Causes of Nocturia

Nocturia is a condition in which people wake up during the night for the need to urinate. This may be linked to hypertension and high salt intake. A new study conducted in Japan discovered this. Common causes of regular visits to the toilet at night include high fluid intake, sleep disorders, and bladder obstruction.

Those having nocturia may get up 2 to 6 times during the night. Normally, people without nocturia can sleep without having to urinate for up to 8 hours. Some may need to get up once during the night which is normal.

Nocturia May Be A Symptom of Other Health Conditions

It may be a symptom of other health conditions such as bladder prolapse, a tumor of the bladder or prostate, and other disorders affecting sphincter control. Nocturia may also be experienced by pregnant women and people with heart or liver failure and diabetes.

While getting older, our bodies produce less of an antidiuretic hormone that enables us to preserve fluid. This results in more urine production during the night. Older adults also tend to lose holding capacity and may have medical issues that would impact the bladder.

Approximately two-thirds of responders, between the ages of 55 and 84, were reported to have experienced nocturia at least a few nights per week. This was according to a 2003 poll from the National Sleep Foundation.

A Recent Study

A recent study was conducted by a team of researchers at the 83rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society. It showed that trips to the toilet to urinate at night may be linked to excessive salt intake and high blood pressure.

Author of the study Dr. Satoshi Konno, of the Division of Hypertension at the Tohoku Rosai Hospital in Sendai, Japan, said that “Our study indicates that if you need to urinate in the night — called nocturia — you may have elevated blood pressure and/or excess fluid in your body,”.

In Japan, people generally consume significantly more salt than those in Western countries. For this reason, the Japanese population may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Appropriate Control of Salt Intake Important For the Treatment of Nocturia

The results of these studies suggest appropriate control of salt intake and blood pressure. This might be important for the treatment of nocturia regardless of nationality. However, people in other countries tend to have different eating habits when it comes to salt.