As young children, there were many things that we considered normal and inevitably a part of growing up. Eventually, when we move away from our adolescent years, we expect to have outgrown these so-called ‘childish’ habits. But the truth is that as we age, our bodies change in ways that can’t be expected. When it comes to bedwetting, also referred to as enuresis, it’s a struggle that more than 5,000,000 Americans face.
Whether you’ve wet the bed regularly throughout your life, or you’ve just started as an adult, there is no denying that it is a difficult experience. Here’s the good news: waking up to wet sheets does not have to be normal.
Nocturnal enuresis is the involuntary release of urine during sleep. Despite the similarity in childhood and adult bedwetting causes, it may be a surprise to learn that they are two different conditions.
This should not be confused with nocturia, which also occurs due to underlying urinary tract-related conditions. Nocturia is defined as waking up one or more times at night to empty your bladder. Wait, so why don’t people with enuresis get up to go to the toilet? Although some research suggests psychological factors, that question remains unanswered.
Every night, you make it a point to drink fewer liquids before bed. You take more bathroom trips in preparation and even try not to fall into too deep of sleep so that you can get up easily during the night. Yet, when you wake up, you once again make your way to the laundry room with your wet sheets in hand. Why? Let’s take a look at the four most common adult bedwetting causes that you may be overlooking.
Hormonal imbalances can have a large impact on controlling bladder leakage. Every human body makes Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), a hormone that sends signals to the kidneys to tell them to produce less urine during nighttime. However, if a person does not make sufficient ADH, this may result in larger volumes of urine that the bladder is unable to hold.
To control the flow of urine, the bladder must be functioning properly. To that end, small and overactive bladders are often the silent catalysts for the unexpected release of urine during the night. First off, you should know that a small bladder refers to a smaller functional capacity of the bladder. Simply put, they are just bladders that feel fuller faster and function as if their size were altered. On the other hand, an overactive bladder is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It usually occurs when the bladder muscles squeeze too often or at the wrong times causing urinary leaks.
Two main types of diabetes can contribute to bedwetting. The more commonly known type of diabetes, brought on by a resistance to insulin, causes the body to flush out excess glucose through a larger production of urine. While diabetes mellitus, translating to “sweetened with honey” references high blood sugar, a rarer form of diabetes insipidus develops an unnatural production of an antidiuretic hormone called vasopressin that results in a frequent urge to urinate.
For many adults, the onset of secondary enuresis is linked to periods of transition and anxiety. We have all experienced some form of stress, but the impact can look different for everyone. During the nighttime, as the body processes the prominent events of the day, the result may be wetting the bed. This fight or flight response takes a similar form to common reactions like chest pain, panic attacks, and headaches.
If you are among the 1 in 100 adults experiencing enuresis, you may relate to the prior adult bedwetting causes or the following risk factors:
If you have experienced occasional or one-time bedwetting, you probably don’t have anything to worry about. But if those small accidents turn into nightly occurrences that are impacting your quality of life, it might be time to talk with your doctor. At your appointment, your doctor will begin with a physical exam and ask general questions about your health. For this reason, try to make a note of the following:
To better diagnose the problem, your doctor may also run a few tests such as:
Like urge incontinence, adult bedwetting may not be a topic of conversation that many people would want to open up about. But with treatment options that range from small changes to large-scale operations, there is hope to have dry and relaxed mornings. Here are a few lifestyle and behavioral strategies that can reduce the chances of having to change the wet sheets in the morning.
If medications and treatment are not effectively helping your adult bedwetting causes, your doctor might recommend surgery as a last resort. These are a few options:
Depending on your condition, it may take some time to find out which treatments may or may not work for you. In the meantime, if you are looking for ways to manage bedwetting, there are a few things that you can do to make your life easier in the mornings. By wearing absorbent pads or protective underwear, you can keep your skin from getting irritated. Try to find ones that are comfortable and fitting for the best results. Also, consider placing a waterproof mattress pad or cover over the bed to help them remain dry throughout the night.
If you are struggling with bedwetting, there are multiple non-invasive treatments and solutions available to help. The most important part is taking that step to talk to your doctor and get guidance. Nocturnal enuresis is a very real problem that millions of adults face every day, but waking up to dry sheets might be closer than you think.
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