder, drinking too much water can actually worsen overactive bladder symptoms for some people.
This is because it increases the volume of urine your bladder has to hold, leading to more frequent urination and urgency.
#2. What is the best drink for an overactive bladder?
Plain water is generally the best choice for people with overactive bladder. It’s calorie-free, caffeine-free, and won’t irritate your bladder lining.
Other good options include low-acid fruits and vegetables and herbal teas.
#3. Foods to avoid with an overactive bladder
Try to avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, Spicy foods, Acidic foods, Artificial sweeteners, and Carbonated beverages.
#4. Are eggs good for an overactive bladder?
Yes, eggs are generally considered a safe food for people with overactive bladder.
They are a good source of protein and other nutrients but low in irritants like caffeine and acidity.
However, everyone reacts differently to food, so it’s important to pay attention to how your body reacts to eggs and adjust your intake accordingly.
#5. Is cranberry juice good for an overactive bladder?
Studies on the benefits of cranberry juice for overactive bladder are inconclusive.
While some research suggests it may help reduce the frequency of urination, other studies have not shown a significant benefit.
If you choose to drink cranberry juice, be sure to choose unsweetened varieties and avoid those with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, which can irritate the bladder.
It’s always best to talk to your doctor or a registered dietician for personalized advice about managing your overactive bladder through diet.
Conclusion
An overactive bladder at night can be disruptive and frustrating. This can disrupt sleep, leading to fatigue, frustration, and decreased quality of life.
While occasional nighttime urination is normal, frequent waking to urinate could indicate an underlying issue.
But it is a manageable condition. By understanding the causes and implementing treatment strategies, you can improve your sleep quality and regain control of your bladder.