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Health Line
13 hours ago
- General
- Health Line
Excessive Urination at Night (Nocturia): Causes and Treatment
Nocturia, or nocturnal polyuria, is the medical term for excessive urination at night. Nighttime peeing is considered excessive if it's disruptive to your sleep. During sleep time, your body produces less urine that is more concentrated. This means that most people don't need to wake up during the night to urinate and can sleep uninterrupted for 6 to 8 hours. However, some people may need to urinate more often during nighttime hours. And this frequent need to pee during the night may require treatment if it's causing long-term sleep deprivation. While it is more common among older adults, nocturia can occur at any age. Read on to learn more about nocturia, its causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention strategies. What causes nocturia? Nocturia can happen as a result of certain lifestyle choices or medical conditions. Medical conditions A variety of medical conditions can cause nocturia. Common causes of nocturia are a urinary tract infection (UTI) (UTI) or bladder infection. These infections cause frequent burning sensations and urgent urination throughout the day and night. Treatment requires antibiotics. Other medical conditions that can cause nocturia include: Nocturia is also common in people with organ failure, such as heart or liver failure. Pregnancy Nocturia is a fairly common symptom of pregnancy. It can develop at the beginning of pregnancy, but it also happens later, when the growing womb presses against the bladder. Medications Some medications may cause nocturia as a side effect. This is particularly true of diuretics (water pills), which are prescribed to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, or any type of fluid retention. You should seek emergency medical care from a doctor if you lose the ability to urinate or if you can no longer control your urination. Lifestyle choices Urinating too much over 24 hours is called polyuria, which can be caused by excessive fluid consumption, typically more than 40 milliliters per kilogram (mL/kg) per day. As part of that, you may also have nocturia or excessive urination at night. Alcohol and caffeinated beverages are also diuretics, meaning drinking them causes your body to produce even more urine. Therefore, consuming alcohol or caffeinated beverages in excess can lead to nighttime waking and needing to urinate. Other people who have nocturia may have developed a habit of waking up during the night to urinate. How do doctors diagnose nocturia? Diagnosing the cause of nocturia can be difficult. Your doctor will need to ask a variety of questions. The doctor will also usually ask you to record what you drink and how much, along with how often you need to urinate in a 24-hour period. Questions your doctor may ask you also include: When did the nocturia start? How many times per night do you have to urinate? Are you producing less urine than you did before? Do you have accidents, or have you wet the bed? Does anything make the problem worse? Do you have any other symptoms? What medications are you taking? Do you have a family history of bladder problems or diabetes? They may also have you undergo testing such as: blood sugar test to check for diabetes other blood tests for blood counts and blood chemistry urinalysis urine culture fluid deprivation test imaging tests, such as ultrasounds or CT scans urological tests, like cystoscopy tests to check if your bladder is fully emptying when you urinate How is nocturia treated? If your nocturia is caused by a medication, taking the medication earlier in the day may help. Treatment for nocturia can sometimes include medications such as: anticholinergic drugs, which help lessen the symptoms of an overactive bladder. However, recent research has associated these drugs with an increased risk of dementia in older people. Beta-3 adrenoceptor agonists, like mirabegron (Myrbetriq), can help relax the bladder muscles and reduce symptoms of overactive bladder desmopressin (Nocdurna), which causes your kidneys to produce less urine at night However, nocturia can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as diabetes or a UTI, that could worsen or spread if left untreated. Nocturia due to an underlying condition will usually stop when the condition is successfully treated. What can you do to prevent nocturia? There are steps you can take to lessen the effects of nocturia on your life. Reducing the amount of liquids you drink 4 to 6 hours before going to bed can help prevent you from needing to urinate at night. Avoiding drinks that contain alcohol and caffeine may also help, as can urinating before you go to bed. Some foods, such as chocolate, spicy foods, acidic foods, and artificial sweeteners, can irritate the bladder. Kegel exercises and pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen your pelvic muscles and improve bladder control. Pay close attention to what makes your symptoms worse so you can try to modify your habits accordingly. Some people find it helpful to keep a diary of what they drink and when.
