Sleep Apnea & Frequent Night Urination: How They Could Be Connected
Key Takeaways
Frequent nighttime urination can have many causes, including drinking too much fluid, certain medications, diabetes, bladder conditions, pregnancy, or sleep disorders.
Sleep apnea could be an underlying cause of frequent nighttime urination because repeated breathing interruptions can affect the heart and hormones that regulate fluid balance.
Waking up multiple times during the night to urinate can disrupt restorative sleep, which can worsen daytime fatigue and poor sleep quality associated with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea testing can help identify the underlying cause of nighttime sleep disruptions and determine what treatment is appropriate.
Waking up once during the night to use the bathroom isn’t unusual, but if you’re getting up two, three, or more times every night, there could be an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed. One commonly overlooked cause of frequent nighttime urination is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is commonly known for symptoms such as loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue. However, some people with sleep apnea also frequently experience nighttime urination.
Learn more about how sleep apnea could be the cause of frequent urination, how it actually affects your body, and how treatment can help you get restful sleep.
To schedule an in-person appointment, call our office at 703-323-8200, or you can schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Marzban to discuss any sleep concerns that could be related to sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the muscles and tissues in the throat relax during sleep, which causes the upper airway to narrow or become completely blocked. When this happens, breathing can repeatedly stop or become restricted. These interruptions can happen many times throughout the night, even if you don’t remember waking up. Untreated sleep apnea can affect sleep quality, daytime alertness, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being.
What Is Nocturia?
Nocturia is the medical term for waking multiple times during the night to go to the bathroom. Waking up once during the night to use the bathroom isn’t unusual, especially as we get older. But if you’re going to the bathroom multiple times a night, it’s harder for your body to get the restorative sleep you need. This could also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Nocturia can have many possible causes, including:
Sleep disorders (i.e. sleep apnea)
Drinking a lot of fluids before bed
Caffeine or alcohol consumption
Certain medications
Diabetes
Urinary tract or bladder conditions
Prostate enlargement
Pregnancy
Why Does Sleep Apnea Cause Frequent Urination?
Frequent nighttime urination is common in individuals who have obstructive sleep apnea; a study found that nearly 50% of patients also had nocturia. Because repeated pauses in breathing can put stress on the heart and affect the hormones that help regulate fluid balance, the kidneys may produce more urine, contributing to nighttime urination.
Could Treating Sleep Apnea Help With Frequent Urination at Night?
Treating obstructive sleep apnea may help reduce nighttime urination when sleep apnea is a contributing factor. When obstructive sleep apnea is treated, this reduces repeated breathing interruptions and pressure changes that happen when you sleep, which helps to restore normal fluid regulation and reduce nighttime urine production. That’s why identifying the underlying cause will ensure you receive the treatment that’s right for you.
Sleep Apnea Testing in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station & Northern Virginia
If you’re dealing with frequent nighttime urination or other signs of sleep apnea, testing is the first step in diagnosing what could be causing sleep disruptions. Dr. Marzban is the only dentist in Burke, Fairfax Station, Fairfax, and the Northern Virginia area offering WatchPAT™, an FDA-approved portable home sleep testing device. WatchPAT measures several important indicators during sleep, including breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and other sleep-related data. WatchPAT tracks several key indicators, including your breathing, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep patterns. The results can help determine whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it may be.
After reviewing your results, Dr. Marzban will design a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs, including custom-fit oral appliances to help you breathe easier, sleep better, and support your long-term wellness. Contact us today by calling us at 703-323-8200 or filling out our online form to schedule an appointment to get tested for sleep apnea.
FAQs
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Frequent nighttime urination (nocturia) can have several causes, including drinking fluids before bed, UTIs, overactive bladder, pregnancy, menopause, diabetes, certain medications, and sleep apnea.
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Treatment nocturia depends on what's causing it, and may include lifestyle changes, or treatment for an underlying condition like sleep apnea.
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Sleep apnea can cause frequent nighttime urination because breathing pauses put stress on the heart, signaling the body to get rid of extra fluid.
