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As the weather is getting cold, some people begin to find themselves urinating more often at night. Most think it is a natural phenomenon and don’t pay enough attention to it because they don’t have any other discomfort. However, increased night urination can be a warning sign, especially in those with kidney disease, long-term Diabetes or high blood pressure.
Three forms of increased night urinating can occur: 1) total night urine output is 500ml higher than that in the daytime; 2) night/daytime urine output ratio>0.8; 3) visit toilet more than twice at night. In the early course, people don’t have other accompanying symptoms and don’t attach enough importance for further evaluation and treatment. When other severer complications occur, they often miss the best opportunity to treat the disease.
Increased night urination can be early warning sign for kidney diseases. For instance, for those with long-term of hypertension and/or Diabetes, high blood sugar and blood pressure can harden renal arteries and damage the kidneys; impaired renal dilution/concentration function will result in abnormally increased urine output especially at night. To be noted, increased night urination is the earliest sign for impaired kidney function; at this time, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen are in normal range, so only by sensitive lab tests will kidney disease be detecte. In addition, elderly people who have reduced heart, kidney or liver function may experience swelling in daytime; when they fall asleep at night, increased blood flow that return to heart will cause the kidneys to produce more crude urine, but the reduced renal concentration function will then cause increased night urine output.
When one has increased night urination, lab tests are often performed to confirm risks of kidney damage, including urine routine, bloodβ2-microglobulin, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Early detection and timely treatment is essential to avoid onset of more serious health issues.