Health Line
17 hours ago
- Business
- Health Line
5 Things To Do When You Turn 65
By age 65, you may wish to take some important medical and financial steps. These involve Medicare, preventive health screenings, Social Security, taxes, and other legal considerations. Usually, if you're 65 years or older or younger and living with specific disabilities or conditions, you qualify for Medicare. If you're living with a qualifying disability, you'll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. However, if you're eligible because of your age, you'll need to sign up yourself. In addition, if you haven't already, you may wish to take this time to consider various social security and other legal decisions. Follow this guide for five things to do about Medicare, Social Security, and more when you reach 65. 1. Understand and enroll in Medicare To know which part or plan to enroll in, you'll need to understand the various benefits and costs. Generally, your Medicare enrollment options are: Original Medicare (parts A and B) Medicare Advantage (Part C) stand-alone Medicare Part D Medigap Both Healthline and this guide from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go into detail about the benefits of each part of Medicare. In most cases, you won't pay a premium for Part A, but you must meet a deductible. Part B does have a premium and covers 80% of eligible expenses after you meet the deductible. Note that Original Medicare costs will change in 2026. Medigap can help you with your remaining out-of-pocket costs, but this requires paying an additional premium, and you can't use the plan with Part C. Private insurers manage Parts C and D, which means their costs vary by plan. Your out-of-pocket drug costs also depend on the specific plan's formulary. To cut your costs further, consider looking into whether you might be dually eligible for Medicaid or if you're eligible for Medicare Savings Program (MSP) or Extra Help. After enrollment, be aware that Medicare Part B covers a one‐time ' Welcome to Medicare ' preventive visit if you schedule it within 12 months of enrolling. You're also eligible for an annual wellness visit every 12 months. It's a good idea to take advantage of both of these visits and schedule any other preventive tests your doctor recommends. Long-term care insurance Long-term care insurance can help you manage your daily routines if you can no longer do so yourself at home, in a nursing home, or in an assisted living facility. But Medicare usually doesn't cover this. If you need this now or think you or a spouse may need this in the future, you may consult with a broker, look into State Partnership Programs, or check out your employer benefits if you're still working. 2. Set up a healthcare proxy If you haven't already, you might want to consider setting up a healthcare proxy. This will allow someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you're ever unable to do so yourself. In addition, you can fill out a form to give the person access to your Medicare records and allow them to speak with providers on your behalf. Both of these can be really important if you have significant health issues that might affect your ability to make decisions or you're concerned that you might in the future. If you're married, it's a good idea to designate one another as proxies. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be a good idea to create or refresh your estate plan or issue a power of attorney to someone on your behalf. Depending on your goals, these legal moves could also replace designating a healthcare proxy while allowing the person you choose to manage your financial affairs. To decide on the best path for you, you may wish to consult with an attorney. 3. Make your home safer As you age, your physical needs may increase, and mobility around your home can become more challenging. You may prefer to stay in your home for as long as possible, but you may also have concerns about your safety. That said, there are things you can do to help make your home safer and protect yourself from injury in your home. These include: Adding grab bars or handrails on stairs, in bathrooms and showers, or anywhere you might need more support. Making sure your lighting is good and up to date in every room. Putting nonslip strips on stairs or fitting carpet on other slippery surfaces. Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) If you need it, you may be able to get mobility devices like walkers, wheelchairs, or scooters for use at home through Medicare Part B. 3. Understand retirement benefits You can begin receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62, although you'll only get the full benefits once you reach the designated full retirement age. You can check when you're eligible for full benefits on Note that if you wait to get full benefits past full eligibility, your payments could increase by up to 8%. In addition, if you've been married for at least 10 years, you might be eligible for spousal benefits, which can also boost your payments. That said, depending on your situation, you may need your retirement benefits sooner. That's why it's important to know when you're eligible and how much you'll be able to get. 4. Review retirement savings Whether you're retiring this year or not, it's wise to review your retirement accounts to ensure your portfolio aligns with your retirement objectives. If you're currently still working and your employer provides a retirement savings option like a 401(k), make sure you're making the maximum possible contributions. Additionally, you can invest up to $7,000 annually into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Each of these retirement account types has its own benefits and drawbacks, and you might have one or both. There are also different rules on when and how you can withdraw money from these accounts. For this reason, consulting a financial advisor can be beneficial to ensure you're managing these correctly and contributing the right amounts. 5. Check your taxes Filing tax returns can be complex. When you're working on your tax return, it's important to pay extra attention to avoid losing out on deductions that you're owed due to errors. Be especially aware that once you turn 65 years old, you can get a larger deduction on your federal tax returns. If you or your spouse has a visual impairment, you may qualify for a bigger standard deduction. In addition, you might be able to get additional state deductions based on the specific rules in your state. If you need to, consider speaking with a tax consultant to make sure you're filing your taxes correctly and getting the right deductions. Takeaway Generally, people who are 65 years or older, as well as younger individuals with certain disabilities, qualify for Medicare. If you live with an eligible disability, you'll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, but if you qualify by age, you need to enroll on your own. Before you enroll in Medicare, consider the program's structure, the plans that best suit your needs and their associated costs, and the key enrollment periods. Other things to consider around age 64 are your plans for your future healthcare needs, your Social Security benefits, the status of your retirement benefits, changes in tax exemptions, home safety, essential legal documents, and more.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Younger generations less likely to have dementia, study suggests
