Nocturia or Excessive Urination at Night

Nocturia or excessive urination at night can disrupt sleep cycles and cause a constant feeling of fatigue. Under normal circumstances, the amount of urine in the bladder decreases at night and becomes more concentrated, allowing us to sleep uninterrupted for six to eight hours at a stretch. When you suffer from excessive urination at night, you may need to wake up four or five times to relieve your bladder. Excessive urination is common among older adults and accounts for nearly two-thirds of sleep disturbances in people between the ages of 55 and 84. Causes for nocturia may include:

Urinary tract infections
Drinking too much fluid before sleeping (this includes alcohol and caffeinated drinks)
Chronic renal failure
Heart disease
Cystitis
Diabetes
Certain medications such as diuretics and lithium
Sleep apnea or other sleeping disorders
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
High calcium levels
Tumor in the bladder or prostate
Bladder prolapse
Liver failure
Pregnancy
Aging

There are a number of ways to treat this condition. The first thing you should do is to keep a diary of how much fluids you drink and a log of how many times you urinate. This will help when you consult a doctor as well as it will give you an idea of any possible causes of the problem. During your visit with the doctor, it would be best to share any information about your symptoms and the condition. For example, make it a point to note down when the problem started, whether there has been a change in the amount of urine passes, if there have been any instances of bedwetting, and if you experience any other symptoms such as pain or burning sensation during urination, fever, abdominal or back pain.

Treatment for frequent urination will depend on the cause. After a physical examination and a possible number of tests, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat the condition. In more severe cases, closer evaluation may necessitate tests such as urinalysis, ultrasound, sleep testing and neurological tests. If these tests do not indicate any underlying medical condition, you can try the following self care methods:

Drink less fluid later in the day but make sure you meet your daily requirements to prevent dehydration
Avoid coffee, tea and alcohol as these stimulate the production of urine
Alternative treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture and hypnosis may help you cope with the condition. While there is no scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness, several people believe that that can be beneficial.

References:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003141.htm

answered by G R

Excessive urination can be a symptom of diabetes mellitus (polyuria), urinary tract infection, prostate conditions like enlarged prostate, bladder infections, excessive thirst or polydipsia. I can understand your state as due this condition it becomes difficult to get a sound sleep in the night. Consult a specialist who would help you to diagnose the exact condition and give correct treatment on time to avoid any complications.

answered by S P

I am not able to retain water due to excessive urination more so during the night due to which am not able to get a good night rest