Nocturia is having to get up during the night to go to the toilet. This is more likely to occur as people get older.
The problem is extremely common among older men because it can be caused by an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). The prostate presses on the tube called the urethra and prevents the bladder from emptying completely and 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.

The other causes of nocturia may be:

• Swollen legs associated with a heart condition
• Taking a diuretic drug that causes more urination
• Having a different 'body clock' which causes a normal daytime urination pattern to occur at night
• If the bladder is unstable or irritated as a result of cystitis
• Diabetes, if it is not controlled.
• This leads to sugar appearing in the urine, which stimulates extra urine to be produced.

• A consultation with a doctor is very necessary to rule out various medical conditions such as infection, prostatitis, BHP, etc. Apart from medical treatment or if the condition is not due to medical reasons, one could try the following tips:
• Drinking one's normal liquid intake but earlier in the day
• Avoiding late night drinking, especially tea, coffee or beer
• Keeping a diary of how much one drinks, what one drinks and when. This will help identify situations that may make the nocturia worse.