People born more recently are less likely to have dementia at any given age than earlier generations, research suggests, with the trend more pronounced in women. According to the World Health Organization, in 2021 there were 57 million people worldwide living with dementia, with women disproportionately affected. However, while dementia risk increases with age, experts have long stressed it is not an inevitability of getting older. 'Younger generations are less likely to develop dementia at the same age as their parents or grandparents, and that's a hopeful sign,' said Dr Sabrina Lenzen, a co-author of the study from the University of Queensland's Centre for the Business and Economics of Health. But she added: 'The overall burden of dementia will still grow as populations age, and significant inequalities remain – especially by gender, education and geography.' Writing in the journal Jama Network Open, researchers in Australia report how they analysed data from 62,437 people aged 70 and over, collected from three long-running surveys covering the US, England and parts of Europe. The team used an algorithm that took into account participants' responses to a host of different metrics, from the difficulties they had with everyday activities to their scores on cognitive tests, to determine whether they were likely to have dementia. They then split the participants into eight different cohorts, representing different generations. Participants were also split into six age groups. As expected, the researchers found the prevalence of dementia increased by age among all birth cohorts, and in each of the three regions: UK, US and Europe. However, at a given age, people in more recent generations were less likely to have dementia compared with those in earlier generations. 'For example, in the US, among people aged 81 to 85, 25.1% of those born between 1890–1913 had dementia, compared to 15.5% of those born between 1939–1943,' said Lenzen, adding similar trends were seen in Europe and England, although less pronounced in the latter. The team said the trend was more pronounced in women, especially in Europe and England, noting that one reason may be increased access to education for women in the mid-20th century. However, taking into account changes in GDP, a metric that reflects broader economic shifts, did not substantially alter the findings. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, the director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, described the study as well conducted. 'The number of people living with dementia is still increasing due to our ageing population, but this study adds to the good news that more recent generations have a decreased risk compared to past generations,' she said. While the study did not investigate the reasons for the decline, Spires-Jones noted a number of factors could be at play. 'This is likely due to interventions such as compulsory education, smoking bans, and improvements in medical treatments for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hearing loss, which are associated with dementia risk,' she said. Spires-Jones added the study had limitations, including that it did not rely on official diagnoses of dementia based on clinical testing. Prof Tom Dening, of the University of Nottingham, said the study contained good news but it should not be assumed that the trend would continue, given some of the biggest health changes to reduce dementia risk may already have been made. Prof Eric Brunner of University College London said it was important to look closely at recent trends and the impact of policies such as austerity, given other studies – including his own work relating to England and Wales – have suggested dementia incidence, in other words the rate of new cases, may no longer be declining. David Thomas, the head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer's Research UK, said evidence suggested nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 key risk factors – from smoking to air quality – although he noted not all were within individuals' control. 'That's why Alzheimer's Research UK is calling on the government to put in place a strategy for preventing ill health, including addressing dementia risk,' he said.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Halifax conference to explore aging research
Atlantic Watch Crystal Garrett gets a preview of an upcoming conference in Halifax that explores recent research on aging.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Brooke Shields celebrates 60th birthday with bikini shoot
Brooke Shields celebrated her 60th birthday in paradise. The Blue Lagoon actress took to Instagram Saturday to share photos of herself rocking a black bikini while lounging on a hammock on the beach. 'Woke up in Paradise … and in a new decade of life,' she captioned the post. 'This is 60! Thank you for all the birthday love.' Shields styled her beach day look with a wide-brimmed hat and choker necklace. The Hollywood star didn't disclose the tropical location where she was enjoying her milestone birthday. In honour of the big day, her haircare brand, Commence, also shared 'a non-exhaustive list' of 'propaganda' she refuses to believe as she gets older. 'That 60 means slowing down,' read text on an Instagram Reel of Shields at a photo shoot. 'That change is only for your twenties. That it's too late to learn something new. That my best days are in the rearview. 'That women 'of a certain age' aren't a force to be reckoned with. That I don't deserve products made specifically for me. That not every day can be a good hair day.' Shields got candid about ageing in a November 2023 interview with Glamour magazine, confessing she's afraid of certain cosmetic injectables. 'I'm scared of not looking like myself; the times that I've had Botox, I end up with this Spock eye and I'm like, 'I don't look like myself,'' she said at the time. 'But I'll get Fraxels, and peels, and whatever the newest thing is, and I'll try it. I just don't want to not look like myself.' But Shields has maintained her youthful glow; she stunned as she hit the beach in another bikini in April. At the time, the former model flaunted her figure while lying in the sand in the Bahamas wearing a black-and-white two-piece. The Mother of the Bride star went makeup-free, accessorising with a gold necklace and statement bracelets. This story originally appeared on Page Six
