Nighttime urination that disrupts sleep has various causes.

 

Although it is common to drink a lot of water and urinate frequently during the summer, if this behavior continues at night, it should not be solely blamed on water intake. Nocturia, or waking up more than twice at night to urinate, can have various underlying causes, and treatment may be necessary accordingly.

 

The prevalence of nocturia in our country is quite high. According to reports, about 33% of people in their 40s and older wake up once at night, and about 48% wake up two or more times. In the United States and Europe, it has been reported to be around 25% to 50%. Looking at different age groups, about 20% in their 30s and approximately 40% in those over 60, it is clear that the prevalence increases with age.

 

Because of this, especially in men, the cause of nocturia is often thought to be benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, this is only one of many causes. Professor Jae-won Park of the Department of Urology at the National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explains, "There are many causes that can lead to nocturia, such as overactive bladder, sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, and diabetes," and adds, "In particular, the meaning of waking up at night is subjective, so it is important to distinguish whether you wake up because you need to urinate or because you wake up and then go to urinate."

 

If nocturia causes disturbed sleep at night, the cause should be accurately identified and appropriate treatment should be received.

 

In particular, middle-aged and older adults may need to consult their primary care physician because medications they are taking for underlying conditions such as diabetes could have an impact.

Pharmacist Bae Hyun from Bright Smile Pharmacy emphasized, "SGLT2 inhibitors, which are commonly prescribed for diabetic patients, can cause significant discomfort due to nocturia," and added, "Especially for the elderly, if a large amount of body fluid is lost, symptoms such as thirst, dehydration, dizziness, and fatigue may occur. If symptoms become severe, it is essential to consult with the attending physician about changing the medication prescription."

 

If caused by conditions such as overactive bladder or benign prostatic hyperplasia, appropriate medications can be used for treatment. For overactive bladder, antimuscarinic agents can be used, and for benign prostatic hyperplasia, alpha-blockers can be used to control frequent urination.

 

Improving lifestyle habits is fundamental. Professor Park Jae-won advised, "Urinate before bed, and from after dinner or two hours before sleep, avoid fluid intake as well as alcohol and fruit," and added, "If taking diuretics at night, adjusting the timing of medication and wearing compression stockings can help prevent fluid accumulation in the legs."

 

On the other hand, surgery to relieve the urethral obstruction can be considered, but it is not advisable to prioritize surgery solely for the improvement of nocturia.

 

Professor Park Jae-won said, "Nocturia has various causes, so we cannot be certain that symptoms will improve through surgery," and emphasized, "Since most cases can be treated with lifestyle modifications and medication, it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis early and choose the appropriate treatment accordingly."