General healthcare

Tips to prevent nocturia

Preventing nocturia

The term nocturia refers to the excessive urination at night, most commonly seen in elderly individuals, both men and women. However, the volume of urine may be normal or less or more than the normal. Causes of nocturia are disease processes of urinary system, most commonly diseases affecting prostate like enlarged prostate in males and diseases of genitourinary system in women, e.g., diseases of urinary bladder, vagina, etc. The class of drugs that increase the volume of urine are known as diuretics and may cause nocturia. Nocturia may result from some surgical procedures of urinary system. Various signs and symptoms associated with nocturia may be painful urination, difficulty in urination, loss of control of urination, strong urge of urination, etc.

Published Jan 08, 2022

Daily intake of water can safely be decreased by 25 %.

Visit to the doctor

If a person is having nocturia with any of the above-mentioned signs and symptoms, he/she must visit a specialist doctor called urologist. The doctor may ask for a few tests of urinary system to identify the underlying cause of nocturia and advises treatment accordingly. Once the underlying cause is identified, the treatment for the cause is required. In addition, specific medications may be prescribed by the specialist doctor to suppress nocturia.

Fluid intake should be restricted to decrease the frequency of nocturia.

Prevention of nocturia

Lifestyle changes:

Few lifestyle changes may be helpful in decreasing the signs and symptoms of nocturia.

Restricted fluid intake – Fluid intake should be restricted to decrease the frequency of nocturia. The individual should try to avoid drinking water after 5 or 6 p.m. Average daily water intake should also be kept in mind as per the advice of the doctor. Daily intake of water can safely be decreased by 25 %. In this way frequency of nocturia can be decreased over the ensuing days.

Avoid caffeine, citrus juice, and alcohol – Alcoholic, citrus and caffeinated beverages tend to irritate the bladder and increase the frequency of nocturia. So these beverages should be avoided.

If an individual is receiving a diuretic drug, he/she must take it in the morning or in the afternoon before 4 p.m.

Maintain an ideal body weight – Increased body weight seems to aggravate the signs and symptoms of nocturia. Promoting weight loss in those individuals may improve symptoms.

Smoking should be avoided.

Regular physical exercise is helpful.

Women should undertake an exercise schedule known as pelvic floor exercise. This exercise regimen helps women to increase the tone of the muscles around urinary bladder. This process strengthens the muscles and improves the signs and symptoms of nocturia.

Underlying diseases like diabetes and others must be treated accordingly.

Support

Signs and symptoms of nocturia are often physically troublesome. Additionally, they often results in psychological stress and low self-esteem due to uncomfortable symptoms. Family members and people around the individual must provide mental support so that the individual can cope with the condition, learn new strategies to follow his/her normal routine and stay motivated to follow the self-care strategies. Family members of the individuals should be educated about possible causes and remedies of nocturia. They should also motivate the individual to continue with his/her normal day-to-day activities.