Today’s article isn’t directly about incontinence for a change, although it’s about Nocturia, a closely related condition. Nocturia is the formal name for when you wake up several times during the night to urinate. This isn't necessarily incontinence, as you aren't actually leaking urine if you wake up and make it to the toilet in time, but nonetheless it creates similar issues often affecting overall quality of life by impeding on sleep quality.

The problem is extremely common among older men because it can be caused by an enlarged prostate (The prostate presses on the tube called the urethra and prevents the bladder from emptying completely - hence the need for more frequent trips to the toilet), however, recent studies have shown that many older women also suffer from the same problem, especially when connected to childbirth and menopause. Both men and women can also experience nocturia due to chronic urinary tract infections or diabetes.

If you're waking up two or more times at night to urinate, it's important to see a health professional, as it may be a sign of another issue such as kidney problems, infection, or a prostate problem. In addition to ruling out other health problems, it's important to see a your doctor or district nurse as they may be able to help you find a treatment for your nocturia so that your quality of life won't be compromised.

In many cases, nocturia can be managed or treated with simple behavioral changes, such as cutting down on alcohol and caffeinated drinks (or only drinking caffeinated drinks early in the morning), and reducing drinks before bedtime (however we recommend that you should discuss this with a help professional before you cut down liquids).

Although many people manage the impact of Nocturia through using incontinence pants or pads to give some security should they not make it to the toilet in time, the main impact is on overall health through tiredness induced by reduced sleep time and quality. The impact in terms of reduced energy levels can impact on your ability to do a job, drive safely and even moods, and therefore it’s important to discuss this with a health professional and to take positive steps to both trace the cause of the problem and minimize it’s impact.

More information on Nocturia can be found on the NetDoctor website,