Nocturia in the elderly
It is one of the most common lower urinary tract symptoms bothering the elderly population. The need to get up frequently at night to urinate is irritating and disturbs the sleep of our elderly loved ones. Nocturia, however, is often overlooked as the leading cause of sleep disturbance in older adults. Not just rest disturbance, Nocturia is also significantly associated with daytime tiredness, evident from a night of disturbed sleep. Many problems can occur because of it, like falls, injuries, and even mortality. All these conditions gravely affect the quality of life of our elderly loved ones. We are making them prone to depression, isolation, and cognitive impairment.
At least 1 in every three adults aged 30 years and above can suffer from this condition.
Many individuals can sleep for 8 hours at a stretch without having to get to answer nature’s call. However, if your elderly have Nocturia, you would find them going to the bathroom more often during the night hours. Therefore, Nocturia needs early treatment, failure to which can cause many unwanted complications to set in.
Understanding the disease, its nature, causes, risk factors, symptoms, treatment options, complications, etc., becomes very important for caregivers to develop better management strategies for the elderly. Therefore, let us begin with first knowing the various types of Nocturia.
Types of Nocturia
Nocturia is a broad term that repeatedly defines the need to empty the bladder at night. There are four main types of Nocturia:
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Nocturnal polyuria: There is excessive production of urine at night.
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Global polyuria: The body tends to produce excessive urine both during the day and at night.
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Low nocturnal bladder capacity: The bladder cannot hold high amounts of urine at night.
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Mixed Nocturia: Mixed Nocturia combines the three forms mentioned above.
Nocturia and sleep disturbance in the elderly
Individuals without Nocturia can sleep at a stretch for 6 – 8 hours at night. However, those with Nocturia must frequently ( 2- 3 times) get up to empty their bladder. Elderly patients suffering from severe Nocturia must get up 5 – 6 times at night to void.
The condition is expected in the elderly population. And gradually affects their quality of life. Our bodies produce less antidiuretic hormone as we age, which helps retain the fluid. With less production of antidiuretic hormones, we have more urine during the night, which compels our elderly loved ones to get up and empty their bladder. In addition, the urine-holding capacity of our bladder gradually diminishes as we age. As a result, they are causing us to get up frequently at night to void. Moreover, older adults are more prone to suffer from underlying medical conditions that can cause Nocturia.
Causes of Nocturia
There are many nocturia causes, with underlying medical conditions and lifestyle changes to blame. The main ones are below:
- Diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus
- Anxiety
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Insomnia
- Edema
- Neurological disorders
- Bladder prolapse
- Congestive heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Sleep disorders
- Restless leg syndrome
- Vascular disease
Other causes
If your elderly suffer from any of the above medical conditions, it could be a possible reason for Nocturia. In addition to the above-mentioned medical conditions, some more factors are also known to play foul. These include:
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The problem of an overactive bladder
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Certain medications, such as diuretics, require your elderly to pee too much
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Behavioral problems
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Alcohol
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The habit of drinking too many fluids before sleeping
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The phenomenon of fluid redistribution
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Diminished nocturnal bladder capacity is a condition wherein your bladder doesn’t have enough capacity to hold the urine the body produces. As a result, you need to stay awake at night to void.
Dealing with Nocturia
it is a condition where the elderly must get up more than twice per night to void. Such a condition disrupts their sleep and dramatically affects their quality of life. Lack of sleep is also significantly associated with daytime tiredness. Which also eventually increases their risk of falls. Individuals with Nocturia are also prone to suffer from depression. As they feel such a condition, it makes them feel “old.” It .” seriously affects their self-esteem and can also affect their relationships as well. And surprisingly, Nocturia is one of the significant reasons our loved ones get admitted to care homes.
The doctors often suspend Nocturia as an old age problem. Therefore, you are not paying much attention to the condition. However, this everyday old age problem can mean many severe medical conditions; therefore, if you are a caregiver to an elderly who urinate frequently at night. Then you must take them to a doctor and get all the necessary medical tests done. Timely treatment will help manage Nocturia. But also help in treating the actual cause of the disease.
Treating Nocturia in elderly
The primary focus of treatment lies in addressing the condition’s underlying cause. If the elderly suffer from any disease, That condition takes priority over anything else, in addition to behavioral modifications and lifestyle changes below. Elderly patients are also put on certain medications to treat Nocturia. These medications include anticholinergic drugs and desmopressin, helping the kidneys produce less urine during the night. Nocturia is often treated when the underlying diagnosis cause is under control. Therefore, a thorough diagnosis is necessary to design an appropriate treatment plan.
Tips for managing nocturne
Drinking fluids just before bedtime can cause your elderly to wake several times at night. Therefore, you can follow these tips if you are a caregiver to the elderly suffering from Nocturia.
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Ask your elderly not to drink fluids right before sleeping. This means they need to have their last drink at 8 pm if they go to bed by 10 pm. Drinking fewer fluids at night certainly does not mean your elderly can drink fewer fluids throughout the day. They must consume the recommended daily allowance of liquids unless otherwise advised by the doctor.
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Restrict the number of caffeinated drinks throughout the day. Such drinks not only disturb sleep but are also known to irritate the bladder.
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Certain medications contain diuretics, which cause the body to produce more urine. If your elderly is under such medicines, it is best to ask the doctor for an alternative.
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If your elderly have swollen ankles, it could mean that they have fluid retention. In such cases, you can ask them to lie down and rest for at least an hour during the day. Compression stocking can also help lessen the swelling in the ankles and improve blood flow. In addition, such measures will release the fluids and not cause any trouble during the night hours.
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Conclusion
Nocturia is a bothersome problem, but with my tips and suggestions, it should be much easier to get a great night’s sleep again. Also, check out this post on sleeping problems. Nocturia is a medical condition that affects many people, particularly older adults. It is characterized by frequent urination at night, which can lead to sleep disturbances and other complications. Medication or surgery may sometimes be necessary to address the underlying cause of Nocturia. You must seek medical attention if you are experiencing Nocturia or other urinary symptoms. With proper diagnosis and treatment, many people can effectively manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
