OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who frequently needs to use the toilet.
Q) I HAVE always needed to empty my bladder often, usually every couple of hours, or sometimes longer.
But recently it has been much more often at night, less than an hour sometimes.
It is only a problem at night.
I do not drink before going to bed. In fact, I wonder if I drink enough.
A) Needing to pass urine more often at night is called nocturia, and it’s quite common, particularly as we get older.
However, needing to go every hour during the night can understandably disrupt sleep and is worth looking into.
One reason this happens mainly at night is how the body handles fluid when you lie down.
During the day, some fluid collects in the legs, especially if you have been sitting or standing for long periods.
When you lie down, that fluid returns to the bloodstream and the kidneys filter it into urine, filling the bladder more quickly.
Other possible causes include overactive bladder, diabetes, certain medications or – in men – an enlarged prostate.
As we age, the bladder can also become more sensitive and signal the need to empty even when it isn’t very full.
Although you avoid drinking before bed, it’s still important to drink enough during the day.
If this change is recent, it would be sensible to mention it to your GP.
