Why do I keep getting up at night to urinate?

Frequent urination at night may be caused by factors such as excessive drinking, overactive bladder, prostatic hyperplasia, urinary tract infection, or diabetes. It can be improved by adjusting living habits, medication, or medical examination.

1. Drinking too much water:

Drinking large amounts of water or consuming diuretic drinks such as coffee and alcohol before going to bed will increase urine production. It is recommended to limit fluid intake 2 hours before bed and avoid stimulating drinks. If you drink water frequently due to thirst, you need to check whether it is related to hyperglycemia or Sjögren's syndrome.

2. Overactive bladder:

Abnormal contraction of the bladder muscles leads to urgency and frequency of urination, and the symptoms are more obvious at night. It may be related to nerve signal disorders or pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, which manifests as a sudden strong urge to urinate that is difficult to control. It can be relieved by bladder training or the use of M-receptor blockers.

3. Prostatic hyperplasia:

A common cause in middle-aged and elderly men is that the enlarged prostate compresses the urethra, resulting in poor urination and increased residual urine. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as thinning of urine stream and difficulty in urinating. Mild cases can be improved with α-blockers, while severe cases require surgery to relieve the obstruction.

4. Urinary tract infection:

Bacterial infection irritates the bladder mucosa, causing frequent urination and urgency, and may be accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating at night. Women are more likely to develop it because of their shorter urethras. Antibiotic treatment is required after urine routine diagnosis, and at the same time drink plenty of water to flush the urethra.

3. Diabetes:

Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, manifested by polydipsia and polyuria, which worsens at night. It may be accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss and thirst. Fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin need to be tested, and glucose control treatment needs to be standardized after diagnosis.

Long-term frequent nocturia requires a urination diary, including water intake, urination time and urine output. Avoid consuming high-salt foods at night to aggravate thirst, and moderately exercise pelvic floor muscles to enhance urinary control. It is recommended that middle-aged and elderly patients undergo prostate ultrasound and blood glucose screening every year. Women with recurrent urinary tract infections need to check for structural abnormalities of the urinary system. If it is accompanied by hematuria, low back pain or sudden weight loss, you should seek medical treatment immediately to rule out serious diseases such as tumors.