Are You Urinating a Lot at Night? Here’s Why and What You Can Do
Waking up once at night to urinate can be normal, but regularly waking two or more times—called nocturia—can disrupt sleep and sometimes signals an underlying problem.
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Cleveland Clinic
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Common reasons
Drinking a lot of fluid in the evening, especially close to bedtime.
Caffeine or alcohol, which can increase urine production.
Diuretic (“water pill”) medications, particularly if taken late in the day.
Diabetes, which can cause increased urine production.
Urinary tract infections, especially when accompanied by burning or urgency.
Enlarged prostate in men.
Overactive bladder or other bladder problems.
Heart or kidney problems, particularly when accompanied by swollen legs.
Sleep apnea or other sleep disorders—sometimes you wake for another reason and then urinate simply because you’re awake.
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Cleveland Clinic
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What may help
Reduce evening fluids, but don’t restrict fluids enough to become dehydrated.
Limit caffeine and alcohol later in the day.
If you take a diuretic, ask your doctor whether its timing should be changed—don’t change it yourself.
If your ankles or legs swell during the day, elevating your legs while resting may help redistribute fluid before bedtime.
Keep a bladder diary for several days, recording when you drink, when you urinate, and approximately how much. This can help your clinician identify the cause.
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NIDDK
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When to get checked
If you’re regularly waking multiple times, the problem is new, or it’s affecting your sleep, discuss it with a healthcare professional. Burning or painful urination, blood in the urine, fever, significant thirst, or unexplained weight changes are additional reasons to seek evaluation.
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MedlinePlus
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Don’t assume frequent nighttime urination is simply “part of getting older.” It’s common with age, but treatable causes should be considered.
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CDC
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