A doctor has shared two potential reasons you may need to get up to go to the toilet at night.
It’s annoying to frequently need to pee during the night; it not only interrupts your sleep, but turning on the bathroom light can upset your circadian rhythm, making it tough to get back to sleep once you’re awake.
Luckily, Dr Michael Breus – dubbed ‘the sleep doctor’ thanks to the helpful advice he shares on TikTok – has shed light on some of the causes of these irritating bathroom breaks. He explained in a video: “So, what causes frequent urination at night?”
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“Drinking too many fluids before bed is an obvious culprit. Luckily, it’s easy to fix.” To combat this, Dr Breus suggests people “try to cut off hydration about an hour before hitting the hay”.
Unfortunately, the second factor causing these night-time toilet trips is less easy to combat. Dr Breus added: “Another reason might be that you’re getting older.”
As we age, Dr Breus says, the hormones that signal our bodies to stop urine production at night “naturally decrease”. Therefore, the chances increase of having to run to the loo while everyone else is sound asleep.
Dr Breus emphasised the importance of consulting your doctor if you notice a “sudden change” in your toilet habits, or if you’re getting up to go to the bathroom more than twice a night, as it could signal an underlying health issue.
Nocturia, the need to urinate at night, is quite common, especially among the elderly. The NHS backs up advice that anyone needing to urinate more than twice a night should seek medical advice, as this could be symptomatic of prostate or bladder problems, and may even point to heart conditions, diabetes, or sleep disorders. It’s crucial to visit your GP with any concerns.
According to the NHS, adults generally require seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Children should ideally get nine to 13 hours, while babies and toddlers need about 12 to 17 hours.
Insufficient sleep can profoundly affect our daily lives, leading to daytime fatigue, mood swings, concentration issues, and irritability.
If you’re waking up multiple times during the night, waking up earlier than desired and unable to fall back asleep, having trouble falling asleep, or lying awake for extended periods, there might be external or internal factors disrupting your sleep.