Bedwetting is the inability to control one’s bladder during night.
Bedwetting is referred to medically as nocturnal (night time) enuresis. Although it might be a bothersome problem, bed wetting is frequently completely natural.
For some children, bed wetting is a normal developmental stage.
Adults, however, may experience it as a sign of an underlying condition or illness.
The National Association for Continence estimates that 2% of individuals have bedwetting, which has several reasons and may need medical attention.
Causes of bed wetting
Bedwetting can be caused by both physical and psychological issues in certain persons. Small bladder size, urinary tract infection (UTI), stress, anxiety, or insecurity, neurological diseases such as being post-stroke, prostate gland enlargement, sleep apnoea, or irregular pauses in breathing during sleep, and constipation are among the common reasons for bedwetting in children and adults.
Some people might develop bedwetting due to hormonal abnormalities. The body produces an anti-diuretic hormone in everyone (ADH). ADH instructs your body to reduce night time urine output. A typical bladder can keep pee overnight because of the reduced amount of urine.
Because their bladders can’t store more pee, those whose bodies don’t produce enough ADH may develop nocturnal enuresis.
Another condition that might lead to bedwetting is diabetes. If you have diabetes, your body may generate more pee because it can’t correctly digest glucose, often known as sugar. When urine output rises, it can cause kids and adults who typically sleep dry to wet the bed.
Bedwetting risk factors
Among the biggest risk factors for developing bedwetting in childhood are gender and heredity. Boys and girls can both have nocturnal enuresis episodes in their early years, often between the ages of 3 and 5. But as boys become older, they are more likely to keep wetting the bed.
Furthermore, family history is important. If a parent, sibling, or other family member has had bedwetting, a kid is more likely to have it as well.
According to the National Association for Continence’s study document, “Definition & Facts for Bladder Control Problems & Bedwetting in Children,” the likelihood of bedwetting is 70% if both parents had it as kids.
Children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also tend to wet the bed more frequently (ADHD). Researchers are still working to completely grasp how bedwetting and ADHD are related.
Lifestyle adjustments to control bedwetting
Changes in lifestyle may be able to stop bedwetting. Setting limitations on fluid consumption is crucial in preventing bedwetting in adults. To lower the chance of having an accident, try not to consume any drinks within a few hours of going to bed.
Drink the majority of the liquids you need each day before supper, but don’t restrict your overall fluid consumption. By doing this, you may make sure that your bladder is nearly empty before going to bed. Limiting fluid intake before sleep for kids has not been proven to consistently reduce bedwetting.
Try to avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine-containing beverages in the evening. Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that can irritate the bladder. You’ll urinate more as a result of them.
Using the restroom immediately before night to completely empty your bladder might also be beneficial.
In young children
Sometimes, a traumatic experience in a young person’s life might lead to bedwetting. Your youngster may start having overnight accidents as a result of conflict at home or at school.
The birth of a sibling, moving to a new house, and another change in routine are further examples of events that can be stressful to kids and may cause bedwetting problems.
Discuss your child’s feelings with them. Your child can feel better about their predicament with your support, which, in many circumstances, will stop them from wetting the bed.
But a youngster who starts wetting the bed but has been dry at night for more than six months may also be experiencing a medical issue. Any new bedwetting that doesn’t stop after a week or two or that is accompanied by other symptoms should be discussed with your child’s doctor.
Don’t penalise your youngster for accidents in the bed. It’s crucial to have frank discussions regarding bedwetting with them. It may be beneficial to reassure them that it will ultimately cease.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to let your youngster assume as much responsibility as is age-appropriate. If they wake up wet, for instance, keep a dry towel to place down and a spare set of pyjamas and underwear by the bed for them to change into.
Together, you can give your kid a loving and encouraging atmosphere.
Even while bedwetting in younger kids can be common, if your child is older than 5 and still wets the bed a few times a week, consult a paediatrician. If the condition hasn’t already ended by the time your child enters puberty, it could.
Medical care for bedwetting
When bedwetting is caused by a medical issue, therapy goes beyond simple lifestyle changes. Bedwetting is a sign of several illnesses that medications can cure. For instance:
- UTIs can be treated with antibiotics.
- Anticholinergic medication help soothe a ruffled bladder.
- Desmopressin acetate raises ADH levels to reduce nocturnal urination.
- Drugs that inhibit dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can lessen prostate gland enlargement.
Controlling chronic illnesses like diabetes and sleep apnea is also crucial. If treated properly, bedwetting caused by underlying medical conditions will probably stop.
The majority of kids outgrow bedwetting around the age of six, according to a research from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases titled “Definition & Facts for Bladder Control Problems & Bedwetting in Children.”
The ability to control one’s bladder is better established and robust at this age. Bedwetting may be treated in both children and adults with lifestyle modifications, medical care, and support from family and friends.
Even while bedwetting may be treated with lifestyle changes, you should still visit a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions that might be to blame. Additionally, if you’ve never had bedwetting but have just started to as an older adult, consult your doctor.
