Treatments for Frequent Urination at Night
Many people over the age of sixty-five suffer from the urgency to urinate at night. It is a common medical condition that can be easily managed when the exact cause is determined. However, according to BPH treatment Phoenix specialists, nocturnal urination can be caused by many underlining conditions including: enlarged prostate, benign tumors, bladder obstruction, diabetes and sleep disorders. Regarding the latter, it is important to know that, when sleepiness goes down, the circadian rhythm promotes wakefulness leading to urination at night.
The overactive bladder symptom is often caused by the malfunction of the detrusor muscle or by nerve damage resulting from abdominal or pelvic trauma. Bladder stones and side-effects from previously taken medication can also be added to the list of causes, which is why anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or aspirin) are usually prescribed to manage the overactive bladder symptom.
The urgency of urination can also be caused by high blood pressure and a large consumption of salt, which would, sometimes, indicate that the patient may have excessive fluid in their body. However, this is one of the least frequent causes, the most common one being infection of the urinary tract which can be identified by other signs including: fever, discolored urine and a burning sensation during urination.
Management, Medications and Bladder Training
Establishing the cause can help choose the right type of treatment. Nevertheless, regardless of the cause, there are still many steps that can be taken to alleviate this symptom. For instance, the frequency of urination during the night can be reduced by doing the following: limiting fluid intake before going to sleep, not using diuretics, not drinking alcohol or coffee, losing weight to reduce pressure on the bladder and treating urinary tract infection with antibiotics.
In some cases, anticholinergic medication can be prescribed to help with the inflammatory response. The most commonly used drugs are: fesoterodine, oxybutyn, trospium, tolterodine, solifenacin and darifenacin. Antihistamines such as Claritin (loratadine) and Benadryl can also help along with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of sodium taken twice a day to alkalize urine and, thus, sooth the bladder. Moreover, overproduction of urine at night can also be treated with FDA-approved Noctiva which is a nasal spray that treats nocturnal polyuria. For women, oxytrol can also be used as an over-the-counter drug.
When medication fails to deliver the desired results, an overactive bladder can also be trained by delaying urination with small intervals, scheduling bathroom trips or using helpful relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing).
Supplements and Home Remedies
A few vitamins can also help bladder control. Vitamin D can be taken for the pelvic floor disorders and vitamin C can be used as a supplement to boost immunity to urinary tract infections. In addition, turmeric can relieve the inflammatory response of the bladder because it stops the NF kappa-B substance that triggers inflammation in the body. Similarly, magnesium and ganoderma lucidum can also help as supplements. Alternatively, cranberry juice and tablets help with infection, but can worsen urination urgency in case of overactive bladder symptoms. Ultimately, the most popular home remedies include the caffeine-free tea commonly known as Buchu and the antimicrobial ginger tea that has been proven effective for UTIs.
Many also choose to alter their diet in order to include foods for bladder health. Results via nutrition can only be achieved after a long period of time, but increasing consumption of garlic, protein, bananas, potatoes, pears and nuts does help to some extent.