Urinary health and nocturia: symptoms and medical considerations

Frequent nighttime urination, known as nocturia, can be a sign of underlying medical issues rather than a simple habit. While occasional waking is common, waking two or more times per night can disrupt sleep and lead to daytime fatigue, concentration difficulties, and an increased risk of falls in older adults.

Potential causes for nocturia include fluid consumption habits, bladder issues, kidney function, heart conditions, diabetes, or sleep apnea. Medical evaluation is recommended if the condition is persistent, accompanied by urgency, pain, or significant changes in urinary volume.

In older men, these symptoms are often linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that can compress the urethra. Common symptoms of BPH include difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted stream, and frequent urges. While folk medicine suggests various herbal remedies—such as onion juice, infusions of various plants, or extracts of basil—there is no clinical evidence to prove these traditional methods effectively treat BPH.