Bed-wetting, Nocturia, or nocturnal enuresis, is an involuntary loss of bowel or bladder control that occurs while sleeping. It is a very common issue in kids. The occurrence of this issue is on the rise in adults. People, who experience it, find it inconvenient and extremely embarrassing. It is worth noting that bedwetting in adults is actually different from what children experience.
While this knowledge does nothing to reduce the embarrassment it causes, you must know that bed-wetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is involuntary and not your fault. Some adults and teens face it due to unusual stress on the bladder. Wetting the bed is more complex in young adults than it is in children. The issue can make it difficult to stay out of the city or share a room or a bed with another person at night.
Causes of Bed-Wetting -
- Stress and Tension – Dealing with stress and tension is a part of life for more than 36% of adults. Stress has a direct effect on their mental well-being and is one of the major causes of Bed-wetting in adults.
- Genetic – Some medical professionals believe that bed-wetting is hereditary. Many children who wet their beds, have parents who have done so during their childhood. If both parents wet their beds at a young age, it is very likely that their child will do the same thing.
- Overactive Bladder – When the muscles of the bladder started to contract unusually or frequently, they can cause a person to feel a strong, at times uncontrollable, urge to urinate.
- Side Effects Of Medication – Regular intake of medication to control blood pressure and cardiovascular disease often leads to excessive urination.
- Consumption of Alcohol – After you consume alcohol, your body produces much more urine than it would normally produce if you were sober. Excessive alcohol intake leads to bladder damage. Your kidney begins to produce more urine than usual. Liquor irritates the urinary bladder and can cause it to shrink more than usual. This results in extra urination.
- Diabetes – A diabetic body produces more urine. People with this disorder often wet their bed at night because their bladder is unable to hold a higher volume of urine.
- Constipation – Bed-wetting is not always due to bladder problems. Constipation also makes it hard to pass stool and allows bacteria to grow. Once constipation is diagnosed, and not treated properly, a diagnosis for a urinary tract infection is sure to follow.
Symptoms
Incontinence can be diagnosed by studying and looking for underlying symptoms. A few of these symptoms are:
- A Regular urge to urinate
- ConstipationExperiencing a leak while sleeping
- Sleeping disorders
- Unusual pain while peeing
- Emotional issues
- Consuming alcohol
- Tiredness
- Blood in urine
These symptoms are indications of a problem that could result in incontinence. Although, it is not necessary that all symptoms occur simultaneously Nocturia is more likely to occur when one gets older.
Treatment
- Bed-wetting alarms
Young people can train themselves to pee at particular intervals during the night. They can do this by setting an alarm at night. They can pen down the exact timing of when they feel the urgency to pee and set their alarm accordingly. It only takes 2 to 3 months to eliminate leakage at night. They can also try urinating at regular intervals by setting different alarms for different hours.
- Treating bladder infections
Less complicated bladder infections can be resolved by using typical antibiotics. However, complicated or overactive bladder issues may require an appropriate medical examination. Doctors will suggest proper preventive measures that can help to get rid of nocturnal enuresis.
- Do not drink just before going to bed
Although drinking an ample amount of water is necessary for the proper regulation of bodily functions, avoid drinking water or any other liquid just before going to sleep. This will help reduce the chances of experiencing an involuntary leak while you sleep. One should not confuse the concept of avoiding the intake of liquids before bed, with drinking no water at all. Remember that drinking ample water reduces the risk of a bladder infection.
- Use of adult diapers
A wide range of incontinence products is available for men as well as for women. At first, some men may feel weird while using adult diapers and may avoid wearing them. However, using diapers are comfortable and very good for the skin. People with frequent bowel movements need to use this product to ensure they sleep freely at night without feeling the need to get up to urinate from time to time.
- Bladder-stretching exercises
Some exercises can stretch the bladder and heal urinary infections. They help to increase the periods between nocturnal urination.
- Add Extra Protection To Your Bed At Night
If the capacity of your bowel and bladder is causing you to take several trips to the bathroom at night then you may face a situation where your body is building extra fluid and that too very frequently. You can use waterproof pads or mattresses under your bed sheet to get sound sleep at night without needing to worry about wetting your bed. The pads can absorb your pee and keep your bed dry. You can also get yourself some washable pads to use while you sleep.
Waterproof pads provide you with extra protection. Waking up several times at night can be frustrating. Using protection under the sheets on your bed can help reduce stress caused by worrying about leaks while you sleep, and the need to keep extra undergarments handy.
Conclusion
The results of these treatments may take some time to show their affect. The condition of the bladder varies from person to person. Bladder issues can take weeks or months to heal. Most urologists believe that regular treatment can reduce almost 80% of irregular urges to urinate.
Getting the right advice and treatment, is very important to cure nocturnal enuresis. There are many therapies available that you can use to help calm your nerves. At the same time, a change in behavior is equally important. One needs to adjust their schedule to ensure they are able to sleep well while receiving or partaking of treatment to cure bed-wetting, Nocturia or nocturnal enuresis.
