A recent study set out to determine how nocturia (the need to get up during the night to urinate) affects sleep in those with insomnia.
Researchers analyzed the sleep habits of 55 men with an average age of 64, and 92 women with an average age of 62 over the course of two weeks.
Just over half claimed that the reason they woke during the night was to use the bathroom.
Researchers found that (perhaps unsurprisingly) a larger number of trips to the bathroom was associated with lower levels of sleep efficiency.
Additionally, the duration of nighttime awakenings after sleep onset increased by over 20% when an individual had to use the toilet during the night.
Interestingly, researchers found that waking during the night due to nocturia did not affect total sleep duration.
The lead author of the study is keen to point out that no 'cause and effect' relationship has been found between insomnia and nocturia; although treating nocturia could alleviate insomnia, at the same time, perhaps treating insomnia could alleviate nocturia.
The jury is still out on that one.
If you experience the frequent need to urinate during the night, I recommend a natural remedy called ProState Relief (it comes with a 1 year money back guarantee, too).
Source: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
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Last updated: December 11, 2013
