Have you woken up a lot at night to urinate? When you feel like urinating, is it URGENT? This is called NICTURIA or NOCTURIA.
Waking up at night often to urinate is a very common complaint. Over the years, waking up 1 or 2 times a night can be normal. But waking up 4, 5 or 6 times a night is NOT normal!
MAIN FACTORS
1- The Inadequate Time to Drink Liquids
2- The existence of a disease that causes greater liquid elimination or that generates EDEMA during the day.
3- The Action or Side Effects of Medication
4- Weakening of the Pelvic Muscle
The Factor that’s way the most common mistakes, which I see on a daily basis: 1 - THE INADEQUATE TIME TO DRINK LIQUIDS.
The more liquid we drink near bedtime, the MORE urine will be produced during the night and the MORE times we will wake up to empty our bladder!
Especially, if the liquid that was taken has caffeine or if it has alcohol! Examine these situations:
- The tea before bed!
- An evening meal that has coffee with milk, a juice, a plate of soup and then a glass of water to take medicine. In such a situation, there can be an intake of 800 ml to 1000 ml in a few hours, just before the person goes to bed!
Another example:
All of this can be better managed.
It is important to greatly reduce your water intake 3 hours before bedtime.
2- Let's talk now about DISEASES THAT CAUSE NOCTURIA.
Any disease that causes EDEMA or swelling in the feet and legs during the day, for whatever reason, will cause nocturia. The explanation is simple: during the day, the person tends to be more seated or standing. With this, edema, because of gravity, tends to be located in the feet, ankles and legs.
When the person lies down, this liquid tends to be reabsorbed and it enters the circulation again. The volume of liquid in the circulation increases and this will determine the increase in urine production.
What time will it happen? At night. When the person is lying down. So, MORE NOCTURIA!
How to decrease this? Anticipating this absorption of edema:
Elevating the legs, above the height of the heart, for 1 hour, before the evening meal.
Other examples of Illness that causes NOCTURIA:
Diabetes mellitus
Every time the blood glucose is above 180, the kidneys are programmed to open the floodgates and eliminate glucose through the urine. It is an attempt by the body to keep the blood glucose level within the normal range.
Overactive Bladder
The bladder muscle usually stores a good amount of urine before it starts to tell you it's time to urinate. This does not happen in people who develop hyperactive bladder. Just store a little urine and the bladder muscle starts to contract as if it had a lot of urine. This wakes the person up several times at night. And it gives the feeling of urgency! There is an examination to confirm this diagnosis and treatment for this condition.
3- MEDICATIONS that can cause nocturia.
Many diseases require the use of diuretics. Whenever possible, they should be taken in the morning, with the first meal.
Now, let's talk about a normal alteration of the body, which happens over the years:
4- THE WEAKNESS OF THE PELVIC FLOOR MUSCULATURE.
The muscles that support the bladder are the muscles of the pelvis floor. They get weaker over time. With this, the normal angle between the bladder and the urethra is undone. And they are in an almost straight straight line! Since, the musculature that helps to block urine, as I said, is weaker! This is especially true in women; it is even more true in women who have had many normal births.
There are several ways to treat this condition. And, one of them, are exercises for the musculature of the pelvis. There are several. But, if I had to choose 1 only, I would choose this one!
You can do it at home and create a daily moment for him! It is spectacular for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. This exercise can be done on your bed or on the floor. It's called a bridge.
In this exercise, you fall on your back, bend your knees and place the ball between them. Then, you will raise your hips, contracting the muscles of your buttocks, abdomen and thighs. It will make a straight line, contracting these muscles all in one block. And still squeeze the ball with your knees. Count to 15 and return to the floor. Ideal- do 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Every day!
I am Dr. Carla Frohmuller. I am a doctor and have been working with Preventive Medicine and Geriatrics for over 30 years.
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24 июн 2018
