Why Do I Have to Pee During the Night?

Miami and Coral Gables, FL

Your middle of the night trips to the bathroom may seem like a bit of a routine by now. At this point, you may even feel like getting up throughout the night to pee is what is holding you back from a restful nights’ sleep, but it does not have to be this way. Instead of consulting with a urologist, consider a consultation with a sleep apnea specialist, such as the dentist. That is right, a sleep apnea disorder could be the cause of your frequent awakenings to urinate and the dentist can help.

In an ideal world, you would not wake up even once at night to urinate, but it is normal for people to wake up at least once to use the bathroom. If you are getting up at night to urinate more than once, this could be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as sleep apnea. Frequent urges to urinate during the night are referred to as nocturia. Studies have shown that in both men and women, awakening at night to urinate appear to be linked to poor quality of sleep, even while considering other factors such as pain or medical conditions. Even more so, nocturia is the most common factor related to poor quality of sleep among the elderly.

For years, physicians and patients alike have associated nocturia to enlarged prostate, hormones, overactive bladder, older age, or even medications. However, studies have shown that as we age, we have an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. Even stranger is that women are ten times more likely to develop sleep apnea during menopause. Sleep apnea is characterized by temporary pauses in breathing while asleep. These pauses in breathing cause fragmented sleep, lower blood oxygen levels and causes nocturia, all of which disrupt your sleep. Sleep apnea should not be ignored as it can lead to more adverse health conditions such as increased risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and depression. With today’s advancements, even your dentist can help in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea.

Here are some symptoms to look out for in determining whether or not you may suffer from sleep apnea. Loud snoring, daytime fatigue, insomnia, loud gasping or choking sounds while sleeping, dry mouth, headaches, concentration issues, or even mood problems are only some symptoms associated with sleep apnea. Despite these symptoms, a sleep test is the most definitive way of determining whether or not you have sleep apnea, and your dentist can help!

At Miami Designer Smiles, we specialize in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea disorders. We can easily conduct a sleep study to determine whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea. Why delay another day? Our team of dentists can take special steps in treating your sleep apnea with simple, easy methods of treatment. Allow us to help you be on your way to a peaceful nights’ sleep. Contact Miami Designer Smiles today for a consultation. We welcome patients of the Miami and Coral Gables, FL areas.